Prevailing Wage for Broadcast Technicians
Prevailing wage for Broadcast Technicians, the DOL's official title for roles such as Audio Engineer, Board Operator, and Broadcast Engineer, is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels. The floor varies significantly by worksite city, so a sponsored position in Los Angeles pays far more than the same role in a smaller market.
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Level 1 covers entry-level technicians with limited broadcast experience, typically recent graduates or those new to operating transmission or acquisition equipment. DOL expects routine tasks performed under close supervision with minimal independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified technicians with hands-on experience operating broadcast systems with some independence. Most H-1B and E-3 LCA filings for Broadcast Technicians land at Level 2, as employers typically require demonstrated proficiency beyond entry level.
Level 3 is for experienced technicians who handle complex broadcast engineering tasks, troubleshoot live transmission systems, and often mentor junior staff. DOL expects significant autonomy and a track record across multiple broadcast environments or platforms.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead broadcast engineers who set technical standards, manage broadcast infrastructure, and exercise full independent judgment. Roles titled Broadcast Operations Engineer or Broadcast Maintenance Engineer at a senior level typically fall here.
Prevailing Wage for Broadcast Technicians 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 Broadcast Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches in broadcast filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under Audio-Visual Equipment Technicians (SOC 49-9061) rather than SOC 27-4012, which carries a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC your employer used on the certified LCA before signing.
Account for the Los Angeles and New York wage gap
Broadcast Technician wages in Los Angeles and New York run roughly double those in lower-paying metros like Salt Lake City. If your employer has studios in multiple cities, confirm your LCA lists the actual worksite, not a lower-cost administrative office address.
Check whether signing bonuses count toward the floor
DOL counts only recurring cash wages toward prevailing wage compliance for broadcast roles. A signing bonus or one-time equipment stipend common in production environments does not satisfy the floor; your base salary alone must meet or exceed the certified LCA wage.
Search Migrate Mate for employers with broadcast sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Broadcast Technicians and related roles like Broadcast Engineer, letting you target studios, networks, and production companies with a demonstrated record of filing H-1B or E-3 petitions for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Broadcast TechniciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-4012.00 alongside Broadcast Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Audio Engineer Prevailing Wage
Audio Engineer Prevailing Wage
Audio Engineer positions fall under SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). 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.
Board Operator Prevailing Wage
Board Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Board Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Broadcast Engineer Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Engineer Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). 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.
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer positions fall under SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). 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.
Broadcast Operations Engineer Prevailing Wage
Broadcast Operations Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Broadcast Operations Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Control Operator Prevailing Wage
Control Operator Prevailing Wage
Control Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). 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.
Production Engineer Prevailing Wage
Production Engineer Prevailing Wage
Production Engineer positions fall under SOC 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians). 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 Broadcast Technicians?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL establishes four wage levels based on the wage distribution for SOC 27-4012. Employers sponsoring a Broadcast Technician for H-1B, E-3, or PERM must certify a wage at or above the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect experience and responsibility: Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified with some independent work, Level 3 is experienced with significant autonomy, and Level 4 is fully competent at a senior or lead scope. DOL and USCIS expect the level to match the actual job duties and supervision structure described in the LCA and petition, not simply the years of experience on your resume. Review the certified LCA your employer filed to see which level they selected.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Broadcast Technician role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so wages reflect local labor market rates rather than a single national figure. Dense media markets like New York and Los Angeles have high concentrations of broadcast employers and unionized technical staff, driving wages substantially higher than smaller markets. The LCA must list the actual worksite where you will perform duties, and OFLC enforces that the wage on the LCA corresponds to that specific location's survey data.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA, and USCIS cannot approve an H-1B or E-3 petition, if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. If the offer is low, the employer must either increase the salary to meet the floor or refile at a lower wage level that accurately reflects the job duties. Accepting a below-floor wage in a sponsored role also creates compliance risk for the employer during DOL audits.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Broadcast Technicians in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current four-level prevailing wage for SOC 27-4012 by metropolitan area. Enter the worksite city and select the broadcast technician occupation to see the exact Level 1 through Level 4 figures DOL will apply to any LCA filed for that location. Cross-reference your offer letter salary against the level your employer certified before accepting the role.
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