What is the Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD)?

The Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD), or prevailing wage determination, is the official definition of the benchmark salary for a given occupation in a specific region of the United States. It is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and serves as a reference standard in the H-1B visa process.

The goal is to protect both the foreign worker and the local labor market, preventing positions from being filled at wages below the standard paid to professionals in the U.S. To arrive at the benchmark figure, the analysis considers factors such as:

• the job duties and responsibilities of the position;
• the level of experience and qualifications required;
• the geographic location of employment;
• the typical wage standard for that occupation in the region.

In practice, the employer uses the PWD to demonstrate, in the H-1B petition, that it intends to compensate the professional fairly and in line with the market. It is a step tied to compliance with labor and immigration rules.

Since the figures and procedures are updated periodically, it is worth confirming the current rules with the U.S. Department of Labor or with specialized counsel before filing a petition.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.