Prevailing Wage for Economists
Prevailing wage floors for Economists (SOC 19-3011) are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data covering hundreds of U.S. metros. Whether your offer is for an Economic Analyst, Economic Advisor, or Economic Consultant role, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level economists with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates or those transitioning into the field. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine and well-defined, and independent judgment is minimal. Employers filing at this level must document the entry-level scope in the LCA.
Qualified economists with moderate experience who apply standard economic methods with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Economists, covering roles that require a degree and professional proficiency but do not yet carry supervisory or policy-setting responsibility.
Experienced economists who exercise independent judgment, lead projects, and may mentor junior staff. These professionals typically hold advanced degrees or several years of specialized experience and are expected to deliver original analysis or policy recommendations with limited oversight.
Fully competent senior economists who set research direction, manage teams, or represent the organization in policy settings. Roles at this level often carry titles like Principal Economist or Chief Economist and require demonstrated expertise recognized inside or outside the organization.
Prevailing Wage for Economists 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 in federal filings
Titles like Economic Development Specialist or Forensic Economist are O*NET-recognized alternates for SOC 19-3011, but some employers file LCAs under adjacent SOC codes. Verify your offer letter title maps to this SOC before accepting, or the prevailing wage floor may differ from what you expect.
Account for Washington DC's compressed wage ladder
Federal agency and think-tank hiring in the DC metro produces an unusually narrow gap between Level 1 and Level 4 wages for Economists compared with private-sector hubs like New York or Ann Arbor. If your offer is from a government contractor, confirm the level before negotiating.
Exclude bonuses and equity when checking compliance
DOL's prevailing wage requirement for Economists applies to the base salary only. Signing bonuses, annual performance bonuses, and any equity or RSU component do not count toward meeting the floor on an LCA. Confirm the base salary alone clears the level your employer files.
Find employers who have sponsored Economists before
Migrate Mate shows which companies have actual H-1B and E-3 sponsorship history for economic analysis roles, so you can focus your search on employers already familiar with the LCA process rather than those encountering it for the first time.
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Find Jobs for EconomistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-3011.00 alongside Economists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Economic Advisor Prevailing Wage
Economic Advisor Prevailing Wage
Economic Advisor positions fall under SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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.
Economic Analyst Prevailing Wage
Economic Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Economic Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Economic Consultant Prevailing Wage
Economic Consultant Prevailing Wage
Economic Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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.
Economic Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Economic Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Economic Development Specialist positions fall under SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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.
Forensic Economist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Economist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Forensic Economist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Project Economist Prevailing Wage
Project Economist Prevailing Wage
Project Economist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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.
Research Economist Prevailing Wage
Research Economist Prevailing Wage
Research Economist positions fall under SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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.
Revenue Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
Revenue Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Revenue Research Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tax Economist Prevailing Wage
Tax Economist Prevailing Wage
Tax Economist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3011.00 (Economists). 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 Economists?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Economists (SOC 19-3011), it calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for that occupation in each geographic area. Employers certify on the LCA that the offered wage equals or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four DOL levels correspond to experience and responsibility: Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with standard independent work, Level 3 is experienced with project leadership, and Level 4 is fully competent with senior or policy-setting scope. The level is chosen by the employer when filing the LCA, but the job duties in your offer letter should match the level selected. If the duties sound like Level 3 but the employer files at Level 1, that is worth raising.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Economist role vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than national averages. A market like Ann Arbor, with a high concentration of university and automotive-sector research demand, produces different survey results than a smaller metro like Lincoln, Nebraska. Critically, the LCA must cite the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters, so a remote worker based in a low-wage metro uses that metro's floor even if the employer is headquartered in New York.
What happens if my job offer salary is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition if the LCA certifies a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor. If the LCA itself understates the wage, OFLC can decertify it. In practice, an offer below the floor means the employer must either raise the salary to meet the applicable level or withdraw the sponsorship. You cannot waive the prevailing wage requirement, and it is not negotiable between employer and employee.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Economist position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 19-3011 wages by metropolitan area. Select the geographic area matching your worksite city, choose the experience level that reflects your duties, and the tool returns the current DOL wage floor. You can also check O*NET for occupational detail that helps you confirm whether your role description aligns with this SOC. Migrate Mate lets you filter open Economist listings by location and employer sponsorship history, which helps you identify what employers in a given market are actually offering before you apply.
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