SOC 17-2072 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer H-1B wage levels in Ames, IA
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $91,583. Level III starts at $82,452, Level II at $73,341 and Level I at $64,210.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in Ames, IA?
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 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (SOC 17-2072) in the Ames, IA wage area: Level I is $64,210 a year, Level II $73,341, Level III $82,452 and Level IV $91,583. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $91,583 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $64,210 up to $73,340 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Ames, IA has the #99 highest Level IV wage for this job, 36% below the median metro ($142,688). 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 | $64,210 | $30.87 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $73,341 | $35.26 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $82,452 | $39.64 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $91,583 | $44.03 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Ames, IA
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.
Other Iowa metros
Frequently asked
What salary gets 4 H-1B lottery entries for Electronics Engineers, Except Computer in Ames, IA?
At least $91,583 a year ($44.03/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2072 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Boone County, IA; Story County, IA.
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.
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Ames, IA
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.