What Is an LCA?
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a document your employer files with the Department of Labor (DOL) and must have certified before filing your H-1B petition. By certifying the LCA, your employer makes four legal attestations to the US government regarding your employment:
- They will pay you at or above the prevailing wage for your occupation, level, and location
- They will pay you at or above the actual wage paid to other similarly employed workers
- The employment will not adversely affect the working conditions of similarly employed US workers
- There is no strike or lockout in the course of a labor dispute at the worksite
The LCA is public record — every certified LCA is published in the DOL database and is accessible by anyone, including you.
Key LCA Fields Explained
| Field | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| SOC Code | Standard Occupational Classification code for your role | Determines which prevailing wage applies to your position |
| Wage Level (I–IV) | Skill/experience level within the occupation | Determines minimum wage employer must pay you |
| Prevailing Wage | DOL’s determined market wage for your SOC/level/location | Legal minimum your employer committed to pay |
| Actual Wage | What the employer pays you | Must be at or above prevailing wage |
| Period of Employment | Validity dates of the LCA | LCA must be valid for the full H-1B petition period |
| Worksite Address | Where the worker will physically work | Employer must post LCA notice at this location |
How to Find Your Own LCA
Your Rights Under LCA Rules
- Right to be paid the LCA wage for all hours in H-1B status, even during nonproductive periods (like training or waiting for assignments)
- Right to a copy of the LCA upon request from your employer
- Right to see the public access file your employer must maintain regarding your LCA
- Right to file a complaint with the DOL Wage and Hour Division if you believe violations have occurred
- Protection from retaliation for asserting your LCA rights
Check what your occupation should pay. If you want to verify that your employer is meeting their LCA wage obligation, enter your job title and work city below to see the prevailing wage at all four levels.
LCA Violations — What Happens
Common LCA violations include: paying below the certified wage, requiring employees to pay H-1B filing fees (illegal), failing to pay workers during nonproductive periods, and working employees at unapproved worksites.
Consequences for employers: back wage payments, civil money penalties up to $10,000 per violation, and debarment from future H-1B filings. LCA complaints can be filed confidentially with the DOL Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd.
LCA and Your Green Card
During the PERM labor certification process, DOL issues a Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) that establishes the minimum wage your employer must pay throughout the green card process. This PWD wage level may be different from your H-1B LCA level — particularly if your duties or responsibilities have changed. Your employer must be willing to pay the PWD wage from the time of PERM filing through and after green card approval.