SOC 17-2051 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Civil Engineers H-1B wage levels in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $120,661. Level III starts at $105,664, Level II at $90,668 and Level I at $75,671.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Civil Engineers in Philadelphia, PA?
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 Civil Engineers (SOC 17-2051) in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD wage area: Level I is $75,671 a year, Level II $90,668, Level III $105,664 and Level IV $120,661. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $120,661 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $75,671 up to $90,667 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Philadelphia, PA has the #57 highest Level IV wage for this job, 1% below the median metro ($121,909). The same $90,668 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in El Paso, 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 | $75,671 | $36.38 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $90,668 | $43.59 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $105,664 | $50.80 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $120,661 | $58.01 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Philadelphia, PA
Thresholds here are below the major-metro median, so a given salary earns more entries than in pricier metros.
Where a $90,668 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Pennsylvania metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Civil Engineers in Philadelphia, PA?
At least $120,661 a year ($58.01/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2051 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
New Castle County, DE; Cecil County, MD; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Philadelphia County, PA.
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.
Civil Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
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.