Prevailing Wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Prevailing wage for Cutter Operator roles under SOC 51-9032.00 is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys across more than 500 metro areas. Whether your title is Cutter, Die Cutter Operator, or Flat Cutter, the floor your employer must meet on an LCA depends on four experience levels and the specific worksite city.
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Entry-level Cutter Operators with limited hands-on machine experience and close supervision. Typically no prior industrial cutting or slicing background required. Employers filing at this level expect to provide on-the-job training for setup and feed procedures.
Qualified Cutter Operators with practical experience running cutting or slicing equipment with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting operators who can independently handle routine material feeds and blade adjustments.
Experienced Cutter Operators who troubleshoot equipment faults, train junior operators, and handle a wider range of materials and cut tolerances with minimal oversight. Often responsible for quality checks and minor machine calibration.
Fully competent senior operators or lead machine setters who set up complex cutting lines, establish operating parameters, and may supervise a shift. Employers filing at Level 4 typically require deep familiarity with multiple machine types and materials.
Prevailing wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OES area
Each area on the map is a DOL OES wage zone. Click any location to see the prevailing wage floor for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders at each level.
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 Cutter Operator 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 51-9032.00
Job titles like Cutter Operator and Die Cutter Operator are standard for this SOC, but some food or paper processing employers file the same role under production worker codes. Verify your LCA lists SOC 51-9032.00 before accepting an offer.
Watch for Iowa and Minnesota metro premiums
Des Moines and Minneapolis consistently post prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation. If you are relocating to those metros, the worksite city on your LCA must reflect those higher regional floors, not a national average.
Exclude production bonuses when checking compliance
Piece-rate production bonuses, shift-differential pay, and safety incentives do not count toward satisfying the prevailing wage floor for sponsored cutter roles. Confirm your base hourly or annual salary alone clears the applicable level.
Find sponsors with a cutting role history on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored cutter and machine operator roles, so you can prioritize companies already familiar with DOL filing requirements for SOC 51-9032.00 rather than educating a first-time sponsor.
Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9032.00 alongside Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter positions fall under SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cutter Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cutting Pressman Prevailing Wage
Cutting Pressman Prevailing Wage
Cutting Pressman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Die Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Cutter Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Flat Cutter Prevailing Wage
Flat Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Flat Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Paper Cutter Prevailing Wage
Paper Cutter Prevailing Wage
Paper Cutter positions fall under SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Sheeter Prevailing Wage
Sheeter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sheeter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Skiver Operator Prevailing Wage
Skiver Operator Prevailing Wage
Skiver Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Slitter Prevailing Wage
Slitter Prevailing Wage
Slitter positions fall under SOC 51-9032.00 (Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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 Cutter Operator roles?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro and non-metro areas. For SOC 51-9032.00, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the actual duties and experience required for the sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 covers entry-level operators under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified operators who work independently on standard cutting tasks and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced operators with troubleshooting and training duties. Level 4 applies to senior setters or leads. Your level should match the duties in your actual job description, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Cutter Operator role vary so much by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so wages reflect local labor markets. A metro with high manufacturing density and union activity, like Minneapolis or Chicago, produces higher survey wage outcomes than rural or lower-cost areas. Because OFLC requires the LCA to list the actual worksite address, the floor that applies is the wage for that specific metro, not a national figure.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B visa, H-1B1 visa, E-3 visa, H-2B visa, or PERM petition if the LCA wage is below the applicable prevailing wage. DOL can also audit or investigate the employer for underpayment. If a shortfall is found post-approval, the employer owes back wages to the sponsored worker. Accepting a below-floor offer does not protect you from a status problem if the petition is later challenged.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Cutter Operator position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-9032.00 wages by metro area. Enter the worksite city and county, select the occupation code, and the tool returns all four level wages for that location. You can also cross-reference with the O*NET profile for this occupation. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored cutter and machine operator roles in specific metro areas.
