H-1B Salary API vs Scraping h1bdata.info and Other Sites
If you have ever tried to get H-1B salary data into your own application, you know the pain. Sites like h1bdata.info, myvisajobs.com, and levels.fyi all show salary records in a browser, but none of them offer an API. That means your only option is scraping, which is slow, fragile, and often against the site's terms of service.
The H-1B Salary Data API solves this. It provides the same underlying DOL/OFLC data through a stable REST endpoint with structured JSON responses, pagination, filtering, and sorting.
H-1B Salary API vs h1bdata.info
| Feature | h1bdata.info | H-1B Salary API |
|---|---|---|
| Access method | Browser only | REST API (JSON) |
| Integration | Copy/paste or scrape | Direct HTTP requests |
| Filtering | Basic search box | 10+ query parameters |
| Pagination | Page links in HTML | Programmatic (page, per_page) |
| Sorting | Limited | By salary, date |
| Data format | HTML tables | Structured JSON |
| Salary normalization | Mixed units | All normalized to annual |
| Rate limiting | IP-based blocks | Transparent limits with headers |
| AI tool support | None | MCP server for Claude, Cursor, VS Code |
H-1B Salary API vs levels.fyi
levels.fyi is great for understanding total compensation across the tech industry. However, it focuses on self-reported data across all visa types and work authorizations. The H-1B Salary Data API provides official government filing data specifically for H-1B visas.
| Feature | levels.fyi | H-1B Salary API |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | Self-reported | Official DOL filings |
| Visa focus | All types | H-1B specific |
| Records | Thousands | 8.5 million |
| History | Recent years | FY2008 to FY2024 |
| API access | No public API | REST API with free tier |
| Includes prevailing wage | No | Yes |
| Wage level data | No | Yes (Level I through IV) |
H-1B Salary API vs myvisajobs.com
myvisajobs.com provides H-1B employer rankings and salary statistics in a browser interface. Like h1bdata.info, there is no API. The data is presented as pre-computed summaries rather than individual filing records.
| Feature | myvisajobs.com | H-1B Salary API |
|---|---|---|
| Data granularity | Aggregated summaries | Individual filings |
| Access method | Browser only | REST API |
| Custom queries | No | Yes, 10+ filters |
| Machine readable | No | Yes (JSON) |
Why Scraping Is a Bad Idea
Scraping H-1B salary sites creates several problems for developers:
- HTML structure changes without warning, breaking your scraper overnight.
- Most sites block repeated requests with CAPTCHAs or IP bans.
- Scraping is often against the site's terms of service.
- You spend time maintaining a scraper instead of building your product.
- Data quality suffers because you are parsing HTML instead of receiving structured data.
The H-1B Salary Data API eliminates all of these problems. You get a stable endpoint, documented parameters, structured JSON responses, and transparent rate limits.
Quick Start
curl "https://h1bapi.com/api/v1/salaries?employer=google&job_title=software+engineer&state=CA" \ -H "X-API-Key: your_key"
Sign up for a free API key to get started. The free tier includes 20 requests per day covering the last 2 fiscal years. Paid plans start at $9/month.
Use with AI Tools
The H-1B Salary Data API also works with AI tools through MCP (Model Context Protocol). Connect it to Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, or VS Code and ask salary questions in natural language. Learn more in our MCP setup guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an API for H-1B salary data?
Yes. The H-1B Salary Data API is a REST API that provides programmatic access to 8.5 million H-1B visa salary records from the U.S. Department of Labor. It supports filtering by employer, job title, state, city, salary range, and more.
Can I scrape h1bdata.info for salary data?
Scraping h1bdata.info is unreliable and against most sites' terms of service. The H-1B Salary Data API provides the same underlying DOL data through a stable, documented REST endpoint with structured JSON responses.
What is the difference between h1bdata.info and the H-1B Salary API?
h1bdata.info is a browser-based lookup tool. The H-1B Salary Data API is a programmable REST endpoint. The API lets you search, filter, sort, and paginate salary records directly from your code, dashboards, or AI tools.
How does the H-1B Salary API compare to levels.fyi?
levels.fyi focuses on self-reported total compensation across all visa types. The H-1B Salary Data API provides official DOL filing data specifically for H-1B visas, covering 8.5 million records from FY2008 to FY2024 with normalized annual salaries.
Is the H-1B Salary API free?
Yes, there is a free tier with 20 requests per day covering the last 2 fiscal years. Paid plans start at $9/month for 5,000 requests per day with full historical access.
Can I use H-1B salary data in my app without scraping?
Yes. The H-1B Salary Data API gives you a REST endpoint that returns structured JSON. No scraping, no browser automation, no parsing HTML. Just send a GET request with your filters and receive clean salary data.
Get This Data via API
Query any company, job title, city, or salary range from 8.5 million H-1B records.
Get a free API key