SOC 17-2061 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer Hardware Engineers H-1B wage levels in Richmond, VA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $160,119. Level III starts at $133,412, Level II at $106,704 and Level I at $79,997.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Richmond, VA?
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 Richmond, VA wage area: Level I is $79,997 a year, Level II $106,704, Level III $133,412 and Level IV $160,119. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $160,119 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $79,997 up to $106,703 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Richmond, VA has the #51 highest Level IV wage for this job. The same $106,704 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV 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 | $79,997 | $38.46 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $106,704 | $51.30 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $133,412 | $64.14 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $160,119 | $76.98 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Richmond, VA
Thresholds here sit at the major-metro median.
Where a $106,704 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 Richmond, VA?
At least $160,119 a year ($76.98/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2061 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Amelia County, VA; Charles City County, VA; Chesterfield County, VA; Colonial Heights city, VA; Dinwiddie County, VA; Goochland County, VA; Hanover County, VA; Henrico County, VA; Hopewell city, VA; King and Queen County, VA; King William County, VA; New Kent County, VA; Petersburg city, VA; Powhatan County, VA; Prince George County, VA; Richmond city, VA; Sussex County, VA.
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 Richmond, VA
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.