SOC 15-1253 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers H-1B wage levels in Knoxville, TN
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $100,402. Level III starts at $87,943, Level II at $75,484 and Level I at $63,024.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Knoxville, TN?
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 Knoxville, TN wage area: Level I is $63,024 a year, Level II $75,484, Level III $87,943 and Level IV $100,402. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $100,402 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $63,024 up to $75,483 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Knoxville, TN has the #94 highest Level IV wage for this job, 15% below the median metro ($118,560). The same $75,484 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 | $63,024 | $30.30 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $75,484 | $36.29 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $87,943 | $42.28 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $100,402 | $48.27 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Knoxville, TN
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
Where a $75,484 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Tennessee metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in Knoxville, TN?
At least $100,402 a year ($48.27/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-1253 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Anderson County, TN; Blount County, TN; Campbell County, TN; Grainger County, TN; Knox County, TN; Loudon County, TN; Morgan County, TN; Roane County, TN; Union County, TN.
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 Knoxville, TN
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.