Prevailing Wage for Airfield Operations Specialists
Prevailing wage for Airfield Operations Specialists, SOC 53-2022, is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer comes in as an Airport Operations Agent, Airport Operations Coordinator, or Airport Operations Officer title, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located.
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Entry-level candidates with limited experience in airfield operations, typically in their first one to two years on the job. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine, and the employee is still developing familiarity with airfield safety procedures, landing aids, and dispatch protocols.
Workers with moderate experience who perform the full range of airfield operations duties with general supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Airfield Operations Specialists, covering Airport Operations Agents and Coordinators who handle standard dispatch, weather monitoring, and flight record maintenance independently.
Experienced specialists who handle complex or non-routine situations, exercise independent judgment, and may informally guide less experienced staff. Typical candidates have several years in airfield operations, with demonstrated competence across safety implementation, navigational aid use, and coordination with air-traffic control.
Senior or lead professionals with comprehensive expertise across all airfield operations functions. May hold a supervisory or advisory role, set departmental procedures, serve as the primary liaison between maintenance crews and air-traffic control, or manage operations at a high-traffic airfield.
Prevailing Wage for Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Check whether military and civilian sites pay differently
Airfield Operations Specialists employed at military installations often have separate wage structures than those at commercial airports. Confirm your LCA worksite classification reflects the actual airfield type, since misclassification can put an offer below the prevailing wage floor for the correct site category.
Watch for low-paying metro outliers in the South
Savannah and Virginia Beach post prevailing wages well below the national median for this occupation, even at Level 4. If your offer is in one of those metros, verify the employer filed against the local OES rate and not a higher-paying region that inflates the apparent competitiveness of the package.
Understand why West Coast airports dominate top wages
San Francisco and Seattle post the highest prevailing wages for Airport Operations Specialists nationally, driven by dense commercial traffic, unionized workforces, and high regional labor costs. An L2 offer in San Francisco clears a substantially higher floor than an L2 offer in most other cities.
Find employers sponsoring Airport Operations Specialists on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Airfield Operations Specialists and related titles historically, filtered by visa type and location. That sponsorship history helps you prioritize airports and aviation companies that have already navigated the LCA and H-1B process for this occupation.
Jobs for Airfield Operations Specialists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-2022.00 alongside Airfield Operations Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Airport Operations Agent Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Agent Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Agent positions fall under SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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.
Airport Operations Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Airport Operations Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Airport Operations Officer Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Officer Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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.
Airport Operations Specialist Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Specialist Prevailing Wage
Airport Operations Specialist positions fall under SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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.
Flight Follower Prevailing Wage
Flight Follower Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Flight Follower for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Operations Agent Prevailing Wage
Operations Agent Prevailing Wage
Operations Agent is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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.
Operations Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Operations Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Operations Coordinator positions fall under SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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.
Operations Officer Prevailing Wage
Operations Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Operations Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Operations Specialist Prevailing Wage
Operations Specialist Prevailing Wage
Operations Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2022.00 (Airfield Operations Specialists). 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 Airfield Operations Specialists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 53-2022, the agency calculates four wage levels by applying fixed percentage multipliers to the regional median. Employers sponsoring an Airfield Operations Specialist must certify on the LCA 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 identify mine?
DOL assigns wage levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level employees under close supervision. Level 2 applies to workers performing the full range of duties with general oversight, which is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced specialists with independent judgment. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. The level on your LCA should match the actual duties and supervision described in your job offer.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. An Airport Operations Coordinator in San Francisco is measured against Bay Area wages; the same title in Fort Wayne is measured against Indiana wages. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the rate for the city where you will actually work, not the company headquarters. This is why a national median figure can substantially understate or overstate what your specific offer must clear.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or similar petition if the underlying LCA fails wage compliance. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the offered salary, reclassify the position to a lower wage level with supporting documentation, or withdraw the sponsorship application.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 53-2022 in any metropolitan area where you have an offer. Select the correct area of intended employment, choose the wage level matching your role scope, and compare the result to your offered salary. For identifying which employers have sponsored this occupation in the past and what locations they operate in, Migrate Mate filters by visa type and role so you can see active sponsorship history before you apply.
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