Prevailing Wage for Craft Artists
Prevailing wage for Craft Artists under SOC 27-1012 is set by DOL and applies to sponsored positions held by artists including Ceramic Artists, Glass Artists, and Fiber Artists seeking H-1B, E-3, or green card status. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts substantially depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level Craft Artists with limited professional experience performing routine tasks under close supervision, typically following established techniques with minimal independent judgment. Common for recent graduates or those transitioning from informal studio practice into a sponsored commercial or institutional role.
Qualified Craft Artists with solid practical experience working with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, covering professionals who handle standard production or exhibition work independently but are not yet directing others or setting creative direction.
Experienced Craft Artists who exercise significant independent judgment, manage complex projects or productions, and may mentor junior artists. These professionals typically bring a recognized body of work or specialized technical mastery in a medium such as ceramics, glass, or fiber.
Fully competent senior Craft Artists at the top of the occupation, setting creative standards, leading studios or departments, and handling highly complex commissions or large-scale production. Often recognized publicly in their medium with substantial exhibition or commercial credentials.
Prevailing Wage for Craft Artists 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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Confirm your medium matches the filed SOC
Titles like Decorative Arts Production Artist or Fine Craft Artist sometimes get filed under broader visual arts SOC codes, missing the SOC 27-1012 floor entirely. Verify that your offer letter and LCA both reference this specific occupation code before signing.
Watch for piece-rate pay that understates annualized wages
Some Craft Artists employers pay per piece or per project rather than a fixed salary. DOL requires annualized wage comparisons, so a per-piece rate that looks reasonable can fall below the prevailing wage floor once properly converted to annual terms.
Check which metro your studio worksite actually falls in
San Francisco and Los Angeles carry prevailing wage floors well above the national median for this occupation, while metros like Detroit or Phoenix sit near the bottom. The LCA must cite the actual worksite address, and that address determines which metro floor applies.
Find employers who have sponsored Craft Artists before
Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical visa sponsorship counts, so you can identify which studios, galleries, and production companies have actually sponsored artists under this SOC rather than approaching cold.
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Find Jobs for Craft ArtistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-1012.00 alongside Craft Artists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Artist Prevailing Wage
Artist Prevailing Wage
Artist positions fall under SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Ceramic Artist Prevailing Wage
Ceramic Artist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ceramic Artist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Decorative Arts Production Artist Prevailing Wage
Decorative Arts Production Artist Prevailing Wage
Decorative Arts Production Artist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Fiber Artist Prevailing Wage
Fiber Artist Prevailing Wage
Fiber Artist positions fall under SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Fine Craft Artist Prevailing Wage
Fine Craft Artist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fine Craft Artist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Glass Artist Prevailing Wage
Glass Artist Prevailing Wage
Glass Artist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Goldsmith Prevailing Wage
Goldsmith Prevailing Wage
Goldsmith positions fall under SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Hand-Weaver Prevailing Wage
Hand-Weaver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hand-Weaver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tapestry Artist Prevailing Wage
Tapestry Artist Prevailing Wage
Tapestry Artist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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.
Textile Artist Prevailing Wage
Textile Artist Prevailing Wage
Textile Artist positions fall under SOC 27-1012.00 (Craft Artists). 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 Craft Artists?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 27-1012, OFLC then maps those wage distributions to four experience levels. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified professionals working independently on standard tasks. Level 3 reflects experienced artists exercising significant judgment or specialization. Level 4 covers fully competent senior professionals setting direction. The correct level depends on the duties described in the job offer, not job title alone. USCIS and DOL both review whether the filed level matches the actual position.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Craft Artists role vary so much by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 27-1012. A sponsored position in San Francisco carries a much higher floor than the identical role in Phoenix or Detroit because local labor market conditions differ. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the city on that form, not the employer's headquarters, determines which floor applies.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor. If the offered salary falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and without a certified LCA neither an H-1B nor an E-3 petition can proceed. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL will similarly reject an application where the offered wage does not meet the prevailing wage determination. The employer must raise the offered wage before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Craft Artists in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 27-1012 for the metropolitan area where you will be working. Select the experience level that matches the role's duties to see the applicable floor. You can also cross-reference BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for the same area. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this occupation so you can target roles where sponsorship is already established.
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