SOC 17-2061 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer Hardware Engineers H-1B wage levels in Albuquerque, NM
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $183,706. Level III starts at $164,653, Level II at $145,621 and Level I at $126,568.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Albuquerque, NM?
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 Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061) in the Albuquerque, NM wage area: Level I is $126,568 a year, Level II $145,621, Level III $164,653 and Level IV $183,706. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $183,706 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $126,568 up to $145,620 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Albuquerque, NM has the #28 highest Level IV wage for this job, 15% above the median metro ($160,119). The same $145,621 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in Atlanta, GA. 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 | $126,568 | $60.85 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $145,621 | $70.01 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $164,653 | $79.16 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $183,706 | $88.32 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Albuquerque, NM
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 $145,621 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Computer Hardware Engineers in Albuquerque, NM?
At least $183,706 a year ($88.32/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2061 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Bernalillo County, NM; Sandoval County, NM; Torrance County, NM; Valencia County, NM.
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.
Computer Hardware Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Albuquerque, NM
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.