Prevailing Wage for Animal Breeders
Prevailing wage for Animal Breeders under SOC 45-2021 is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your job title reads Animal Technician, Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician), or Breeder, the same four experience levels apply, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level Animal Breeders with limited experience performing routine breeding, record-keeping, or basic artificial insemination tasks under close supervision. Typically reflects a candidate new to the occupation with minimal independent judgment expected by the employer.
Qualified breeders with moderate experience who work with some independence on breeding selection, heat cycle monitoring, or pedigree evaluation. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Animal Breeders, reflecting journeyman-level competency in daily operations.
Experienced professionals who handle complex breeding programs, train junior staff, or manage artificial insemination protocols across larger herds or breeding operations. Typically requires several years of demonstrated, specialized expertise and limited supervisory oversight.
Fully competent senior breeders who lead breeding programs, set protocols across facilities, or provide expert-level judgment on genetics and reproduction strategy. Employers filing at Level 4 expect minimal direction and a track record of independent program management.
Prevailing Wage for Animal Breeders 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 Animal Breeders and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your worksite city before accepting
Animal Breeders wages vary sharply by metro, with San Diego and San Francisco floor wages running significantly higher than Los Angeles. The LCA must list your actual worksite, so a California offer in the wrong county can underpay you against the applicable prevailing wage.
Watch for title mismatches on LCA filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs using titles like Dog Breeder or Large Herd Specialist that map to different SOC codes. Confirm your employer's LCA cites SOC 45-2021 so the prevailing wage floor actually applies to your Animal Breeders position.
Expect Level 2 but confirm your actual scope
Most employers sponsor Animal Breeders at Level 2, reflecting standard qualified-breeder duties. If your role includes AI technique oversight, herd genetics management, or staff training, a Level 3 filing may be appropriate and worth negotiating before the LCA is submitted.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Animal Breeders and related titles, letting you filter by visa type and location before applying. Focusing on companies with an established sponsorship record reduces time spent on employers unlikely to navigate the LCA process.
Jobs for Animal Breeders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Animal BreedersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 45-2021.00 alongside Animal Breeders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Animal Technician Prevailing Wage
Animal Technician Prevailing Wage
Animal Technician positions fall under SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). 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.
Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician) Prevailing Wage
Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Artificial Insemination Technician (AI Technician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Artificial Inseminator Prevailing Wage
Artificial Inseminator Prevailing Wage
Artificial Inseminator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). 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.
Breeder Prevailing Wage
Breeder Prevailing Wage
Breeder positions fall under SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). 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.
Dog Breeder Prevailing Wage
Dog Breeder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dog Breeder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Large Herd Specialist Prevailing Wage
Large Herd Specialist Prevailing Wage
Large Herd Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-2021.00 (Animal Breeders). 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 Animal Breeders?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Animal Breeders under SOC 45-2021, the agency surveys employer-reported wages by geographic area and assigns four percentile-based levels. Employers filing an LCA must offer at least the wage corresponding to the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence: Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified, Level 3 is experienced, and Level 4 is fully competent. Your level depends on the duties listed in the job description, the degree of supervision, and any specialized skills such as managing artificial insemination programs or directing breeding protocols. Review the employer's LCA carefully to confirm the level matches your actual role scope.
Why does the same Animal Breeders role pay so differently by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions in each metro area. An LCA must list the specific worksite address, and the prevailing wage is drawn from that metro's survey data, not a national average. High-cost markets like San Diego and San Francisco have substantially higher floors than other areas because their survey data captures higher local compensation for the same occupation.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Animal Breeders position?
An LCA certified with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage violates DOL regulations. USCIS can deny or revoke the petition, and OFLC can investigate and debar the employer from future filings. For the worker, an underpaid LCA can jeopardize the visa petition entirely. Before signing an offer, compare the proposed salary against the DOL floor for the correct level and worksite metro.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Animal Breeders in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 45-2021 wages by state or metropolitan area. Select the wage year that matches your employer's intended LCA filing period, choose the appropriate level, and confirm the worksite city. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored Animal Breeders roles and filter by location, giving you a starting point for comparing offers against the DOL floor before you apply.
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