SOC 17-2041 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Chemical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Lexington-Fayette, KY
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $134,306. Level III starts at $114,941, Level II at $95,597 and Level I at $76,232.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Chemical 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 Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041) in the Lexington-Fayette, KY wage area: Level I is $76,232 a year, Level II $95,597, Level III $114,941 and Level IV $134,306. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $134,306 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $76,232 up to $95,596 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 #59 highest Level IV wage for this job, 4% below the median metro ($139,527). The same $95,597 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Provo, UT. 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 | $76,232 | $36.65 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $95,597 | $45.96 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $114,941 | $55.26 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $134,306 | $64.57 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Lexington, KY
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 $95,597 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 Chemical Engineers in Lexington, KY?
At least $134,306 a year ($64.57/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2041 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.
Chemical 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.