SOC 17-2061 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer Hardware Engineers H-1B wage levels in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $218,837. Level III starts at $185,058, Level II at $151,300 and Level I at $117,520.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Durham, NC?
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC wage area: Level I is $117,520 a year, Level II $151,300, Level III $185,058 and Level IV $218,837. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $218,837 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $117,520 up to $151,299 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Durham, NC has the #5 highest Level IV wage for this job, 37% above the median metro ($160,119). The same $151,300 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 | $117,520 | $56.50 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $151,300 | $72.74 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $185,058 | $88.97 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $218,837 | $105.21 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Durham, NC
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $151,300 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other North Carolina metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Computer Hardware Engineers in Durham, NC?
At least $218,837 a year ($105.21/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2061 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Chatham County, NC; Durham County, NC; Orange County, NC; Person County, NC.
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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.