SOC 17-2061 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Computer Hardware Engineers H-1B wage levels in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $195,832. Level III starts at $167,316, Level II at $138,778 and Level I at $110,261.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Trenton, NJ?
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ wage area: Level I is $110,261 a year, Level II $138,778, Level III $167,316 and Level IV $195,832. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $195,832 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $110,261 up to $138,777 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Trenton, NJ has the #14 highest Level IV wage for this job, 22% above the median metro ($160,119). The same $138,778 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 | $110,261 | $53.01 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $138,778 | $66.72 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $167,316 | $80.44 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $195,832 | $94.15 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Trenton, NJ
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 $138,778 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 Trenton, NJ?
At least $195,832 a year ($94.15/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2061 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Mercer County, NJ.
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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.