Prevailing Wage for Artists and Related Workers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Artists and Related Workers, All Other (SOC 27-1019) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city listed on the Labor Condition Application.
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Entry-level workers with limited experience performing routine tasks under close supervision. Typically recent graduates or candidates making a first career move into a specialty artistic or related occupation who follow established procedures with little independent judgment expected.
Qualified workers with a foundation of practical experience who handle assignments with moderate complexity and some independent judgment. Level 2 is the most common filing level for artists and related workers, reflecting mid-career professionals with established portfolios and defined specializations.
Experienced professionals who independently manage complex projects, exercise considerable judgment, and often guide junior staff or coordinate across teams. These workers demonstrate a track record in their specialty and may take on client-facing or cross-functional responsibilities.
Fully competent workers at the senior or lead level who set direction, develop standards, and handle the most complex assignments with full autonomy. This level covers principal artists, creative directors, and senior specialists recognized as authorities in their discipline.
Prevailing Wage for Artists and Related 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 Artists and Related 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 Artists and Related Workers, All Other
Watch for misclassified titles on your LCA
Creative roles like visual designers or multimedia artists are sometimes filed under broader or adjacent SOC codes, bypassing the SOC 27-1019 floor entirely. Verify the SOC code on your employer's Labor Condition Application before accepting an offer to confirm which wage floor applies.
Account for project-based pay structures
Many artists and related workers receive per-project fees, freelance stipends, or bonus-heavy packages. DOL counts only guaranteed annualized wages toward prevailing wage compliance, so variable creative project bonuses or royalties do not substitute for a shortfall in base salary.
Filter sponsored artist roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists employers with documented visa sponsorship history in creative and arts occupations, so you can identify which studios, agencies, or media companies have actually sponsored workers in this SOC rather than guessing from job postings.
Compare Washington DC and Atlanta before relocating
For artists and related workers, Washington DC and Atlanta set wage floors significantly above the national median at every experience level, while Memphis and Houston sit well below it. Worksite city on the LCA determines which floor applies, not your home address.
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Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Artists and Related Workers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for each SOC code, including SOC 27-1019. OFLC publishes these figures annually. Employers sponsoring workers under H-1B, E-3, or permanent residence must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines four levels based on experience, complexity, and supervision. Level 1 covers entry-level workers in routine roles. Level 2 reflects qualified workers handling moderately complex assignments with some independence. Level 3 applies to experienced professionals managing complex work and guiding others. Level 4 covers senior or lead workers with full autonomy. The employer assigns the level on the LCA based on actual job duties, which OFLC may scrutinize during audit.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much between cities?
OFLC bases prevailing wages on regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions in each metropolitan statistical area. Dense employer markets in Washington DC or San Francisco push survey medians higher than in Memphis or Houston. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage floor applies, not where the worker lives. A remote arrangement where the worksite is listed as a high-wage metro carries that city's floor.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage floor. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition filed on a non-compliant LCA. If a wage violation is discovered after approval, DOL can require back wages and bar the employer from sponsoring workers. Candidates should independently verify the floor using the OFLC Wage Search before signing an offer letter.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for this role in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC code 27-1019 and the relevant metropolitan area, and DOL will display the four wage levels for that location. Cross-reference with O*NET to confirm the occupation definition matches your job duties. For identifying which employers have sponsored artists and related workers in the past, Migrate Mate filters job listings by visa type and shows each employer's historical sponsorship record.
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