SOC 17-2141 · DOL wage year 2026–27 · FY 2028 lottery
Mechanical Engineers H-1B wage levels in Albuquerque, NM
For the maximum 4 lottery entries, the offered salary must be at least $173,452. Level III starts at $155,834, Level II at $138,237 and Level I at $120,620.
What is the H-1B prevailing wage for Mechanical Engineers in Albuquerque, NM?
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 Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in the Albuquerque, NM wage area: Level I is $120,620 a year, Level II $138,237, Level III $155,834 and Level IV $173,452. Under the weighted H-1B lottery, a registration is entered once per wage level, so an offer of $173,452 or more gets four entries, while an offer from $120,620 up to $138,236 gets one. DHS projects selection odds of about 15%, 31%, 46% and 61% for Levels I to IV. Among 100 major H-1B metros, Albuquerque, NM has the #3 highest Level IV wage for this job, 39% above the median metro ($124,904). The same $138,237 offer that is Level II here reaches Level IV in New York, NY. 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 | $120,620 | $57.99 | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | $138,237 | $66.46 | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | $155,834 | $74.92 | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | $173,452 | $83.39 | 4 | 61.16% |
Salary ladder
Where each level starts in Albuquerque, NM
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 $138,237 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 Mechanical Engineers in Albuquerque, NM?
At least $173,452 a year ($83.39/hour), the DOL OEWS Level IV wage for SOC 17-2141 in this area for 2026–27.
Which counties does this wage area cover?
Bernalillo County, NM; Sandoval County, NM; Torrance County, NM; Valencia County, NM.
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.
Mechanical Engineers wages in all 530 areas · All occupations in Albuquerque, NM
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.