Prevailing Wage · 2025-26
H1B Prevailing Wage in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area
The U.S. Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for every occupation in each wage area. These are the legal minimum H1B salaries in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area across 102 occupations, from entry (Level I) to senior (Level IV), covering 20 counties.
For example, the H1B prevailing wage for Software Developers in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area is $70,970 at Level I (entry), rising to $134,555 at Level IV (senior), for the 2025-26 wage year.
Counties in this wage area
20 countiesEvery county below uses the Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area prevailing wage shown on this page.
Alleghany County, NCAshe County, NCAvery County, NCCherokee County, NCClay County, NCCleveland County, NCGraham County, NCHaywood County, NCJackson County, NCMacon County, NCMcDowell County, NCMitchell County, NCPolk County, NCRutherford County, NCSurry County, NCSwain County, NCTransylvania County, NCWatauga County, NCWilkes County, NCYancey County, NC
| Occupation | Level IEntry | Level IIQualified | Level IIIExperienced | Level IVSenior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $70,970 | $92,165 | $113,360 | $134,555 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $46,488 | $63,003 | $79,539 | $96,054 |
| Data Scientists | $55,390 | $76,253 | $97,136 | $117,998 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $85,842 | $125,216 | $164,611 | $203,986 |
| Computer Programmers | $57,346 | $71,656 | $85,966 | $100,277 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $60,570 | $76,190 | $91,811 | $107,432 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $57,949 | $70,699 | $83,450 | $96,200 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $57,138 | $73,154 | $89,190 | $105,206 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $51,002 | $64,938 | $78,894 | $92,830 |
| Electrical Engineers | $69,930 | $85,800 | $101,650 | $117,520 |
| Management Analysts | $51,272 | $70,491 | $89,690 | $108,909 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $57,013 | $69,784 | $82,576 | $95,347 |
| Industrial Engineers | $69,056 | $80,954 | $92,851 | $104,749 |
| Database Architects | $32,282 | $58,677 | $85,051 | $111,446 |
| Information Security Analysts | $60,237 | $82,742 | $105,269 | $127,774 |
| Civil Engineers | $63,482 | $77,334 | $91,187 | $105,040 |
| Project Management Specialists | $58,115 | $71,718 | $85,322 | $98,925 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $37,794 | $50,315 | $62,816 | $75,338 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $39,541 | $48,256 | $56,971 | $65,686 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $108,722 | $127,858 | $147,014 | $166,150 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $85,092,800 | $95,166,240 | $105,241,760 | $115,315,200 |
| Sales Engineers | $69,410 | $90,022 | $110,635 | $131,248 |
| Computer Network Architects | $66,997 | $85,509 | $104,021 | $122,533 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,739,200 | $140,011,040 | $169,284,960 | $198,556,800 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $88,441,600 | $97,878,560 | $107,313,440 | $116,750,400 |
| Lawyers | $66,789 | $100,235 | $133,702 | $167,149 |
| Marketing Managers | $81,432 | $109,866 | $138,299 | $166,733 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $117,561,600 | $162,427,200 | $207,292,800 | $252,158,400 |
| Chemists | $51,334 | $61,984 | $72,654 | $83,304 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $114,483,200 | $141,564,800 | $168,646,400 | $195,728,000 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $36,816 | $61,443 | $86,050 | $110,677 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $108,804,800 | $139,728,160 | $170,649,440 | $201,572,800 |
| Physical Therapists | $67,683 | $79,165 | $90,646 | $102,128 |
| Financial Managers | $71,115 | $101,213 | $131,290 | $161,387 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $58,718 | $72,405 | $86,112 | $99,798 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $51,563 | $63,502 | $75,462 | $87,402 |
| Construction Managers | $63,960 | $87,069 | $110,178 | $133,286 |
| Logisticians | $48,880 | $60,362 | $71,822 | $83,304 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $62,483 | $80,371 | $98,238 | $116,126 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $84,219,200 | $94,598,400 | $104,977,600 | $115,356,800 |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,648,000 | $123,995,040 | $145,344,160 | $166,691,200 |
| Registered Nurses | $63,253 | $71,510 | $79,768 | $88,026 |
| Dentists, General | $105,643 | $162,344 | $219,024 | $275,725 |
| Graphic Designers | $31,408 | $42,474 | $53,518 | $64,584 |
| General and Operations Managers | $38,043 | $66,622 | $95,181 | $123,760 |
| Occupational Therapists | $70,346 | $81,474 | $92,581 | $103,709 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $70,221 | $94,598 | $118,955 | $143,333 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $33,488 | $39,894 | $46,301 | $52,707 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $100,505,600 | $115,350,560 | $130,193,440 | $145,038,400 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $162,032,000 | $196,691,040 | $231,352,160 | $266,011,200 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $173,243 | $215,758 | $258,274 | $300,789 |
| Web Developers | $55,515 | $73,736 | $91,957 | $110,178 |
| Cost Estimators | $46,509 | $57,450 | $68,390 | $79,331 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $42,515 | $56,306 | $70,117 | $83,907 |
| Pediatricians, General | $86,902 | $124,384 | $161,866 | $199,347 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $71,469 | $101,899 | $132,330 | $162,760 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $45,074 | $57,200 | $69,326 | $81,453 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $46,717 | $55,162 | $63,586 | $72,030 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,246,400 | $125,105,760 | $143,963,040 | $162,822,400 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $38,272 | $45,760 | $53,248 | $60,736 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $82,264,000 | $92,372,800 | $102,481,600 | $112,590,400 |
| Pharmacists | $106,413 | $118,040 | $129,688 | $141,315 |
| Sales Managers | $61,589 | $91,749 | $121,888 | $152,048 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $70,366 | $91,021 | $111,696 | $132,350 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $109,948,800 | $128,329,760 | $146,708,640 | $165,089,600 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $38,667 | $45,448 | $52,208 | $58,989 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $114,649,600 | $129,916,800 | $145,184,000 | $160,451,200 |
| Chief Executives | $111,925 | $178,422 | $244,920 | $311,418 |
| Purchasing Managers | $76,814 | $93,808 | $110,781 | $127,774 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,432,000 | $130,472,160 | $153,510,240 | $176,550,400 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $62,962 | $82,243 | $101,504 | $120,786 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $43,285 | $51,938 | $60,570 | $69,222 |
| Veterinarians | $75,234 | $97,698 | $120,141 | $142,605 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $36,234 | $46,363 | $56,514 | $66,643 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $47,424 | $56,430 | $65,437 | $74,443 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $123,219,200 | $146,904,160 | $170,587,040 | $194,272,000 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $61,443,200 | $93,302,560 | $125,159,840 | $157,019,200 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $115,065,600 | $131,040,000 | $147,014,400 | $162,988,800 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $59,155 | $72,904 | $86,632 | $100,381 |
| Interior Designers | $35,485 | $43,722 | $51,958 | $60,195 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $116,625,600 | $140,088,000 | $163,550,400 | $187,012,800 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $78,124,800 | $89,481,600 | $100,838,400 | $112,195,200 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $28,267 | $40,997 | $53,726 | $66,456 |
| Budget Analysts | $57,595 | $66,789 | $76,003 | $85,197 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $81,723,200 | $104,139,360 | $126,553,440 | $148,969,600 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $62,026 | $79,144 | $96,262 | $113,381 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $109,512,000 | $132,288,000 | $155,064,000 | $177,840,000 |
| Clergy | $45,718 | $54,038 | $62,358 | $70,678 |
| Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products | $44,096 | $56,098 | $68,099 | $80,101 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $38,958 | $52,437 | $65,894 | $79,373 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $92,164,800 | $112,195,200 | $132,225,600 | $152,256,000 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $50,045 | $62,192 | $74,318 | $86,466 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,398,400 | $124,945,600 | $147,492,800 | $170,040,000 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $118,414,400 | $139,422,400 | $160,430,400 | $181,438,400 |
| Compliance Officers | $41,704 | $52,333 | $62,982 | $73,611 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $47,091 | $56,888 | $66,706 | $76,502 |
| Human Resources Managers | $78,853 | $100,714 | $122,595 | $144,456 |
| Engineers, All Other | $70,845 | $81,162 | $91,499 | $101,816 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $85,280,000 | $95,207,840 | $105,137,760 | $115,065,600 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $97,676,800 | $120,687,840 | $143,700,960 | $166,712,000 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $80,246,400 | $88,664,160 | $97,079,840 | $105,497,600 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $43,742 | $53,539 | $63,357 | $73,154 |
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Prevailing wages are published by the U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC for the 2025-26 wage year, based on BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area area. Hourly rates are annualized at 2,080 hours. These are the legal minimum an employer must pay; actual offers are often higher.