Prevailing Wage for Agricultural Workers, All Other
The prevailing wage for Agricultural Workers, All Other (SOC 45-2099) is set by DOL and defines the minimum base pay a sponsored worker must receive. DOL calculates four experience-based levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city. Candidates should confirm their offer meets the level applicable to their experience before accepting.
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Entry-level agricultural workers with limited U.S. field experience, performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers newer to domestic agricultural operations or transitioning from seasonal roles typically fall here. Employers filing at Level 1 expect significant on-the-job training.
Qualified workers with moderate experience performing standard agricultural tasks with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting the bulk of sponsored positions in crop production, irrigation, and general farm operations.
Experienced workers who handle complex or varied agricultural tasks with minimal supervision. These workers often train others, manage specialized equipment, or coordinate fieldwork across multiple crews. Employers filing at Level 3 typically document several years of continuous relevant experience.
Fully competent workers in senior or lead roles with broad responsibility across farm operations. Level 4 positions may involve crew oversight, compliance reporting, or production planning. Employers filing here must document a strong track record and advanced practical expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Agricultural Workers, All Other 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 Workers, All Other and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Agricultural Workers, All Other
Confirm your worksite falls in California
California metros like Sacramento, Bakersfield, and Modesto pay prevailing wages well above the national floor for agricultural workers. If your offer is in a low-wage state like Tennessee or Georgia, the required floor drops sharply. Always verify the worksite city on the LCA, not the employer headquarters.
Watch for H-2A versus H-1B filing mismatches
Many agricultural employers default to the H-2A program for seasonal labor. If you are sponsored under H-1B or for a green card, confirm the LCA uses the SOC 45-2099 wage floor, not H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates, which follow a different DOL methodology entirely.
Check which tasks push your level above L2
Agricultural Workers classified at Level 3 or 4 typically supervise crews, operate specialized irrigation or harvesting systems, or manage compliance records. If your offer letter describes these duties but the LCA files at Level 1 or 2, the employer may be understating your classification.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Relatively few employers sponsor agricultural workers for H-1B or green card status. Migrate Mate shows which companies have actually filed sponsorship petitions for this occupation, helping you focus your search on employers already familiar with the process.
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Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Agricultural Workers, All Other?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Agricultural Workers, All Other using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages are broken into four levels based on experience and skill. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored worker must pay at least the wage DOL assigns to the relevant level and worksite metropolitan area. OFLC publishes these figures and updates them periodically.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level workers under close supervision, Level 2 to qualified workers with moderate independence, Level 3 to experienced workers handling complex tasks or training others, and Level 4 to fully competent senior or lead workers. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in your job offer. If the LCA level understates your responsibilities, the employer is required to file at the higher wage.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
DOL derives metro-level wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture what employers in each area actually pay. Agricultural wages in California's Central Valley reflect high local demand, concentrated large-scale farming operations, and state labor protections. Markets in Tennessee or Georgia have lower employer concentration and different wage norms. Immigration rules require the employer to use the wage for the worksite listed on the LCA, regardless of where the company is headquartered.
What happens if an employer offers me less than the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the DOL prevailing wage for your level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or related petition if the LCA is deficient. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC reviews wage compliance before certifying the labor application. If an offer falls short, the employer must either raise the salary to meet the floor or refile at the correct wage level before sponsorship can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Agricultural Workers, All Other in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the current DOL prevailing wage by occupation and metropolitan area. Search under SOC code 45-2099 and select the city where you would actually work. Because wages are updated periodically, verify the figure close to your offer date rather than relying on older data. Migrate Mate also lists employers with a history of sponsoring agricultural workers, so you can identify which companies are actively filing in your target location.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Agricultural Workers, All Other right now.
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