Prevailing Wage for Computer Hardware Engineers
Prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers, including roles filed under titles like Design Engineer, Hardware Design Engineer, and Physical Design Engineer, is set by the DOL at four experience levels. The floor varies significantly by worksite city, making location one of the most important factors when evaluating a sponsored offer.
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Entry-level engineers with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates, working under direct supervision on routine hardware tasks with minimal independent decision-making. Employers filing at Level 1 expect the role to require structured guidance throughout the work.
Engineers with practical experience who can work independently on standard hardware development tasks. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Computer Hardware Engineers, covering mid-range contributors who handle defined projects without requiring constant supervisory oversight.
Experienced engineers with a track record of leading complex hardware design or testing work. Level 3 roles often involve mentoring junior staff, cross-functional coordination, and independent ownership of significant design or development deliverables.
Senior or principal engineers who set technical direction, lead major hardware programs, or manage teams. Level 4 reflects top-of-range competency, deep specialization, and accountability for outcomes across large-scale or mission-critical hardware systems.
Prevailing Wage for Computer Hardware Engineers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Verify your title maps to SOC 17-2061
Titles like Field Service Engineer or simply Engineer are sometimes filed under software or electrical engineering SOC codes instead of 17-2061. Confirm your employer's LCA references Computer Hardware Engineers specifically, or the prevailing wage floor on your petition may not match this occupation.
Treat equity and bonuses as separate from the floor
For hardware engineers at semiconductor and FAANG employers, total compensation often includes heavy RSU grants and signing bonuses. DOL counts only regular wages toward the prevailing wage floor; RSUs and one-time bonuses do not satisfy the requirement if base salary falls short.
Watch the gap between San Jose and lower-cost metros
San Jose and Bridgeport prevailing wages for this occupation run more than double the floor in metros like Knoxville or Louisville. If your employer's main office is in a high-wage market but your worksite is elsewhere, the LCA must use the actual worksite location's wage.
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Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Computer Hardware Engineers in the past and lets you filter by visa type and location, so you can focus on companies with a real track record of filing H-1B or green card petitions for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Computer Hardware EngineersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-2061.00 alongside Computer Hardware Engineers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Design Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Field Service Engineer Prevailing Wage
Field Service Engineer Prevailing Wage
Field Service Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Hardware Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Hardware Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Hardware Design Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hardware Engineer Prevailing Wage
Hardware Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hardware Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Physical Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Physical Design Engineer Prevailing Wage
Physical Design Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Project Engineer Prevailing Wage
Project Engineer Prevailing Wage
Project Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Staff Engineer Prevailing Wage
Staff Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Staff Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Systems Integration Engineer Prevailing Wage
Systems Integration Engineer Prevailing Wage
Systems Integration Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2061.00 (Computer Hardware Engineers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Computer Hardware Engineers from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC maps the role to SOC code 17-2061 and publishes four wage levels for each metropolitan area. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and autonomy: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified and works independently on standard tasks, Level 3 is experienced with ownership of complex work, and Level 4 is fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Your level should correspond to the actual duties and supervision structure in the job description, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL sets wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. Dense employer markets like San Jose and San Francisco, where semiconductor and hardware firms compete heavily for talent, produce much higher survey medians than smaller metros. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage for the actual worksite address, not the company's headquarters, which is why your specific work location matters.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, USCIS can deny the H-1B petition or issue a Request for Evidence. The employer must certify compliance on the LCA before USCIS will approve the visa. A below-floor offer does not automatically disqualify a candidate, but the employer must either raise the salary or refile at a lower wage level that legitimately matches the role's duties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current DOL prevailing wage for Computer Hardware Engineers by metro area and wage level. Enter SOC code 17-2061 and select the worksite metropolitan area to see all four levels. You can also check recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for this occupation. Migrate Mate's employer history view shows which companies have sponsored this role, helping you identify active sponsors before applying.
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