SOC 17-2011 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Aerospace Engineers H-1B wage levels in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $144,914. Level III starts at $125,508, Level II at $106,122 and Level I at $86,716.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Aerospace Engineers in Durham, NC?
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC wage area: Level I is $86,716 a year, Level II $106,122, Level III $125,508 and Level IV $144,914. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $144,914 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $86,716 up to $106,121 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Durham, NC has the #72 highest Level IV wage for this job, 7% below the median metro ($155,876). The same $106,122 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Madison, WI. 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 | $86,716 | $41.69 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $106,122 | $51.02 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $125,508 | $60.34 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $144,914 | $69.67 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Durham, NC
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
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 $106,122 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other North Carolina metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Aerospace Engineers in Durham, NC?
At least $144,914 a year ($69.67/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2011 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Chatham County, NC; Durham County, NC; Orange County, NC; Person County, NC.
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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.