SOC 17-2061 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer Hardware Engineers H-1B wage levels in Birmingham, AL
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $148,200. Level III starts at $122,388, Level II at $96,596 and Level I at $70,783.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Birmingham, AL?
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 Birmingham, AL wage area: Level I is $70,783 a year, Level II $96,596, Level III $122,388 and Level IV $148,200. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $148,200 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $70,783 up to $96,595 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Birmingham, AL has the #68 highest Level IV wage for this job, 7% below the median metro ($160,119). The same $96,596 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in New Orleans, LA. 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 | $70,783 | $34.03 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $96,596 | $46.44 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $122,388 | $58.84 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $148,200 | $71.25 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Birmingham, AL
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 $96,596 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Alabama metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Computer Hardware Engineers in Birmingham, AL?
At least $148,200 a year ($71.25/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2061 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Bibb County, AL; Blount County, AL; Chilton County, AL; Jefferson County, AL; Shelby County, AL; St. Clair County, AL; Walker County, AL.
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 Birmingham, AL
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.