SOC 17-2031 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Lexington-Fayette, KY
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $146,432. Level III starts at $127,733, Level II at $109,034 and Level I at $90,335.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Lexington, KY?
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY wage area: Level I is $90,335 a year, Level II $109,034, Level III $127,733 and Level IV $146,432. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $146,432 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $90,335 up to $109,033 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Lexington, KY has the #13 highest Level IV wage for this job, 14% above the median metro ($128,586). The same $109,034 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Orlando, FL. 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 | $90,335 | $43.43 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $109,034 | $52.42 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $127,733 | $61.41 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $146,432 | $70.40 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Lexington, KY
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 $109,034 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Kentucky metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Lexington, KY?
At least $146,432 a year ($70.40/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2031 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Bourbon County, KY; Clark County, KY; Fayette County, KY; Jessamine County, KY; Scott County, KY; Woodford County, KY.
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY
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.