Prevailing Wage for Cardiologists
Prevailing wage for Cardiologists is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. The floor is divided into four experience levels, and the figure shifts meaningfully from one metro to the next. International candidates pursuing H-1B, E-3, or green card sponsorship should confirm the posted offer clears the correct level before signing.
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Level 1 covers entry-level cardiologists completing fellowship training or in their first attending position, performing supervised clinical work with limited independent case load. Employers filing at this level typically cite new graduates whose scope is defined by department protocols rather than independent judgment.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for cardiologists in sponsored positions. It applies to physicians with independent practice authority, a defined subspecialty caseload, and two or more years of post-fellowship attending experience, but without supervisory or leadership responsibilities.
Level 3 applies to experienced cardiologists who supervise fellows or residents, lead subspecialty programs, or carry added institutional responsibilities such as quality improvement oversight. Most academic medical center positions that include teaching duties fall at this level.
Level 4 covers fully independent cardiologists in senior roles: division chiefs, program directors, or those with significant research or administrative authority. This level reflects top-of-range compensation and is typically reserved for established leaders with a demonstrable national or institutional profile.
Prevailing Wage for Cardiologists 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 Cardiologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which subspecialty SOC governs your offer
Interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists are sometimes filed under general internal medicine SOC codes, which carry a different prevailing wage floor. Verify that your LCA cites SOC 29-1212 before accepting an offer, since a misclassified filing can create compliance exposure at renewal.
Scrutinize RVU bonuses and call stipends carefully
DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary, not total compensation. At many cardiology groups, RVU productivity bonuses and call stipends represent a large share of total pay but do not count toward the required wage floor. Confirm base salary alone clears the applicable level wage.
Watch how Cincinnati and Chicago filings compare to your offer
Cardiology prevailing wages vary considerably across metros. High-concentration markets like Cincinnati and Chicago tend to set higher regional floors than smaller markets. If your offer is benchmarked against a lower-wage metro but the worksite is actually in a higher-wage area, the LCA must reflect the actual worksite city.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified cardiology sponsors
Migrate Mate lists cardiology positions from employers with documented H-1B and green card sponsorship history, so you can see which hospital systems and cardiology groups have actually sponsored this role before, rather than relying on recruiter assurances.
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Find Jobs for CardiologistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1212.00 alongside Cardiologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
APP (Advanced Practice Provider) Prevailing Wage
APP (Advanced Practice Provider) Prevailing Wage
APP (Advanced Practice Provider) positions fall under SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
Cardiac Specialist Prevailing Wage
Cardiac Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cardiac Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician Prevailing Wage
Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician Prevailing Wage
Cardiology Non-Invasive Physician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
Cardiology Physician Prevailing Wage
Cardiology Physician Prevailing Wage
Cardiology Physician positions fall under SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) Prevailing Wage
DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electrophysiology Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
Electrophysiology Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
Electrophysiology Cardiologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
General Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
General Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
General Cardiologist positions fall under SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
Heart Failure Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
Heart Failure Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Heart Failure Cardiologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Interventional Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
Interventional Cardiologist Prevailing Wage
Interventional Cardiologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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.
Interventional Cardiology Physician Prevailing Wage
Interventional Cardiology Physician Prevailing Wage
Interventional Cardiology Physician positions fall under SOC 29-1212.00 (Cardiologists). 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 determine the prevailing wage for cardiologists?
DOL sets prevailing wages for cardiologists using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employer surveys across every metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area. For each area, DOL publishes four wage levels based on the experience, education, and supervision profile of the position. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC or use the OFLC Wage Search tool to identify the correct floor before filing an LCA.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 covers supervised entry-level physicians, Level 2 applies to independent practitioners without supervisory duties, Level 3 covers those with supervisory or program responsibilities, and Level 4 is reserved for senior leaders. The level is determined by the actual job duties described in the LCA, not the title alone. Review the position description carefully against DOL's level definitions and ask your employer which level their LCA cites.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same cardiologist role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, which reflect actual wages paid in each metro. Areas with higher costs of living, denser health systems, or tighter physician labor markets produce higher survey medians, which raise the local floor. Under the worksite-on-LCA rule, the employer must use the prevailing wage for the geographic area where you will actually practice, not the employer's headquarters. A position at a satellite clinic in a high-wage metro cannot use a lower-wage rural area's floor.
What happens if a sponsored cardiologist offer is below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for that level and location. USCIS will deny the H-1B petition if the underlying LCA is non-compliant. If the discrepancy is discovered after filing, the employer risks back-wage liability and debarment from sponsoring future workers. As a candidate, accepting a below-floor offer does not protect you from status issues if the petition is later challenged.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a cardiologist position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 29-1212 for your target metro. Select the area, enter the occupation code, and the tool returns the four-level wage floors based on the most current OES survey data. Cross-check against OFLC disclosure data to see what wage levels employers have filed for comparable cardiologist positions in that area. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored cardiologists historically, helping you identify active sponsors before you apply.
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