SOC 17-2031 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $161,096. Level III starts at $140,629, Level II at $120,183 and Level I at $99,716.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Santa Cruz, CA?
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA wage area: Level I is $99,716 a year, Level II $120,183, Level III $140,629 and Level IV $161,096. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $161,096 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $99,716 up to $120,182 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Santa Cruz, CA has the #3 highest Level IV wage for this job, 25% above the median metro ($128,586). The same $120,183 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Houston, TX. 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 | $99,716 | $47.94 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $120,183 | $57.78 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $140,629 | $67.61 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $161,096 | $77.45 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Santa Cruz, CA
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 $120,183 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other California metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in Santa Cruz, CA?
At least $161,096 a year ($77.45/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2031 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Santa Cruz County, CA.
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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
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.