Prevailing Wage for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Prevailing wage requirements for Atmospheric and Space Scientists are set by DOL and vary by experience level and work location. Whether your offer is for a Meteorologist, Broadcast Meteorologist, or Forecaster role, DOL assigns one of four wage levels based on experience and job duties. The floor differs meaningfully from city to city.
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Entry-level professionals with limited experience, typically recent graduates performing routine tasks under close supervision. Employers file at Level 1 when the role involves applying established methods and procedures with minimal independent judgment expected.
The most common filing level for Atmospheric and Space Scientists. Qualified professionals with moderate experience who work semi-independently, apply DOL-recognized occupational knowledge, and handle a standard range of forecasting or analysis assignments without constant supervision.
Experienced professionals who exercise independent judgment, lead technical analyses, and may guide junior staff. DOL assigns Level 3 when the role requires advanced knowledge and the ability to handle complex or novel atmospheric science problems.
Senior or lead-level professionals with full competency across the occupation. Roles involve setting technical direction, managing projects, or serving as a subject-matter authority. Employers file at Level 4 for staff positions requiring the broadest depth of meteorological expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Atmospheric and Space 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
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Atmospheric and Space Scientists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Confirm your work location before filing
The prevailing wage for this occupation swings sharply by metro. Chicago and Washington, DC post significantly higher floors than Wichita or Salt Lake City. The LCA must reflect the actual worksite city, so confirm the physical work location before your employer files.
Watch for title aliasing to the wrong SOC
Titles like Hydrometeorological Tech or Ocean Monitoring Scientist are O*NET alternates for SOC 19-2021 but sometimes get filed under adjacent codes. If your employer files under a different SOC, the applicable wage floor may not match the Atmospheric and Space Scientists standard.
Check base salary against the full wage floor
DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only guaranteed base pay. Signing bonuses, performance bonuses, and RSUs do not satisfy the floor. Forecaster and Meteorologist roles at broadcast networks sometimes carry variable pay structures that undercount toward the required wage.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Migrate Mate lists employers with documented H-1B sponsorship history and lets you filter by role and location. You can see which agencies, broadcasters, and private-sector firms have actually sponsored Atmospheric and Space Scientists before submitting applications.
Jobs for Atmospheric and Space Scientists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-2021.00 alongside Atmospheric and Space Scientists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Broadcast Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Meteorologist positions fall under SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Forecaster Prevailing Wage
Forecaster Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Forecaster for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
General Forecaster Prevailing Wage
General Forecaster Prevailing Wage
General Forecaster is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech) Prevailing Wage
Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech) Prevailing Wage
Hydrometeorological Technician (Hydrometeorological Tech) positions fall under SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Meteorologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist Prevailing Wage
Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist Prevailing Wage
Ocean Monitoring and Data Assimilation Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Research Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Research Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Research Meteorologist positions fall under SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Service Hydrologist Prevailing Wage
Service Hydrologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Service Hydrologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Prevailing Wage
Warning Coordination Meteorologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Weather Forecaster Prevailing Wage
Weather Forecaster Prevailing Wage
Weather Forecaster positions fall under SOC 19-2021.00 (Atmospheric and Space 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Atmospheric and Space Scientists?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, mapped to SOC 19-2021. OFLC converts those survey results into four wage levels using a percentile-based formula. Employers sponsoring H-1B or PERM applicants must pay at or above the level that matches the offered position's duties and requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which applies to me?
Level 1 covers entry-level roles under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified professionals working semi-independently; Level 3 covers experienced staff with complex responsibilities; Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead professionals. Your level is determined by the actual job duties on the Labor Condition Application, not your title. Review the LCA your employer files to confirm the level matches your role's real scope.
Why does the same Atmospheric and Space Scientists role pay so differently across cities?
DOL runs regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys that capture local labor market conditions. A Meteorologist position in Chicago or Washington, DC sits in a market with dense federal agency and broadcast employer concentration, pushing regional survey medians higher. The LCA worksite rule requires the wage floor to match the metropolitan area where you actually work, not where the employer is headquartered, so a remote reclassification can change the applicable floor.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition. For PERM green card cases, OFLC similarly rejects applications that do not meet the prevailing wage determination. The employer must increase the offered salary to meet the floor before sponsorship can proceed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 19-2021 wages by metropolitan area. Select the occupation and the metro where you will work to see the current four-level wage floor. For filed LCA data showing what employers have actually offered Atmospheric and Space Scientists, you can also review OFLC disclosure files or use Migrate Mate to identify employers with confirmed sponsorship history in the role.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Atmospheric and Space Scientists right now.
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