Prevailing Wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
The prevailing wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1021) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring an H-1B, E-3, or green card for roles such as Computer Science Professor, Associate Professor, or Computer Science Instructor. DOL establishes four experience-based levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level postsecondary CS instructors with limited teaching experience, typically new to a full-time faculty role. Work is performed under close supervision with a narrow course load and limited independent research or curriculum development responsibilities.
Level 2 applies to qualified instructors with some independent teaching experience and a defined course portfolio. This is the most common filing level for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, reflecting the standard expectations for faculty handling a full teaching load.
Level 3 covers experienced faculty who exercise significant independent judgment, often combining teaching with active research, graduate supervision, or departmental service. These instructors typically hold a record of publication or funded projects in computer science.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior faculty, including tenured or tenure-track professors with established research programs, leadership roles in curriculum or department governance, and a recognized record of contribution to the field.
Prevailing Wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Science Teachers, Postsecondary and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 25-1021
Titles like Assistant Professor or CIS Instructor are O*NET-listed alternates for SOC 25-1021, but some employers misfiled similar roles under computer science occupations outside the postsecondary education SOC. Verify the LCA lists SOC 25-1021 before accepting an offer.
Account for California metro wage gaps
California metros show the widest range for this occupation. Santa Maria and Riverside floor wages substantially exceed San Francisco at Level 1, which surprises many candidates. Check your specific worksite city on the OFLC Wage Search, not the state average.
Separate base salary from supplemental pay
Research grants, summer teaching supplements, and one-time signing bonuses do not count toward satisfying the prevailing wage under DOL rules. Confirm the base academic-year salary alone clears the applicable level floor before counting any extras.
Search Migrate Mate by sponsoring universities
Migrate Mate shows which universities and colleges have sponsored Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary in the past, so you can target institutions with active H-1B or green card filing history rather than applying broadly across academia.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-1021.00 alongside Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
Assistant Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Associate Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor) Prevailing Wage
Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor) Prevailing Wage
Computer Information Systems Instructor (CIS Instructor) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Computer Science Instructor Prevailing Wage
Computer Science Instructor Prevailing Wage
Computer Science Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Computer Science Professor Prevailing Wage
Computer Science Professor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Computer Science Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Faculty Member Prevailing Wage
Faculty Member Prevailing Wage
Faculty Member is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Information Technology Instructor (IT Instructor) Prevailing Wage
Information Technology Instructor (IT Instructor) Prevailing Wage
Information Technology Instructor (IT Instructor) positions fall under SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
Lecturer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1021.00 (Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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 set the prevailing wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage for SOC 25-1021 using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through surveys of employers in each metropolitan area. OFLC publishes the resulting wage tables by SOC code and geography. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified instructor handling an independent course load, and it is the most common filing level for faculty roles. Level 3 applies to experienced faculty with research responsibilities. Level 4 covers senior or tenured professors. The level is determined by the duties in the employer's job description, not solely your credentials.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same faculty role vary so much by city?
OFLC sets wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan area reflects local salary norms for postsecondary CS instructors. California university markets push wages well above national medians, while smaller markets in the Southeast show significantly lower floors. The wage that legally applies is tied to the worksite address listed on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, so a multi-campus institution must use each campus city's rate.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor. If the offered salary is too low, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the H-1B petition from proceeding. For PERM-based green card cases, USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance. The employer must either raise the salary to meet the floor or the sponsorship cannot move forward.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC code 25-1021, and enter the metropolitan area where you will work. The tool returns the four level wages for that geography. You can also check the O*NET profile for SOC 25-1021 for occupation context. Migrate Mate lists employers with documented sponsorship history for this role, which helps you identify which institutions have filed at what levels before.
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