SOC 17-2031 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $120,204. Level III starts at $101,879, Level II at $83,575 and Level I at $65,250.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical 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 Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031) in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC wage area: Level I is $65,250 a year, Level II $83,575, Level III $101,879 and Level IV $120,204. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $120,204 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $65,250 up to $83,574 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 #67 highest Level IV wage for this job, 7% below the median metro ($128,586). The same $83,575 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Fayetteville, AR. 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 | $65,250 | $31.37 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $83,575 | $40.18 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $101,879 | $48.98 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $120,204 | $57.79 | 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.
Where a $83,575 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 Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Durham, NC?
At least $120,204 a year ($57.79/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2031 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.
Bioengineers and Biomedical 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.