Prevailing Wage for Construction Laborers
Prevailing wage for Construction Laborers, the DOL occupation covering Construction Workers, Bituminous Asphalt Technicians, and Form Setters, is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels. The floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city, so a job offer that clears the threshold in one market may fall short in another.
See all jobs for Construction LaborersLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level laborers with limited site experience, typically performing routine physical tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow detailed instructions and have not yet developed independent judgment for varied construction conditions.
Level 2 applies to qualified laborers with hands-on experience operating power tools, setting forms, or assisting specialized trades with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Construction Laborers, reflecting the typical experienced hire profile.
Level 3 covers experienced laborers who work with significant independence across multiple task types, including excavation support, scaffolding, and equipment operation. These workers require minimal oversight and often guide newer crew members on site.
Level 4 applies to fully competent laborers who lead crews, coordinate multi-trade tasks, and exercise broad site judgment. Roles at this level may carry lead worker responsibilities and operate the full range of mechanical and hand equipment independently.
Prevailing Wage for Construction Laborers 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
See all jobs for Construction Laborers
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Construction Laborers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Construction Laborers
Check whether union agreements affect your level
Construction Laborers in high-density union markets like Chicago or New York often have collective bargaining agreements that set wages above the DOL floor. Verify whether your employer's LCA wage level reflects the union scale, not just the OES survey minimum.
Watch for title aliasing on construction LCAs
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a broader construction SOC rather than SOC 47-2061, which can shift the prevailing wage floor. Confirm the certified LCA lists the Construction Laborers SOC code before accepting an offer tied to that filing.
Account for regional wage swings before comparing offers
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies widely: California metros like San Francisco and San Jose set floors well above Puerto Rico markets such as Ponce or Aguadilla. Compare your offer against the L2 floor for the specific worksite city, not a national average.
Find employers sponsoring Construction Laborers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which companies have actually filed H-1B or green card petitions for Construction Laborers rather than relying on a job posting that may not reflect past sponsorship practice.
Jobs for Construction Laborers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Construction LaborersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2061.00 alongside Construction Laborers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bituminous Asphalt Technician Prevailing Wage
Bituminous Asphalt Technician Prevailing Wage
Bituminous Asphalt Technician positions fall under SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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.
Construction Worker Prevailing Wage
Construction Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Construction Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Drop Crew Laborer Prevailing Wage
Drop Crew Laborer Prevailing Wage
Drop Crew Laborer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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.
Equipment Operator (EO) Prevailing Wage
Equipment Operator (EO) Prevailing Wage
Equipment Operator (EO) positions fall under SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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.
Form Setter Prevailing Wage
Form Setter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Form Setter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Post Framer Prevailing Wage
Post Framer Prevailing Wage
Post Framer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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.
Scaffolding Operator Prevailing Wage
Scaffolding Operator Prevailing Wage
Scaffolding Operator positions fall under SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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.
Site Work Laborer Prevailing Wage
Site Work Laborer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Site Work Laborer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Toolman Prevailing Wage
Toolman Prevailing Wage
Toolman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2061.00 (Construction Laborers). 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 Construction Laborers?
DOL sets prevailing wages for Construction Laborers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from these surveys for each metro area. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 is entry-level with close oversight; Level 2 is a qualified worker with independent task performance; Level 3 is experienced with minimal supervision; Level 4 is fully competent, often with lead responsibilities. Your level should match the actual duties, supervision structure, and experience requirements in the job description, not just your years on site.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much by city?
OFLC calculates wage floors from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the numbers. Dense construction markets with strong union presence, such as the New York or Chicago metro areas, produce higher survey wages than lower-cost regions. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the wage for the actual project location, not the company headquarters.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and experience level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or employment-based green card petition without a certified LCA. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must raise the wage before filing, or the sponsorship process cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up Construction Laborers wages by metro area and experience level. Enter SOC code 47-2061 and the worksite city to retrieve the current DOL wage floors. You can also review O*NET for occupation context. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored Construction Laborers listings by location so you can compare postings against the local floor before applying.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Construction Laborers right now.
Search Jobs for Construction Laborers