SOC 17-2071 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Electrical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Knoxville, TN
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $135,512. Level III starts at $114,816, Level II at $94,141 and Level I at $73,445.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Electrical Engineers in Knoxville, TN?
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 Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) in the Knoxville, TN wage area: Level I is $73,445 a year, Level II $94,141, Level III $114,816 and Level IV $135,512. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $135,512 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $73,445 up to $94,140 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Knoxville, TN has the #49 highest Level IV wage for this job, 1% above the median metro ($134,431). The same $94,141 offer that is Level II here reaches Level III in Fayetteville, AR. 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 | $73,445 | $35.31 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $94,141 | $45.26 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $114,816 | $55.20 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $135,512 | $65.15 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Knoxville, TN
Thresholds here are above the major-metro median, so you need a bigger salary for the same number of entries.
Where a $94,141 offer lands
That's Level II here. For the same job, it reaches a higher level in these major metros.
Other Tennessee metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Electrical Engineers in Knoxville, TN?
At least $135,512 a year ($65.15/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2071 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Anderson County, TN; Blount County, TN; Campbell County, TN; Grainger County, TN; Knox County, TN; Loudon County, TN; Morgan County, TN; Roane County, TN; Union County, TN.
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.
Electrical Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Knoxville, TN
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.