Data Sources & Methodology
Every piece of data on H1B Scout comes from official U.S. government sources. This page explains where our data comes from, how we process it, how often it's updated, and what limitations apply.
U.S. Department of Labor — LCA Disclosure Data
Our primary data source is the Labor Condition Application (LCA) disclosure file published quarterly by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC). Every employer seeking to hire an H1B worker must file an LCA, making this the most comprehensive public dataset on H1B sponsorship.
- Update Frequency
- The DOL releases new data quarterly. We process and integrate updates within 2 weeks of each release. Our database covers fiscal years 2020–2025.
- Limitations
- LCA approval does not guarantee H1B petition approval by USCIS. Salary data reflects filed wages, which may differ from actual compensation. Multiple LCAs may be filed for the same position.
Data Processing Methodology
We process raw DOL data through the following steps:
- 1.Employer normalization: Company names are standardized to group subsidiaries and correct common variations (e.g., "GOOGLE LLC" and "GOOGLE INC").
- 2.Job title classification: SOC codes are mapped to readable job categories for easier browsing.
- 3.Location parsing: Work site addresses are geocoded to city, state, and metro area for location-based analysis.
- 4.Salary aggregation: Median, 25th, and 75th percentile wages are calculated per employer, job title, and location.
We do not modify, supplement, or editorialize the underlying data. All figures are derived directly from official DOL filings.
Data Coverage
Disclaimer: H1B Scout is an independent data tool and is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of Labor (DOL), or any government agency. Data is provided "as is" for informational purposes only and should not be used as legal or immigration advice.
Have questions about our data? Learn more about H1B Scout.