Prevailing Wage for Agricultural Engineers
Prevailing wage for Agricultural Engineers is set by DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer is for a Conservation Engineer, Agricultural Systems Specialist, or Field Engineer role, the level and location together determine whether your sponsored position clears the DOL minimum.
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Entry-level filing for candidates new to agricultural engineering, typically with a bachelor's degree and no independent project history. Work is closely supervised, with defined tasks limited to established procedures and routine assignments within the occupation.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Agricultural Engineers. Applies to candidates with a few years of professional experience who work with moderate supervision, handle non-routine assignments, and apply standard engineering methods to agricultural systems problems.
For experienced professionals who operate with significant autonomy, lead project components, and exercise independent judgment. Candidates typically hold several years of progressively responsible experience and may mentor junior staff or manage technical workstreams.
Senior or principal-level scope: setting technical direction, leading complex multi-discipline projects, and recognized as a subject-matter authority. Fully independent work with minimal oversight; often involves policy input, cross-functional leadership, or specialized research responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Agricultural 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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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Agricultural Engineers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches on LCAs
Postings for Conservation Engineer or Agricultural Systems Specialist roles are sometimes filed under broader engineering SOC codes, placing them outside this occupation's wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title aligns with SOC 17-2021 before accepting.
Factor in Puerto Rico's significantly lower floor
San Juan wages for this occupation sit well below continental U.S. metros at every level. If your worksite is listed as San Juan on the LCA, the prevailing wage floor is materially lower, which affects both compliance and your negotiating baseline.
Expect most offers to file at Level 2
Agricultural engineering roles in industry and government typically involve non-routine project work from year one, pushing employers toward a Level 2 LCA filing. A Level 1 filing for a candidate with any independent project experience warrants a closer look.
Find employers who have sponsored Agricultural Engineers before
Migrate Mate filters by role and visa type, and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts so you can identify which companies have actually filed for Agricultural Engineers rather than relying on a generic sponsorship claim.
Jobs for Agricultural Engineers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Agricultural EngineersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-2021.00 alongside Agricultural Engineers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Agricultural Systems Specialist Prevailing Wage
Agricultural Systems Specialist Prevailing Wage
Agricultural Systems Specialist positions fall under SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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.
Conservation Engineer Prevailing Wage
Conservation Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Conservation Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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.
Field Engineer Prevailing Wage
Field Engineer Prevailing Wage
Field Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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.
Product Engineer Prevailing Wage
Product Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Product Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Product Technology Scientist Prevailing Wage
Product Technology Scientist Prevailing Wage
Product Technology Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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.
Research Agricultural Engineer Prevailing Wage
Research Agricultural Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Agricultural Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Engineer Prevailing Wage
Research Engineer Prevailing Wage
Research Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2021.00 (Agricultural 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 Agricultural Engineers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys. For Agricultural Engineers, OFLC maps the role to SOC 17-2021 and assigns four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Employers must obtain a certified Labor Condition Application confirming the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified candidates handling non-routine tasks with moderate oversight, which is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced professionals with significant autonomy. Level 4 covers senior or principal-scope roles. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC to confirm which level they selected and whether it matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does pay for the same Agricultural Engineers role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects local employer compensation patterns. The wage on an LCA must correspond to the worksite address, not the employer's headquarters. Metros with higher concentrations of agricultural engineering employers or higher general compensation levels, like Lafayette, Indiana, produce significantly higher wage floors than lower-cost regions such as San Juan, Puerto Rico.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the underlying H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. The employer must either increase the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the role at an appropriate level before filing. An uncertified LCA effectively blocks the sponsorship from proceeding.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Agricultural Engineers in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 17-2021 wages by state or metropolitan area. Select the relevant OES wage survey and enter your worksite city to retrieve the four level figures. You can also cross-reference published wage data through the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Migrate Mate lists open roles with employer sponsorship history, letting you compare actual offers against the DOL floor for your target metro.
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