Prevailing Wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

The prevailing wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1041) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring visa or green card candidates in this occupation. DOL publishes four experience levels, so whether your title is Agriculture Instructor, Agriculture Professor, or Agronomy Professor, the applicable floor depends on your level and worksite city.

See all jobs for this role

Look up your work address

Level 1Entry
National median
$57K
$27.19/hr

Entry-level postsecondary agriculture instructors with limited independent teaching experience and close faculty supervision typically qualify here. DOL expects minimal autonomy in curriculum development and a narrowly scoped course load, often reflecting a first appointment or visiting instructor role.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$76K
$36.68/hr

Qualified agricultural sciences faculty with some independent teaching and research responsibilities file at Level 2. This is the most common filing level for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, covering assistant professors and experienced instructors managing their own courses and undergraduate advisees.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$97K
$46.73/hr

Experienced faculty leading research programs, graduate supervision, or significant departmental responsibilities file here. DOL associates Level 3 with substantial independent judgment, multi-course coordination, and recognized expertise in a subfield such as agronomy, animal science, or horticulture.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$114K
$54.62/hr

Fully competent senior faculty, including tenured associate or full professors, with established research portfolios, grant funding, and program leadership responsibilities file at Level 4. DOL expects comprehensive mastery of the specialty and recognized authority within the institution and field.

Prevailing Wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

Loading map…
$26K/yr$94K/yr

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

1
Washington, DC
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro
$87K$41.61/hr
2
Nashville, TN
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro
$72K$34.80/hr
3
Madison, WI
Madison, WI metro
$72K$34.71/hr
4
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro
$72K$34.55/hr
5
College Station, TX
College Station-Bryan, TX metro
$64K$30.96/hr
6
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro
$59K$28.38/hr
7
Houston, TX
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro
$58K$28.02/hr
8
Dallas, TX
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro
$57K$27.63/hr
9
Chicago, IL
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro
$56K$26.79/hr
10
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro
$56K$26.75/hr

See all jobs for this role

See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.

Search visa-sponsored jobs

Prevailing Wage Guide for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Watch for title mismatches at land-grant universities

Agricultural sciences faculty positions at land-grant institutions are sometimes filed under broader education SOC codes rather than SOC 25-1041. Confirm your LCA lists this specific occupation code to ensure the correct prevailing wage floor applies to your offer.

Account for research stipends excluded from prevailing wage

Some universities structure compensation with separate research supplements or one-time startup funds that DOL excludes from the prevailing wage calculation. Only guaranteed base salary counts toward the floor, so verify that your base alone clears the applicable wage level.

Compare metro wages before accepting a college-town offer

Prevailing wages for postsecondary agriculture faculty vary sharply between college towns and major metros. A position in a smaller agricultural university city may carry a significantly lower prevailing wage floor than equivalent roles near larger research institutions or urban campuses.

Use Migrate Mate to find employers sponsoring agriculture faculty

Migrate Mate shows which universities and research institutions have historical H-1B or green card sponsorship records for agricultural sciences faculty roles, helping you focus applications on campuses already familiar with sponsoring this specific occupation.

Jobs for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Jobs for this role

Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-1041.00 alongside Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Agriculture Instructor Prevailing Wage

Agriculture Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Agriculture Professor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Agriculture Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Agronomy Professor Prevailing Wage

Agronomy Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Animal Science Professor Prevailing Wage

Animal Science Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Associate Professor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Associate Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Horticulture Instructor Prevailing Wage

Horticulture Instructor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Horticulture Professor Prevailing Wage

Horticulture Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Instructor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Plant Science Professor Prevailing Wage

Plant Science Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Professor Prevailing Wage

Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1041.00 (Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$57K
$27.19/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$76K
$36.68/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$97K
$46.73/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$114K
$54.62/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary?

DOL bases prevailing wages on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 25-1041, DOL calculates four wage levels by applying set percentile thresholds to regional wage distributions. Employers sponsoring H-1B or PERM applicants must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry positions with limited autonomy; Level 2 reflects qualified professionals handling standard duties independently; Level 3 applies to experienced faculty with broader responsibilities; Level 4 covers fully competent senior roles. Your employer selects the level on the LCA based on the actual duties in the offer. If the duties match a higher level than filed, USCIS can challenge the petition, so the classification should reflect your real responsibilities, not the lowest available wage.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?

DOL uses regional OES surveys to capture local labor market conditions, so wages reflect what employers in each area actually pay. The worksite address on the LCA determines which regional wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. Markets with high concentrations of research universities or large land-grant institutions, such as Washington DC or College Station, tend to produce higher surveyed wages, while areas with fewer postsecondary employers report lower floors. If you relocate or work remotely from a different city, the LCA worksite must be updated.

What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the occupation and location. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B petition. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL will deny the application. If a certified LCA later shows a wage below what was paid, the employer faces back-wage liability and potential debarment. Candidates should independently verify the prevailing wage before signing an offer to avoid sponsorship delays caused by noncompliant compensation.

How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which DOL maintains for public access, to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 25-1041 and metropolitan area. Select the relevant wage year and worksite area to see all four levels. You can also cross-reference BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for broader regional data. For finding employers with a sponsorship track record in this occupation, Migrate Mate lets you filter by role and location to identify universities that have actively sponsored agricultural sciences faculty positions.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary right now.

Search Jobs for this role