Prevailing Wage for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians working in the U.S. on sponsored visas must meet DOL prevailing wage floors that vary by experience level and work location. Whether your job title reads Cardiac Catheterization Technician, Cardiac Technician, or Cardiology Technician, DOL sets four wage levels tied to experience, and the floor shifts significantly from city to city.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$42K
$20.14/hr

Entry-level candidates with limited practical experience, typically recent graduates or those new to cardiovascular testing environments. DOL expects minimal independent judgment; work is closely supervised and limited to routine diagnostic and monitoring procedures.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$56K
$26.73/hr

Qualified technologists with a few years of hands-on experience performing cardiac catheterizations, electrocardiograms, or pulmonary function tests independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, reflecting standard clinical competency.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$69K
$33.15/hr

Experienced professionals who handle complex cases, mentor junior staff, or specialize in advanced cardiovascular procedures such as interventional catheterization. DOL expects demonstrated expertise and the ability to work without direct supervision across a broad scope of testing.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$82K
$39.47/hr

Fully competent senior technologists with recognized expertise, often in lead or specialized roles. These professionals may oversee lab operations, train others, or manage a full cath lab or cardiopulmonary unit. DOL reserves Level 4 for the highest tier of occupational competency.

Prevailing Wage for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$20K/yr$79K/yr

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

1
Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO metro
$79K$37.99/hr
2
Provo, UT
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro
$73K$35.21/hr
3
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$71K$34.35/hr
4
Lexington Park, MD
Lexington Park, MD metro
$69K$33.26/hr
5
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$69K$32.98/hr
6
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro
$67K$32.29/hr
7
Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA metro
$66K$31.79/hr
8
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro
$64K$30.53/hr
9
Boise City, ID
Boise City, ID metro
$63K$30.49/hr
10
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro
$63K$30.39/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Watch for title mismatches in cath lab filings

Some employers post roles as Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist but file the LCA under a broader diagnostic technician SOC, which can carry a lower prevailing wage floor. Confirm the SOC code on your LCA matches SOC 29-2031 before signing.

Account for California metro wage premiums

San Jose and San Francisco carry significantly higher prevailing wages than the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in a Bay Area hospital system, the worksite city on your LCA must match, since filing under a lower-cost metro wage is a compliance violation.

Expect Level 2 filings even with prior experience

Cardiovascular technologists transitioning from overseas credentials or a different U.S. employer often get filed at Level 2 regardless of total experience. This is common in hospital and cardiac lab settings where employers reset the level at the start of a new sponsorship.

Find employers sponsoring cardiovascular techs on Migrate Mate

Migrate Mate shows which hospitals and health systems have historically sponsored Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, so you can target employers already familiar with the visa process rather than educating HR from scratch.

Jobs for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-2031.00 alongside Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist) Prevailing Wage

Cardiac Cath Lab Technologist (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Technologist) positions fall under SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardiac Catheterization Technician Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cardiac Catheterization Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardiac Technician Prevailing Wage

Cardiac Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician) Prevailing Wage

Cardio Tech (Cardiovascular Technician) positions fall under SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardiology Technician Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cardiology Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardiopulmonary Technician Prevailing Wage

Cardiopulmonary Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT) Prevailing Wage

Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT) positions fall under SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech) Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electrocardiogram Technician (EKG Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Prevailing Wage

Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-2031.00 (Cardiovascular Technologists and 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.

Level 1
Entry
$42K
$20.14/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$56K
$26.73/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$69K
$33.15/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$82K
$39.47/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians?

DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro areas and states. For SOC 29-2031, OFLC calculates four wage levels from that regional data. An employer filing a Labor Condition Application for a sponsored cardiovascular technologist must pay at least the level that matches the employee's experience and job duties at the specific worksite location.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?

DOL's four levels reflect experience and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level candidates under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified technologists performing standard procedures independently, and it is the most common filing level in this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced professionals handling complex cases. Level 4 applies to senior or lead technologists. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties and experience requirements in the job description, not just your total years of work.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much from city to city?

OFLC calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. An employer must use the prevailing wage for the worksite city listed on the LCA, not their headquarters location. Dense medical markets like San Jose and Boston produce much higher survey wages than smaller or rural metro areas, which is why the floor can vary substantially for the same cardiovascular technologist role depending on where the hospital or clinic is located.

What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with OFLC if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. If an LCA is filed with an understated wage, USCIS may issue a request for evidence or deny the petition. For green card cases under PERM, DOL audits can uncover wage violations and result in denial. The practical result is that a below-floor offer cannot legally support a visa sponsorship filing.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?

The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current four-level wages for SOC 29-2031 by state or metro area. Enter the occupation code and select the worksite area to see the exact floor your employer must meet on the LCA. You can also use Migrate Mate to identify employers that have sponsored cardiovascular technologist roles in specific cities and compare that against the wage data you pull from OFLC.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians right now.

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