Prevailing Wage for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
The prevailing wage for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks under SOC 43-3031 sets the minimum a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring an Account Clerk, Accounting Assistant, or Accounting Specialist on an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL publishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level clerks with limited experience performing routine tasks under close supervision, typically recent graduates or candidates new to bookkeeping roles in the U.S. Employers filing at this level expect significant on-the-job training for core accounting functions.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks. It applies to qualified workers with some independent responsibility, handling a defined set of accounts or ledgers with moderate oversight and a working grasp of standard accounting software.
Level 3 covers experienced clerks who handle complex account reconciliations, train junior staff, or manage specialized ledgers with minimal supervision. Candidates typically bring several years of progressive experience and may hold an associate degree or bookkeeping certification.
Level 4 applies to fully competent clerks operating at a senior or lead capacity, often overseeing a team, setting procedures, or managing accounts across multiple departments. Employers filing here expect mastery of accounting systems and the ability to work without supervisory guidance.
Prevailing Wage for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks 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 title mismatches on your LCA
Employers sometimes file Accounting Assistant or Account Clerk roles under a managerial or analyst SOC, which sets a different prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your offer letter title maps to SOC 43-3031 before your LCA is certified to avoid a compliance gap later.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage calculation
DOL's prevailing wage requirement for bookkeeping roles applies to base salary only. Signing bonuses, annual bonuses, and RSUs do not count toward the floor. An offer that clears the threshold only when bonuses are included does not satisfy the LCA wage obligation.
Factor in California metro premiums when comparing offers
The San Jose and San Francisco metro areas set the highest prevailing wages for Accounting Clerks and Accounting Specialists in the country, well above the national median. A lower nominal offer in a mid-tier city may represent stronger purchasing power once the regional floor is factored in.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with Bookkeeping sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks for H-1B or green card, so you can prioritize outreach toward companies that have already cleared DOL's filing process for this occupation rather than educating employers from scratch.
Jobs for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-3031.00 alongside Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Account Clerk Prevailing Wage
Account Clerk Prevailing Wage
Account Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounting Assistant Prevailing Wage
Accounting Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Accounting Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Accounting Associate Prevailing Wage
Accounting Associate Prevailing Wage
Accounting Associate is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounting Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounting Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounting Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounting Specialist Prevailing Wage
Accounting Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Accounting Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Accounting Technician Prevailing Wage
Accounting Technician Prevailing Wage
Accounting Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounts Payable Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Payable Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Payable Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounts Payable Specialist Prevailing Wage
Accounts Payable Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Accounts Payable Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Accounts Payables Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Payables Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Payables Clerk is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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.
Accounts Receivable Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Receivable Clerk Prevailing Wage
Accounts Receivable Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). 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 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?
DOL derives prevailing wages from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 43-3031, OFLC maps employer-submitted job requirements to one of four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. The resulting wage is what an employer must certify on the Labor Condition Application before filing an H-1B or E-3 petition with USCIS.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 qualified independent work, Level 3 experienced roles with some lead responsibility, and Level 4 fully independent senior positions. To identify your level, compare the job duties, oversight structure, and complexity described in the offer letter against DOL's level definitions published by OFLC. Most sponsored Accounting Clerk and Accounting Specialist positions are filed at Level 2.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same bookkeeping role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages using metro-level Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so the floor reflects actual wages paid in each labor market. A worksite in San Jose or San Francisco produces a significantly higher prevailing wage than the same role in a lower-cost metro. Critically, the prevailing wage is tied to the worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, so remote and hybrid arrangements must be handled carefully.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks position?
If the offered wage falls below the certified LCA wage level, the employer is out of compliance with DOL requirements. USCIS can deny the H-1B or E-3 petition, and an existing employee can face status issues. DOL can also audit the employer and require back-pay. The offer itself must meet or exceed the prevailing wage before the LCA is certified, not just at the time of filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-3031 for any metro area. Select the area of intended employment matching the worksite address on the LCA and choose the appropriate wage level. This page also surfaces the DOL wage data by metro for this occupation. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers in a target city have sponsored bookkeeping and accounting roles before, narrowing your job search to companies already familiar with the process.
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