Prevailing Wage for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
Prevailing wage for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-2097) is the DOL-set minimum an H-1B, E-3, or green card employer must pay. Whether your offer is for an A/V Installer, Home Theater Installer, or A/V Installation Tech, DOL defines four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level candidates with limited hands-on experience, typically working under direct supervision on straightforward installation or repair tasks. Most sponsors file Level 1 for recent completers of a technical program or workers new to the audiovisual trade.
Qualified technicians with some independent field experience who can handle standard A/V system installations and repairs with minimal oversight. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers, reflecting a journeyman scope.
Experienced installers who routinely handle complex system configurations, troubleshoot advanced faults, and may informally guide junior technicians. Employers typically file Level 3 for workers taking on lead-site or multi-system project responsibilities.
Fully competent senior technicians with extensive field experience, recognized expertise, and responsibility for project oversight, quality control, or training others. Level 4 filings are less common and typically reserved for supervisory or specialist-scope positions.
Prevailing Wage for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers 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 this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for SOC misclassification on A/V titles
Employers sometimes file A/V Installer or Field Service Tech roles under SOC 49-2022 (Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers) instead of 49-2097, landing a different wage floor. Confirm which SOC code appears on your LCA before accepting an offer.
Account for travel pay in wage compliance
Many audiovisual installation roles include per-diem or travel reimbursements that do not count toward the prevailing wage floor. Your base hourly or annual rate alone must clear the DOL threshold; reimbursements cannot be used to bridge a gap.
Check wages by worksite, not company headquarters
San Francisco and San Jose post prevailing wage floors roughly double those of Fort Wayne or McAllen for the same SOC 49-2097 role. Your LCA must list every physical worksite, and the wage requirement applies at each location where you will actually work.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for installation roles
Migrate Mate lists employers with documented H-1B or E-3 sponsorship history for audiovisual and field-tech roles, letting you see which companies have actually filed for this occupation before targeting your job search.
Jobs for Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-2097.00 alongside Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
A/V Installation Tech (Audio Visual Installation Technician) Prevailing Wage
A/V Installation Tech (Audio Visual Installation Technician) Prevailing Wage
A/V Installation Tech (Audio Visual Installation Technician) positions fall under SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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.
A/V Installer (Audio Visual Installer) Prevailing Wage
A/V Installer (Audio Visual Installer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a A/V Installer (Audio Visual Installer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electronic Tech (Electronic Technician) Prevailing Wage
Electronic Tech (Electronic Technician) Prevailing Wage
Electronic Tech (Electronic Technician) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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.
Field Service Tech (Field Service Technician) Prevailing Wage
Field Service Tech (Field Service Technician) Prevailing Wage
Field Service Tech (Field Service Technician) positions fall under SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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.
Home Theater Installer Prevailing Wage
Home Theater Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Home Theater Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Installer Prevailing Wage
Installer Prevailing Wage
Installer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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.
Satellite Installer Prevailing Wage
Satellite Installer Prevailing Wage
Satellite Installer positions fall under SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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.
TV Analyzer (Television Analyzer) Prevailing Wage
TV Analyzer (Television Analyzer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a TV Analyzer (Television Analyzer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
TV Repairman (Television Repairman) Prevailing Wage
TV Repairman (Television Repairman) Prevailing Wage
TV Repairman (Television Repairman) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2097.00 (Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers). 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 Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employers across every metro area. For SOC 49-2097, OFLC converts that survey data into four wage levels keyed to experience and job complexity. The employer must select the level that matches the actual duties and supervision structure of the offered position, then certify that the offered wage meets or exceeds that floor on the Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 applies to entry-level work under close supervision with limited experience required. Level 2 covers qualified technicians working with moderate independence, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced workers handling complex tasks or guiding others. Level 4 is for fully competent senior or lead-scope positions. Match the level to the actual duties, supervision, and experience requirements in your job offer, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same A/V installer role vary so much between cities?
DOL relies on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local employer compensation in each metro area. OFLC publishes a separate wage floor for every metropolitan statistical area, and the LCA worksite rule requires the employer to use the wage for the city where you actually perform the work. High-cost metros with dense commercial A/V markets, such as San Francisco or New York, have significantly higher survey wages than smaller markets like Fort Wayne or McAllen.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition if the certified LCA wage does not meet the DOL prevailing wage floor for the worksite location and experience level. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC will reject a prevailing wage determination that does not match the correct level. In either case, the employer must increase the offered wage to the applicable floor before the petition or application can proceed. A below-floor offer cannot be cured by bonuses, overtime, or benefits.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an audiovisual installer role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 49-2097 in any metropolitan area. Select the occupation code, choose the metro closest to your actual worksite, and note the wage at the level matching your duties. For occupational context and alternate titles, the O*NET profile for 49-2097 lists recognized job titles. Migrate Mate can show you which employers have previously sponsored workers in this occupation so you can target companies already familiar with the LCA process.
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