Prevailing Wage for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Prevailing wage for Bore Mill Operator roles is set by the DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts meaningfully depending on where the worksite is located. Whether your offer covers a CNC Drilling Operator position or a Drill Press Operator role, knowing which level applies to your job offer is the first step in evaluating any sponsored position.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$37K
$17.82/hr

Entry-level Bore Mill Operator with limited hands-on experience, typically working under close supervision on straightforward drilling and boring tasks. Candidates are still developing familiarity with machine setup, tooling selection, and workpiece specifications.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$44K
$20.99/hr

Qualified Bore Mill Operator with practical experience performing standard drilling, boring, and reaming operations with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting the typical H-1B and PERM sponsor profile.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$50K
$24.17/hr

Experienced Drill Press Operator who works with significant independence, handles complex setups, troubleshoots tooling issues, and may guide newer operators. Employers filing at this level expect limited supervisory oversight on most tasks.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$57K
$27.34/hr

Fully competent CNC Machinist or lead Bore Mill Operator with broad technical authority, including programming responsibilities, process optimization, and mentorship of junior operators. Typically reflects a senior or lead designation.

Prevailing Wage for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$27K/yr$85K/yr

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

1
Boston, MA
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro
$56K$27.14/hr
2
Waterloo, IA
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro
$49K$23.32/hr
3
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro
$48K$23.13/hr
4
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH metro
$46K$21.92/hr
5
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$44K$21.14/hr
6
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro
$43K$20.74/hr
7
Riverside, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro
$42K$20.24/hr
8
New York, NY
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro
$41K$19.88/hr
9
Dayton, OH
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro
$41K$19.54/hr
10
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro
$41K$19.48/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Watch how overtime and shift premiums count

Bore Mill Operator roles frequently include shift differentials and overtime pay. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base hourly or annualized straight-time rate only, so shift premiums do not offset a below-floor base wage on an LCA.

Flag title mismatches before signing an offer

Employers sometimes post these roles under broad titles like 'machinist' or 'manufacturing technician', which can land on a different SOC with a different wage floor. Confirm that your LCA cites SOC 51-4032 before accepting a sponsored offer.

Compare Boston and Nashville floors before negotiating

The prevailing wage floor for Bore Mill Operator roles in Boston significantly exceeds the Nashville floor at every level. If your employer has facilities in both cities, the LCA must cite the actual worksite location, not a lower-cost satellite office.

Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history

Bore Mill Operator roles are sponsored by a narrower set of manufacturers than software or finance roles. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this occupation before, helping you focus on companies already familiar with the LCA and PERM process.

Jobs for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4032.00 alongside Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Bore Mill Operator Prevailing Wage

Bore Mill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

CNC Drilling Operator (Computer Numerical Control Drilling Operator) Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a CNC Drilling Operator (Computer Numerical Control Drilling Operator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) Prevailing Wage

CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Drill Operator Prevailing Wage

Drill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Drill Press Operator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drill Press Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Drill Setup Operator Prevailing Wage

Drill Setup Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Machine Operator Prevailing Wage

Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Punch Operator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Punch Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Radial Drill Operator Prevailing Wage

Radial Drill Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Setup Mill Operator Prevailing Wage

Setup Mill Operator positions fall under SOC 51-4032.00 (Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$37K
$17.82/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$44K
$20.99/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.17/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$57K
$27.34/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for a Bore Mill Operator role?

DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For a Bore Mill Operator position under SOC 51-4032, OFLC maps the employer's job requirements to one of four wage levels and identifies the applicable metro area survey. The certified wage on the LCA must meet or exceed that survey-derived floor.

What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

Level 1 applies to entry-level positions under close supervision, Level 2 to qualified workers performing standard tasks with moderate oversight, Level 3 to experienced operators working independently, and Level 4 to fully competent senior or lead roles. Your level is determined by the actual job duties and supervisory structure described in the job offer and LCA, not by your years of experience alone.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same Bore Mill Operator role vary so much by city?

OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metro area reflects local employer compensation patterns. A manufacturing hub with dense competition for CNC Drilling Operator talent, such as Boston, produces higher survey medians than a lower-wage industrial market. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, and the prevailing wage cited must match that specific metro survey, not a national average.

What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Bore Mill Operator position?

USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition, and OFLC will not certify a PERM application, if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. If an LCA is already certified at the correct level but the offer letter reflects a lower amount, the employer is out of compliance and exposed to DOL audit. You should ask the employer to correct the offer before any petition is filed.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Drill Press Operator role in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-4032 and select the metro area matching your worksite. OFLC publishes all four wage levels for each covered area. You can also check O*NET for occupational context and BLS data for broader compensation benchmarks. To find employers who have actively sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters sponsored listings by occupation and location.

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