Prevailing Wage for Commercial Pilots
The prevailing wage for Commercial Pilots covers positions ranging from Charter Pilot roles at regional operators to Captain seats at established air carriers. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor varies significantly by city, reflecting regional demand and employer concentration across the country.
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Entry-level pilots with limited logged flight hours, recently certificated, performing supervised nonscheduled operations under direct oversight. Typically less than two years of relevant commercial flying experience with a narrow scope of assigned routes or aircraft types.
Pilots with moderate experience across multiple aircraft types or route environments, working with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Commercial Pilots, reflecting mid-career hires at charter operators, air ambulance services, and regional tour companies.
Experienced pilots handling complex assignments with minimal supervision, often acting as lead crew or training other pilots. Typically five or more years of commercial flying experience with demonstrated proficiency across demanding operational conditions or specialized aircraft categories.
Fully competent pilots in senior command roles, including Check Airman designations or lead Captain positions at established operators. Expected to set standards, mentor crews, and manage the full scope of flight operations with no supervisory requirement.
Prevailing Wage for Commercial Pilots 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 Commercial Pilots and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches logged hours
Charter operators frequently file at Level 1 even when hiring pilots with thousands of logged hours. If your total flight time and aircraft type ratings align with Level 2 or higher, the DOL wage floor shifts upward substantially and your offer should reflect that.
Watch how signing bonuses are counted toward base
Air ambulance and air tour employers sometimes structure compensation with large one-time signing bonuses that cannot count toward prevailing wage compliance. The LCA wage obligation applies to recurring base pay, so verify the annual salary alone clears the DOL floor for your level.
Check worksite wages for your specific hub city
A Commercial Pilots position based in Los Angeles carries a very different DOL floor than the same title at a rural operator in Tuscaloosa or Flagstaff. The LCA must list your actual base airport as the worksite, and the prevailing wage tied to that metro controls the floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with pilot hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which operators have sponsored Commercial Pilots visa categories in the past, letting you focus applications on carriers with a demonstrated record of filing LCAs for this SOC rather than employers who have never navigated pilot sponsorship before.
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Find Jobs for Commercial PilotsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-2012.00 alongside Commercial Pilots, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Captain Prevailing Wage
Captain Prevailing Wage
Captain positions fall under SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
Charter Pilot Prevailing Wage
Charter Pilot Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Charter Pilot for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Check Airman Prevailing Wage
Check Airman Prevailing Wage
Check Airman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
Commercial Helicopter Pilot Prevailing Wage
Commercial Helicopter Pilot Prevailing Wage
Commercial Helicopter Pilot positions fall under SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot) Prevailing Wage
EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
First Officer Prevailing Wage
First Officer Prevailing Wage
First Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
Helicopter Pilot Prevailing Wage
Helicopter Pilot Prevailing Wage
Helicopter Pilot positions fall under SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
Line Pilot Prevailing Wage
Line Pilot Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Line Pilot for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pilot Prevailing Wage
Pilot Prevailing Wage
Pilot is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-2012.00 (Commercial Pilots). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL determine the prevailing wage for Commercial Pilots?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Commercial Pilots under SOC 53-2012, DOL calculates four wage levels based on regional employer surveys for each metropolitan area. Employers filing a Labor Condition Application through OFLC must pay at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and 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 job complexity. Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified with some independent work, Level 3 is experienced with broad authority, and Level 4 is fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. The level on your LCA should match the actual duties and experience requirements in the job description. If the duties described match Level 3 or Level 4, the employer must pay the corresponding floor even if they file at a lower level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Commercial Pilots title vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage floor. Dense aviation markets with high employer concentration, such as New York or Los Angeles, reflect local competition for pilots and produce higher floors. The LCA must list the actual worksite airport or base, meaning the metro where you physically fly from sets the applicable wage, not where the company is headquartered.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Commercial Pilots position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. OFLC will not approve an LCA where the offered wage falls short of the floor. If a petition proceeds and USCIS or DOL later identifies a wage violation, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship filings. The offer must clear the floor before any visa filing can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Commercial Pilots at a specific U.S. location?
You can look up the current DOL wage floor for any metropolitan area using the OFLC Wage Search tool, filtering by SOC code 53-2012 and the metro closest to your worksite. Select the wage year that matches when your employer intends to file. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored Commercial Pilots roles in specific cities, giving you a practical starting point before you verify the exact floor for your location.
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