SOC 15-1252 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Software Developers H-1B wage levels in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $154,461. Level III starts at $132,413, Level II at $110,344 and Level I at $88,296.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Trenton, NJ?
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 Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ wage area: Level I is $88,296 a year, Level II $110,344, Level III $132,413 and Level IV $154,461. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $154,461 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $88,296 up to $110,343 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Trenton, NJ has the #42 highest Level IV wage for this job, 2% above the median metro ($150,780). The same $110,344 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Fayetteville, AR. 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 | $88,296 | $42.45 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $110,344 | $53.05 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $132,413 | $63.66 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $154,461 | $74.26 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Trenton, NJ
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $110,344 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Software Developers in Trenton, NJ?
At least $154,461 a year ($74.26/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1252 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Mercer County, NJ.
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.
Software Developers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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.