Prevailing Wage for Animal Scientists
Prevailing wage for Animal Scientists (SOC 19-1011) is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level research assistants to senior Animal Nutritionists and Animal Nutrition Consultants leading independent programs. Whether your offer is for a Beef Cattle Nutritionist role or a broader Animal Nutritionist position, the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
See all jobs for Animal ScientistsLook up your work address
Entry-level filing for Animal Scientists with limited professional experience, typically under two years post-degree. Candidates perform routine research tasks under direct supervision with little independent judgment expected. Most positions at this level involve data collection or laboratory support.
The most common filing level for Animal Scientists. Applies to candidates with two or more years of experience who work with moderate supervision, apply standard research methods independently, and have a defined but not senior scope of responsibility.
For experienced Animal Scientists who exercise significant independent judgment, design research protocols, and may informally guide junior staff. Typically requires five or more years in genetics, nutrition, or reproduction research within a specialty animal science discipline.
Senior or lead Animal Scientists who set research direction, manage programs, and function as subject-matter authorities within an organization. These roles involve little to no supervision and often include budgetary or staff oversight responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Animal Scientists 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
See all jobs for Animal Scientists
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Animal Scientists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Animal Scientists
Know where university research labs file
Animal Scientists employed at land-grant universities and USDA research stations frequently file at Level 2, even for roles requiring a PhD, because the work remains supervised within a larger program. Confirm your employer's historical filing level before negotiating.
Watch for bonus exclusions in livestock industry offers
Feed company and livestock genetics employers sometimes structure compensation with production bonuses or signing bonuses. DOL counts only base salary toward prevailing wage compliance, so offers with front-loaded bonuses may clear the floor on paper but fall short in annualized base pay.
Check Migrate Mate for Animal Scientists sponsor history
Animal Nutritionist and Beef Cattle Specialist roles concentrate in a small number of employers. Migrate Mate shows which companies have actually sponsored Animal Scientists before, helping you target sponsors with a real track record in this occupation.
Treat Fayetteville and Lincoln as opposite anchors
Fayetteville, AR reports the highest Animal Scientists prevailing wages nationally, driven by major poultry and feed industry employers. Lincoln, NE sits at the low end. If your worksite is in Nebraska, an offer that looks competitive nationally may still clear the floor with room to spare.
Jobs for Animal Scientists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Animal ScientistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1011.00 alongside Animal Scientists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Animal Nutrition Consultant Prevailing Wage
Animal Nutrition Consultant Prevailing Wage
Animal Nutrition Consultant positions fall under SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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.
Animal Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Animal Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Animal Nutritionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Beef Cattle Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Beef Cattle Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Beef Cattle Nutritionist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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.
Beef Cattle Specialist Prevailing Wage
Beef Cattle Specialist Prevailing Wage
Beef Cattle Specialist positions fall under SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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.
Companion Animal Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Companion Animal Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Companion Animal Nutritionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dairy Nutrition Consultant Prevailing Wage
Dairy Nutrition Consultant Prevailing Wage
Dairy Nutrition Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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.
Dairy Research Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Dairy Research Nutritionist Prevailing Wage
Dairy Research Nutritionist positions fall under SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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 Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Scientist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1011.00 (Animal Scientists). 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 Scientists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the metro-area level. For Animal Scientists, OFLC maps those BLS figures to four experience tiers and publishes them in its wage library. Employers file a Labor Condition Application citing the tier that matches the actual job duties and experience requirements of the position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified professionals working with moderate independence; Level 3 applies to experienced researchers exercising significant independent judgment; Level 4 covers senior or lead scientists directing programs. Your level is determined by the duties in the job description, not your highest credential alone. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm which level they selected.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Animal Scientists role differ so much city to city?
DOL bases wages on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage floor. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which metro rate applies. Cities with dense agricultural research employers, such as Fayetteville, AR, produce higher survey benchmarks than smaller Midwestern markets. If your assignment moves to a different worksite, the applicable prevailing wage changes accordingly.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Animal Scientists position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or E-3 petition unless the LCA certifies that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable prevailing wage. If the base salary falls short, OFLC can decertify the LCA, blocking the petition entirely. For green card PERM cases, a below-floor offer invalidates the labor certification. The employer must either increase the offered wage or refile at the correct level before sponsorship can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Animal Scientists in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current DOL wage determinations by SOC code 19-1011 and the metropolitan area matching your worksite. Select the experience level that aligns with your job duties. For broader employer context, Migrate Mate lets you filter Animal Scientists listings by location and see which employers have sponsored the role, giving you a real-world baseline alongside the official DOL floor.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Animal Scientists right now.
Search Jobs for Animal Scientists