Updated
Prevailing wage levels
DOL's four wage levels for an occupation in a metro or non-metro area, read live from the OFLC wage search. Pick the series a determination was issued in and read it against the four.
- Level I Entry
- Level II Qualified
- Level III Experienced
- Level IV Fully competent
Pick an occupation and an area: DOL's four levels for that job draw here, with the yearly and hourly figure for each.
FAQs
Where do these numbers come from?
From DOL's own wage search on flag.dol.gov, the same lookup the National Prevailing Wage Center's determinations are drawn from, using the all-industries OEWS series. This page asks DOL for the occupation and area you pick and prints what DOL answers, with the series year.
Which level will my case get?
The level is set from the job's requirements against what the occupation normally requires: education, experience, supervision, special skills. Level I is entry, Level IV fully competent. DOL decides it on the ETA-9141; this page shows the four figures so a determination can be read against them.
Why does the series matter?
OEWS wages turn over every July 1. A determination issued between July 1 and June 30 uses that July's series, and its validity runs to the next June 30 or 90 days, whichever the rule gives. Pick the series a determination was issued in to read the figures it was set from.
What if DOL prints no wage for my area?
Some occupation and area pairs have no OEWS estimate, and DOL's search answers with zeros. The page says so instead of showing zero dollars. The wage request itself can still be determined; the center uses a broader area or another source when the local estimate is missing.
The rules behind these numbers
Waiting on a PERM case?
- When it'll likely be decided
- An email when DOL moves it