Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. · Lexington, Massachusetts
Case #I-200-25035-663848
A Director, Process Engineering position at Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts was filed at $216k per year, offering 59% above the prevailing wage of $136k. The case was processed in 2 days during the FY FY2025 cycle. This position is for continued employment.
| Case Number | I-200-25035-663848 |
| Case Status | Withdrawn |
| Visa Class | H-1B |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2025 |
| Employer | Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. |
| Employer Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Job Title | Director, Process Engineering |
| SOC Code | 17-204100 – Chemical Engineers |
| Worksite | Lexington, Massachusetts |
| Annual Wage | $216k |
| Prevailing Wage | $136k |
| Wage Premium | +58.7% |
| Positions | 1 (0 new, 0 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Scientist I, Drug Product Technical Services, CMC | $140k | CERTIFIED | Sep 15, 2025 |
| Senior Scientist I, Process Development | $167k | CERTIFIED | May 14, 2025 |
| Research Associate II, Analytical Characterization/Developmt | $79k | CERTIFIED | May 13, 2025 |
| Associate Scientist, Cheminformatics | $93k | CERTIFIED | May 1, 2025 |
| Associate Scientist, Cheminformatics | $98k | CERTIFIED | Apr 30, 2025 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. for the position of Director, Process Engineering in Lexington, Massachusetts. The offered annual salary is $216k, compared to the prevailing wage of $136k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +58.7% above the prevailing wage.
The LCA is the first step in the H-1B visa process. Employers must file an LCA with the Department of Labor certifying that they will pay the foreign worker at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment. A certified LCA is required before the employer can file an H-1B petition with USCIS.
Case status: Withdrawn. This means the employer or their representative withdrew the application.
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a mandatory document that U.S. employers must file with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) before they can petition for a foreign worker under the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa categories. The LCA process was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to protect both foreign and domestic workers by ensuring fair wages and working conditions.
When a U.S. company identifies a foreign national to fill a specialty occupation position, they must first obtain DOL certification through the LCA process before filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this case, Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. filed LCA case number I-200-25035-663848 to sponsor a Director, Process Engineering position at their worksite in Lexington, Massachusetts. By filing this LCA, the employer attests to four key conditions: (1) paying the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, (2) providing working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers, (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite, and (4) providing notice of the filing to the bargaining representative or posting notice at the worksite.
The DOL establishes four wage levels for each occupation and geographic area, representing the progression from entry-level to fully competent workers:
For this filing, the offered wage of $216k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $136k for Chemical Engineers positions in the Lexington, Massachusetts area. The positive wage premium of +58.7% indicates the employer is offering above the DOL-determined average for this occupation and location.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The DOL determines prevailing wages using data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers must pay H-1B workers the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in similar positions at the company. This requirement is designed to prevent employers from using H-1B workers to undercut domestic wages.
A "Certified-Withdrawn" status means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was later withdrawn by the employer. This can happen for various reasons: the foreign worker may have declined the position, found employment elsewhere, the employer may have decided to refile with updated information, or business conditions may have changed. A withdrawal does not negatively affect the employer's ability to file future LCAs.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Feb 4, 2025 and a decision was rendered on Feb 6, 2025, a processing time of approximately 2 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application was processed within the standard timeframe.
The offered salary of $216k for this Director, Process Engineering position provides a data point for evaluating compensation trends in H-1B visa sponsorship. When reviewing H-1B salary data, consider that wages vary significantly based on geographic location, employer size, industry sector, and the worker's experience level. This position falls under SOC code 17-204100 (Chemical Engineers), which standardizes how the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies occupations across industries. Metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle typically command higher salaries due to higher costs of living, while positions in smaller markets may offer lower nominal wages but comparable purchasing power.
The offered annual salary for this Director, Process Engineering position at Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. is $216k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $136k. The offered wage represents a +58.7% premium over the prevailing wage.
This H-1B filing is for a position located in Lexington, Massachusetts. The employing company, Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc., is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
This Labor Condition Application is filed under the H-1B visa classification. The H-1B visa is designed for specialty occupation workers who possess at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a specific field related to the job.
The employer for this filing is Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc., located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-200-25035-663848) for a Director, Process Engineering position during fiscal year FY 2025. View all Wave Life Sciences USA, Inc. H-1B filings.
Certified-Withdrawn means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was subsequently withdrawn by the employer or their authorized representative.