SOC 17-2011 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Aerospace Engineers H-1B wage levels in Columbia, SC
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $166,380. Level III starts at $140,484, Level II at $114,608 and Level I at $88,712.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Aerospace Engineers in Columbia, SC?
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 Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) in the Columbia, SC wage area: Level I is $88,712 a year, Level II $114,608, Level III $140,484 and Level IV $166,380. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $166,380 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $88,712 up to $114,607 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Columbia, SC has the #25 highest Level IV wage for this job, 7% above the median metro ($155,876). The same $114,608 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Boise City, ID. 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 | $88,712 | $42.65 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $114,608 | $55.10 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $140,484 | $67.54 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $166,380 | $79.99 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Columbia, SC
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
DOL marks this wage with GeoLvl 2: there were too few local survey responses, so the levels are borrowed from a wider geography. They are still the official numbers for this area.
Where a $114,608 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other South Carolina metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Aerospace Engineers in Columbia, SC?
At least $166,380 a year ($79.99/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2011 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Calhoun County, SC; Fairfield County, SC; Kershaw County, SC; Lexington County, SC; Richland County, SC; Saluda County, SC.
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.
Aerospace Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Columbia, SC
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.