Prevailing Wage for Computer Programmers
Prevailing wage floors for Computer Programmers are set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys, and the threshold your offer must clear depends on both experience level and worksite city. Whether your title reads Analyst Programmer, Java Developer, or Application Programmer Analyst, DOL assigns four levels, and the gap between them is substantial.
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Level 1 covers entry-level programmers with limited experience who work under close supervision, following established procedures. Typical candidates hold a recent degree and have not yet directed their own projects or independently designed program logic.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Computer Programmers. It applies to candidates with some independent judgment, moderate experience, and the ability to modify existing code and work through specifications without step-by-step direction.
Level 3 applies to experienced programmers who regularly exercise independent judgment, mentor junior staff, and take ownership of moderately complex components. Candidates typically have several years of applied experience across multiple programming environments.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior programmers whose work requires a high degree of independent judgment, often involving architectural decisions, cross-team coordination, or specialized expertise. These filings reflect lead or principal-level scope.
Prevailing Wage for Computer Programmers 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 Computer Programmers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing under SOC 15-1252
Employers sometimes post roles as 'Software Developer' or 'Software Engineer' and file the LCA under SOC 15-1252 rather than SOC 15-1251. The prevailing wages differ, so confirm which SOC code your petition actually uses before comparing your offer to this occupation's floor.
Exclude equity and bonuses before comparing wages
DOL's prevailing wage for Computer Programmers is measured against base salary only. RSUs, signing bonuses, and annual bonuses do not count toward the floor. Offers heavy on equity but light on base salary may clear the market but fail the LCA wage requirement.
Check Seattle and San Jose against your specific worksite
Computer Programmer prevailing wages in Seattle and San Jose are among the highest nationally, and both markets have dense sponsoring employer populations. If your worksite shifts to a suburban or remote address, the applicable wage area and floor can change meaningfully.
Use Migrate Mate to find active Computer Programmer sponsors
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Computer Programmers in the past, filtered by visa type. Targeting companies with a documented sponsorship history in this occupation reduces the risk of pursuing roles where the employer has never navigated the LCA process.
Jobs for Computer Programmers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Computer ProgrammersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-1251.00 alongside Computer Programmers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Analyst Programmer Prevailing Wage
Analyst Programmer Prevailing Wage
Analyst Programmer positions fall under SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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.
Application Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
Application Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Application Programmer Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Computer Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
Computer Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
Computer Programmer Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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.
Internet Programmer Prevailing Wage
Internet Programmer Prevailing Wage
Internet Programmer positions fall under SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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.
Java Developer Prevailing Wage
Java Developer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Java Developer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Programmer Prevailing Wage
Programmer Prevailing Wage
Programmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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.
Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
Programmer Analyst Prevailing Wage
Programmer Analyst positions fall under SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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.
Web Applications Programmer Prevailing Wage
Web Applications Programmer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Web Applications Programmer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Web Programmer Prevailing Wage
Web Programmer Prevailing Wage
Web Programmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1251.00 (Computer Programmers). 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 set the prevailing wage for Computer Programmers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 15-1251, the agency identifies the median wage in each metropolitan area and divides the distribution into four experience levels. Employers filing an LCA for a Computer Programmer must offer at least the wage corresponding to the appropriate level for that worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with moderate independence; Level 3 is experienced with autonomous judgment; Level 4 is fully competent at a senior or lead scope. DOL assigns the level based on the duties described in the job offer, not the job title. Review the position description carefully, because an employer filing at Level 1 for a role requiring independent design work creates an LCA compliance risk.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Computer Programmer role vary so much by city?
DOL's prevailing wages are derived from regional OES surveys, which capture actual wages paid in each metropolitan statistical area. High-concentration tech markets like Seattle and San Jose push local medians far above the national figure. Critically, the LCA requires the employer to certify the wage for the worksite address, not company headquarters, so a remote worker whose permanent worksite is reclassified to a lower-wage metro will face a different floor even if the employer is based elsewhere.
What happens if a sponsored Computer Programmer offer is below the prevailing wage?
An LCA cannot be certified by OFLC if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable SOC code, level, and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or E-3 petition. If a wage violation is discovered after certification, DOL can debar the employer from future sponsorship and require back pay. Candidates should verify the floor before signing an offer, not after.
How do I find and verify the Computer Programmers prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 15-1251 by metropolitan area. Select the correct wage year and worksite geography to retrieve the four level wages for that location. Cross-reference against recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC, which shows what employers have actually certified for Computer Programmer roles. Migrate Mate also lets you filter sponsored Computer Programmer listings by location and employer sponsorship history, giving you a practical benchmark alongside the official floor.
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