Prevailing Wage for Database Administrators
Whether your offer letter reads Database Administrator, Database Engineer, or Database Analyst, the DOL prevailing wage floor applies the same way: four experience-based levels, each carrying a different minimum, and each minimum shifting by city and metro area. Checking which level your role clears is the first step before accepting any sponsored position.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level Database Administrators who perform routine tasks under close supervision, typically with a bachelor's degree and minimal professional experience. The work involves applying established procedures rather than independent judgment or specialized expertise.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Database Administrators. It covers qualified professionals who work independently on standard database tasks, apply intermediate technical knowledge, and have enough experience to handle routine performance and capacity issues without direct oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced Database Administrators who handle complex assignments, exercise significant independent judgment, and may provide guidance to junior staff. Candidates at this level typically bring several years of hands-on experience across multiple database environments.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior or lead Database Administrators who design database architectures, set technical direction, and operate at the top of the occupation. These positions often involve organization-wide responsibility and may include supervisory or strategic planning duties.
Prevailing Wage for Database Administrators 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 Database Administrators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Flag DBA title aliasing into architect codes
Roles posted as Database Administrator are sometimes filed under SOC 15-1243 (Database Architects), which carries a different wage floor. Confirm your LCA cites SOC 15-1242 before evaluating whether the offered salary meets the correct prevailing wage.
Distinguish cloud-managed versus on-premises DBA pay
Employers hiring for cloud-native database platforms often justify Level 2 filings by framing the role as operational support. If your work involves architecting schemas, tuning query performance, or coordinating security measures, your duties may map to Level 3 or Level 4.
Account for the San Jose versus Pensacola wage gap
San Jose Level 1 wages for Database Administrators run more than double those in Pensacola or San Juan. If your employer lists a low-cost worksite while your team operates from a high-cost hub, the LCA worksite city controls your legal floor, not the team location.
Search Migrate Mate for Database Administrator sponsor history
Database Administrator sponsorship is concentrated among enterprise employers in finance, healthcare, and large tech rather than early-stage startups. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this specific occupation before, so you can target companies with an established filing track record.
Jobs for Database Administrators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Database AdministratorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-1242.00 alongside Database Administrators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Database Administration Manager Prevailing Wage
Database Administration Manager Prevailing Wage
Database Administration Manager positions fall under SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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.
Database Administrator (DBA) Prevailing Wage
Database Administrator (DBA) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Database Administrator (DBA) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Database Analyst Prevailing Wage
Database Analyst Prevailing Wage
Database Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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.
Database Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Database Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Database Coordinator positions fall under SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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.
Database Engineer Prevailing Wage
Database Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Database Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Database Manager Prevailing Wage
Database Manager Prevailing Wage
Database Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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.
Development and Database Administration Manager Prevailing Wage
Development and Database Administration Manager Prevailing Wage
Development and Database Administration Manager positions fall under SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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.
IS Admin (Information Systems Administrator) Prevailing Wage
IS Admin (Information Systems Administrator) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a IS Admin (Information Systems Administrator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Systems Administrator (Systems Admin) Prevailing Wage
Systems Administrator (Systems Admin) Prevailing Wage
Systems Administrator (Systems Admin) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1242.00 (Database Administrators). 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 Database Administrators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each Standard Occupational Classification code, including SOC 15-1242 for Database Administrators, DOL derives four wage thresholds corresponding to the 17th, 34th, 50th, and 67th percentiles of the occupation's wage distribution in a given area. Employers certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable floor.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to me?
DOL assigns wage levels based on the complexity of work, the degree of supervision received, and the scope of judgment exercised. Level 1 is entry-level and closely supervised. Level 2 covers independent qualified work, which is where most Database Administrator sponsorships are filed. Level 3 reflects experienced professionals handling complex assignments. Level 4 covers senior and lead roles with broad technical authority. The level should match the actual duties described in the job offer, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Database Administrator role vary so much by city?
DOL's wage surveys are conducted at the metropolitan statistical area level, so they capture the actual compensation employers in that labor market pay. Tech-dense metros like San Jose or Seattle have far higher employer competition for database professionals, which drives survey wages up. Smaller or lower-cost metros reflect local employer pay scales. Because the LCA must list the specific worksite address, the prevailing wage is anchored to wherever you will actually perform the work, not where your employer is headquartered.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with an offered wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the occupation, level, and worksite area. OFLC will reject or invalidate an LCA that does not meet the floor. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition. If you receive an offer that falls short, the employer must either raise the salary to meet the prevailing wage or reclassify the position at the appropriate level before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Database Administrator role in a specific U.S. location?
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center online, where you can look up prevailing wages by SOC code, job title, and geographic area. You can also request a formal Prevailing Wage Determination from OFLC through the FLAG system. For finding sponsored Database Administrator openings and seeing which employers have a track record of sponsoring this role, Migrate Mate filters listings by visa type and shows employer sponsorship history.
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