2025–2026 Prevailing Wage Update: Tech Salaries and Regional Shifts

2025–2026 Prevailing Wage Determinations: OFLC Releases New OES Data

On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) released updated prevailing wage data for the 2025–2026 wage year, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

This annual update will have the most immediate effect on Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed going forward and on Prevailing Wage Determinations (PWDs) currently pending or to be filed with the DOL, which will reflect the new data when issued.

Certified LCAs and PWDs issued prior to this date remain valid for use in petitions, even if wage rates have increased.

Tech Salary Increases Impact Labor Condition Applications Under New Wage Data

The new wage data for the 2025–2026 year reflects several notable shifts in compensation trends across key geographic and occupational sectors. Most prominently, salaries for certain SOC Codes in the IT domain, such as Software Developers, have seen a substantial increase across many areas known as hubs for those types of positions.

For example, in the Santa Clara, California, area, the salary data for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) indicated a mean of $199,805.00 in 2024 data, which has now risen to $226,512.00 in the newly released 2025 data.

Similarly, the Wage Level 4 wage data for Computer Occupations, All Other (SOC 15-1299), which includes Computer Systems Engineers/Architects, Blockchain Engineers and Information Technology Project Managers, among others, has risen from $201,323.00 in 2024 data to $223,142.00 in the new data. The mean data for this group has also risen from $167,294.00 to $181,709.00.

This marks a significant rise compared to prior years and underscores the continued demand for tech talent.

Regional Redefinitions May Affect Prevailing Wage Determinations and LCA Strategies in New England

The new wage data incorporates revised geographic delineations based on the 2020 Census, resulting in the creation of new metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), renaming or remapping of some existing MSAs and the discontinuation of certain non-MSA regions.

For New England states, the New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) have been replaced with MSAs and non-MSA areas. These changes may impact wage calculations and recruitment strategies for employers filing immigration petitions.

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