Prevailing Wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors
Prevailing wages for Athletes and Sports Competitors (SOC 27-2021) are set by DOL and apply to sponsored roles including Baseball Player, Hockey Player, and Golf Professional positions. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the wage floor varies significantly by city, so the location listed on an LCA determines which threshold your offer must clear.
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Entry-level athletes with limited professional experience, typically new to organized competition at the professional level. These filings reflect the lowest complexity and responsibility scope, covering individuals still developing sport-specific skills under close supervision or within developmental leagues.
Qualified athletes with professional experience and demonstrated performance at a recognized competitive level. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Athletes and Sports Competitors, covering active roster players with established track records in their sport.
Experienced athletes who bring specialized skills, consistent high-level performance, or leadership roles within a team. These professionals typically have several seasons of professional competition and contribute beyond basic participation, influencing team strategy or serving as key performers.
Fully competent athletes at the top tier of professional performance, including franchise players, team captains, or widely recognized specialists. Level 4 reflects the highest scope of responsibility, individual contribution, and market value within the occupation.
Prevailing Wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors 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 Athletes and Sports Competitors and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Athletes and Sports Competitors
Match your league tier to the right wage level
Minor league and developmental roster players are typically filed at Level 1 or Level 2, while active major league roster members often warrant Level 3 or Level 4. Misclassifying a major league athlete at Level 1 risks an underpaid LCA and a USCIS denial.
Watch for signing bonus exclusions in total comp
DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base salary on the LCA, not signing bonuses or performance incentives. Clubs sometimes structure offers heavily toward bonuses, which do not count toward meeting the wage floor for a sponsored athlete.
Check metro variance before accepting a roster offer
St. Louis and Kansas City post substantially higher Level 2 and Level 3 thresholds than Columbus or Oklahoma City for this occupation. The worksite city on the LCA controls which floor applies, so a club's location directly affects what salary clears compliance.
Search sponsor history on Migrate Mate before negotiating
Clubs and sports organizations that have sponsored Athletes and Sports Competitors before leave a filing history you can review. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this role, letting you see how active a team or organization is in visa filings before you sign.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-2021.00 alongside Athletes and Sports Competitors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Baseball Pitcher Prevailing Wage
Baseball Pitcher Prevailing Wage
Baseball Pitcher positions fall under SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Baseball Player for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Basketball Player Prevailing Wage
Basketball Player Prevailing Wage
Basketball Player is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Golf Professional Prevailing Wage
Golf Professional Prevailing Wage
Golf Professional positions fall under SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Hockey Player Prevailing Wage
Hockey Player Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hockey Player for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Major League Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
Major League Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
Major League Baseball Player is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Minor League Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
Minor League Baseball Player Prevailing Wage
Minor League Baseball Player positions fall under SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Professional Athlete Prevailing Wage
Professional Athlete Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Professional Athlete for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Professional Golf Tournament Player Prevailing Wage
Professional Golf Tournament Player Prevailing Wage
Professional Golf Tournament Player is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Race Car Driver Prevailing Wage
Race Car Driver Prevailing Wage
Race Car Driver positions fall under SOC 27-2021.00 (Athletes and Sports Competitors). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. For Athletes and Sports Competitors, DOL sets four wage levels based on experience and performance scope. Employers use the OFLC Wage Search to retrieve the certified prevailing wage for this occupation before filing an LCA with DOL.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level athletes new to professional competition. Level 2 applies to qualified professionals with established performance records and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced athletes with specialized contributions, and Level 4 reflects fully competent performers at the top of the profession. Your level should reflect your actual experience and roster status, not simply what the employer prefers to file.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same athletic role vary so much by city?
DOL derives wage floors from regional OES surveys that capture local labor market conditions. Sports markets with higher concentrations of professional teams and larger club payrolls, such as those in Texas metro areas, tend to produce higher surveyed wages. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, and that city's OES area determines which floor applies, even if the team's front office is located elsewhere.
What happens if a club offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. If filed anyway, USCIS will deny the H-1B or other sponsored petition. The employer must either increase the base salary to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a level where the offer does comply before certification proceeds.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Athletes and Sports Competitors in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search on the DOL website, entering SOC code 27-2021 and the relevant metropolitan area to retrieve current certified wage levels. USCIS also references these figures when adjudicating petitions. For finding employers with a verified history of sponsoring athletes, Migrate Mate filters listings by role and location and shows each organization's past visa sponsorship activity so you can target clubs that have actually filed for this occupation before.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Athletes and Sports Competitors right now.
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