Prevailing Wage for Designers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Designers, All Other (SOC 27-1029) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the metropolitan area where the work is performed.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level designers with limited experience, typically working under close supervision on routine tasks within established parameters. Candidates are still building core competencies and generally hold a relevant bachelor's degree with little to no independent project history.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Designers, All Other. It fits candidates with a few years of experience who work with moderate supervision, handle varied design assignments, and apply professional judgment on standard projects without requiring constant direction.
Level 3 covers experienced designers who work independently, take on complex assignments, and may informally guide junior colleagues. These professionals bring a track record of completed projects and routinely exercise discretion on scope, materials, and methodology.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior designers who lead projects, set creative direction, and may manage or mentor others. Employers filing at this level typically require substantial independent expertise and a portfolio demonstrating leadership across multiple complex engagements.
Prevailing Wage for Designers, All Other 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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Watch for title aliasing across designer SOC codes
Roles labeled 'experience designer' or 'environmental designer' are sometimes filed under graphic design or interior design SOC codes instead of SOC 27-1029, shifting the prevailing wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC your employer actually files on the LCA.
Account for the San Francisco to Columbus wage gap
The prevailing wage floor for Designers, All Other varies more sharply across metros than many occupations. An L2 offer competitive in Columbus can fall well below the L2 floor in San Francisco or San Jose, so always confirm the figure for your specific worksite city.
Separate base salary from design-fee bonuses before comparing
In-house agency roles and studios often structure compensation with project completion bonuses or client-billing incentives. DOL prevailing wage compliance is assessed on guaranteed base salary, so variable design-fee components do not count toward clearing the wage floor.
Find employers who have sponsored Designers on Migrate Mate
Because Designers, All Other spans a wide range of industries, actual sponsorship history varies a lot by employer type. Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which studios, agencies, or in-house teams have sponsored this occupation before.
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Find Jobs for Designers, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Designers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Designers, All Other (SOC 27-1029), DOL calculates four wage levels based on the wage distribution for the occupation in each surveyed metropolitan area. Employers certify to these figures when filing a Labor Condition Application with OFLC for H-1B sponsorship or through PERM for green card sponsorship.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with routine tasks under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate supervision, Level 3 as experienced with independent judgment, and Level 4 as fully competent with leadership responsibilities. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not your title. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC, which must state the wage level and corresponding prevailing wage.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role differ so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects actual pay in each local labor market. A dense concentration of design employers in San Francisco or San Jose pushes wages higher than in smaller metros. Under the worksite rule, the wage on the LCA must match the metropolitan area where you physically perform the work, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location, OFLC cannot certify the LCA, and the H-1B or PERM process cannot proceed. USCIS will reject an H-1B petition that lacks a certified LCA. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or file at a different wage level that accurately reflects the job duties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Designers, All Other in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search, DOL's official lookup tool, to query SOC 27-1029 for any surveyed metropolitan area. Select the wage year that matches your employer's intended LCA filing period, since annual updates shift the figures. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupation context. Migrate Mate can help identify which employers have a track record of sponsoring designers so you can focus your search on companies already familiar with the LCA process.
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