SOC 15-2051 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Data Scientists H-1B wage levels in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $129,189. Level III starts at $109,408, Level II at $89,607 and Level I at $69,826.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Data Scientists in Nashville, 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 Data Scientists (SOC 15-2051) in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN wage area: Level I is $69,826 a year, Level II $89,607, Level III $109,408 and Level IV $129,189. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $129,189 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $69,826 up to $89,606 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Nashville, TN has the #57 highest Level IV wage for this job, 2% below the median metro ($131,519). The same $89,607 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Iowa City, IA. 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 | $69,826 | $33.57 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $89,607 | $43.08 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $109,408 | $52.60 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $129,189 | $62.11 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Nashville, TN
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
Where a $89,607 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 Data Scientists in Nashville, TN?
At least $129,189 a year ($62.11/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 15-2051 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Cannon County, TN; Cheatham County, TN; Davidson County, TN; Dickson County, TN; Hickman County, TN; Macon County, TN; Maury County, TN; Robertson County, TN; Rutherford County, TN; Smith County, TN; Sumner County, TN; Trousdale County, TN; Williamson County, TN; Wilson 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.
Data Scientists wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, 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.