SOC 15-1253 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers H-1B wage levels in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $118,706. Level III starts at $98,884, Level II at $79,040 and Level I at $59,218.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Houston, TX?
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX wage area: Level I is $59,218 a year, Level II $79,040, Level III $98,884 and Level IV $118,706. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $118,706 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $59,218 up to $79,039 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Houston, TX has the #49 highest Level IV wage for this job. The same $79,040 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 | $59,218 | $28.47 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $79,040 | $38.00 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $98,884 | $47.54 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $118,706 | $57.07 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Houston, TX
Thresholds here sit at the major-metro median.
Where a $79,040 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Texas metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Houston, TX?
At least $118,706 a year ($57.07/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1253 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Austin County, TX; Brazoria County, TX; Chambers County, TX; Fort Bend County, TX; Galveston County, TX; Harris County, TX; Liberty County, TX; Montgomery County, TX; San Jacinto County, TX; Waller County, TX.
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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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.