Prevailing Wage for Carpet Installers
Prevailing wage for Carpet Installers is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data and applies to any H-1B, E-3, or green card petition covering this role. Whether you work as a Carpet Layer, Carpet Mechanic, or Floor Covering Installer, DOL assigns four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the work is performed in.
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Entry-level carpet installers with limited experience who work under close supervision and follow established procedures. Typically new to the trade, with no expectation of independent judgment on job sequencing, material selection, or pattern matching.
Qualified installers with moderate experience who work independently on standard residential or light commercial projects. Level 2 is the most common LCA filing level for Carpet Installers, reflecting journeyman-level skill without a supervisory or lead role.
Experienced installers who handle complex commercial projects, specialty flooring systems, or stair work requiring advanced technique. May informally guide junior crew members and are expected to troubleshoot subfloor conditions and installation challenges without supervision.
Fully competent lead or senior installers who set quality standards, manage installation crews, and take ownership of large-scale or high-specification projects. May hold a lead floor covering installer title and be responsible for scoping and estimating work.
Prevailing Wage for Carpet Installers 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 Carpet Installers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches your install scope
Employers sometimes file carpet installer petitions at Level 1 even when the role involves commercial stair work or pattern-matched carpet requiring advanced technique. If your day-to-day work goes beyond basic residential lay-and-trim, the Level 2 or Level 3 floor likely applies.
Watch out for Seattle versus Sun Belt wage gaps
Seattle-area carpet installer wages are dramatically higher than Southern markets. An offer that looks competitive in Charlotte or Albuquerque may sit near or below the regional floor. Always check the prevailing wage for the specific worksite metro listed on the LCA, not a national average.
Check which employers have sponsored floor covering roles
Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which flooring contractors and commercial construction firms have actually filed H-1B or green card petitions for carpet installer and related floor covering roles, rather than guessing from job postings.
Flag title mismatches that shift the SOC code
Titles like Commercial Floor Covering Installer or Floor Installation Mechanic should file under SOC 47-2041. If an employer classifies the role under a general construction laborer SOC, the prevailing wage floor drops significantly and the petition may not accurately reflect your actual duties.
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Find Jobs for Carpet InstallersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2041.00 alongside Carpet Installers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Carpet Layer Prevailing Wage
Carpet Layer Prevailing Wage
Carpet Layer positions fall under SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). 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.
Carpet Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Carpet Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Carpet Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Commercial Floor Covering Installer Prevailing Wage
Commercial Floor Covering Installer Prevailing Wage
Commercial Floor Covering Installer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). 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.
Floor Coverer Prevailing Wage
Floor Coverer Prevailing Wage
Floor Coverer positions fall under SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). 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.
Floor Covering Installer Prevailing Wage
Floor Covering Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Floor Covering Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Floor Installation Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Floor Installation Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Floor Installation Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). 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.
Flooring Installer Prevailing Wage
Flooring Installer Prevailing Wage
Flooring Installer positions fall under SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). 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.
Installer Prevailing Wage
Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Carpet Installers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Carpet Installers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) publishes four wage levels for each occupation in each metro area. Employers file a Labor Condition Application citing the level that matches the position's duties and required experience, and the offered wage must meet or exceed that level.
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 applies to qualified workers who operate independently on standard projects and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 is for experienced installers handling complex or specialty work. Level 4 covers lead or fully competent roles with supervisory scope. Match your level to the actual duties in the job description, not just the title the employer uses.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same carpet installer role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture actual wages paid in each metropolitan area. Labor markets for construction trades differ sharply by region, union density, and commercial activity. Under the LCA rules, the wage floor that applies is always the one for the worksite location listed on the petition, so a Las Vegas offer is measured against Las Vegas data, not a national median.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or green card petition. For H-1B cases, the employer's LCA must certify that the wage meets the floor before USCIS adjudicates the I-129. An offer below the floor needs to be renegotiated or refiled at the correct wage before a compliant petition can be submitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Carpet Installers in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 47-2041 for any metro area where the work will be performed. Select the wage year that matches your petition and confirm the level against your job duties. For employer-specific sponsorship history in that market, Migrate Mate filters carpet installer and floor covering roles by location and shows which employers have sponsored the position in the past.
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