SOC 15-1253 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers H-1B wage levels in Ames, IA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $118,602. Level III starts at $100,631, Level II at $82,660 and Level I at $64,688.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Ames, IA?
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 Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (SOC 15-1253) in the Ames, IA wage area: Level I is $64,688 a year, Level II $82,660, Level III $100,631 and Level IV $118,602. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $118,602 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $64,688 up to $82,659 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Ames, IA has the #50 highest Level IV wage for this job. The same $82,660 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in New Orleans, LA. 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 | $64,688 | $31.10 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $82,660 | $39.74 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $100,631 | $48.38 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $118,602 | $57.02 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Ames, IA
Thresholds here sit at the major-metro median.
Where a $82,660 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Iowa metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Ames, IA?
At least $118,602 a year ($57.02/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1253 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Boone County, IA; Story County, IA.
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 Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Ames, IA
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.