SOC 15-1243 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Database Architects H-1B wage levels in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $228,468. Level III starts at $198,432, Level II at $168,418 and Level I at $138,383.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Database Architects in San Francisco, CA?
For the 2026–27 wage year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), the U.S. Department of Labor sets four H-1B prevailing wage levels for Database Architects (SOC 15-1243) in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA wage area: Level I is $138,383 a year, Level II $168,418, Level III $198,432 and Level IV $228,468. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $228,468 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $138,383 up to $168,417 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, San Francisco, CA has the #1 highest Level IV wage for this job, 44% above the median metro ($158,580). The same $168,418 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in New York, NY. These figures apply to the FY 2028 registration in March 2027.
| Wage level | Annual salary at least | Hourly | Lottery entries | DHS projected odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | $138,383 | $66.53 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $168,418 | $80.97 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $198,432 | $95.40 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $228,468 | $109.84 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in San Francisco, CA
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $168,418 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other California metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Database Architects in San Francisco, CA?
At least $228,468 a year ($109.84/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1243 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Alameda County, CA; Contra Costa County, CA; Marin County, CA; San Francisco County, CA; San Mateo County, CA.
Do these numbers apply to the March 2027 registration?
Yes. The FY 2028 registration in March 2027 uses the wage year in effect then, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Database Architects wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Learn more: How to legitimately raise your wage level · Lottery level vs. LCA level · FY 2028 registration
Annual salary in U.S. dollars, rounded up. Source: DOL OFLC prevailing wage data, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027, computed directly from the DOL file (methodology). Page updated 2026-10-14.