Prevailing Wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
The prevailing wage for an Athletic Director sponsored on an H-1B, E-3, or green card is set by DOL using the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. Whether the role carries the title Principal, High School Principal, or Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent, DOL assigns four wage levels tied to experience, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level candidates with limited supervisory experience, typically in their first administrative role after transitioning from classroom or coaching positions. DOL expects minimal independent decision-making authority and close oversight from district-level leadership.
The most common filing level for this occupation. Applies to administrators with established school leadership experience who exercise independent judgment on academic and operational matters but report to district-level supervisors.
Experienced school administrators overseeing multiple programs or campuses, responsible for budget authority, staff evaluation, and curriculum direction with limited supervision. Often reflects multi-year tenure as a principal or athletic director at a mid-to-large institution.
Senior administrators directing district-wide functions or serving as lead principal at large campuses. Fully independent scope, policy-setting authority, and accountability for institutional outcomes. Comparable to a district-level Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent in practice.
Prevailing Wage for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 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 Athletic Director and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your worksite district before the LCA
Prevailing wages for principals and athletic directors are set by worksite, not headquarters. A district office in a low-wage metro filing an LCA for a campus in Seattle or San Jose must use the higher worksite city wage, not the district's home location.
Expect Level 2 filings from most school districts
Public school districts sponsoring H-1B principals overwhelmingly file at Level 2 because state licensure requirements and union pay schedules align with DOL's qualified-worker definition. Verify your offer meets the L2 floor for your specific metro before signing.
Watch for salary schedules that exclude stipends
Athletic director and principal compensation often includes stipends for extracurricular oversight or summer programs. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only; stipends, bonuses, and supplemental contracts do not count toward meeting the wage floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find districts with sponsorship history
Public school districts that have sponsored principals or athletic directors before are far more likely to navigate the LCA process correctly. Migrate Mate shows which districts have actual H-1B or green card sponsorship history for this occupation, narrowing your search to proven sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Athletic DirectorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 11-9032.00 alongside Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Athletic Director Prevailing Wage
Athletic Director Prevailing Wage
Athletic Director positions fall under SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent Prevailing Wage
Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Elementary Principal Prevailing Wage
Elementary Principal Prevailing Wage
Elementary Principal is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
High School Principal (HS Principal) Prevailing Wage
High School Principal (HS Principal) Prevailing Wage
High School Principal (HS Principal) positions fall under SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
Middle School Principal (MS Principal) Prevailing Wage
Middle School Principal (MS Principal) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Middle School Principal (MS Principal) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Principal Prevailing Wage
Principal Prevailing Wage
Principal is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
School Administrator (School Admin) Prevailing Wage
School Administrator (School Admin) Prevailing Wage
School Administrator (School Admin) positions fall under SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
SPED Director (Special Education Director) Prevailing Wage
SPED Director (Special Education Director) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a SPED Director (Special Education Director) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Superintendent Prevailing Wage
Superintendent Prevailing Wage
Superintendent is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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.
Vice Principal Prevailing Wage
Vice Principal Prevailing Wage
Vice Principal positions fall under SOC 11-9032.00 (Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary). 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 an Athletic Director?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 11-9032, the agency assigns a wage to each of four experience levels in each geography. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC certifying the offered wage meets 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 me?
Level 1 covers entry-level administrators with limited independent authority. Level 2 applies to qualified professionals exercising independent judgment, and it is the level most commonly filed for principals and athletic directors. Level 3 covers experienced administrators with broader program or campus oversight. Level 4 is reserved for senior leaders with policy-setting authority. Your level is determined by the actual duties described in the LCA, not your title.
Why does the prevailing wage for a Principal vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local labor market conditions. School administrator pay in Bremerton or Seattle, where public sector salaries are high and cost of living drives district budgets, will substantially exceed the floor in Arecibo or Guam. The LCA rule requires using the wage for the actual worksite city, not a national average.
What happens if a school district offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite and wage level. Without a certified LCA, the H-1B or employment-based green card petition cannot proceed. USCIS will deny a petition filed on an uncertified LCA. The district must either increase the offered salary to the floor or reclassify the wage level if the duties genuinely support a lower level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Athletic Director in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 11-9032 by metropolitan area. Select the metro that matches your worksite address, choose the appropriate wage level, and record the annual wage shown. Cross-check with O*NET to confirm the listed duties match your actual responsibilities. Migrate Mate can also show which districts have sponsored this role in specific locations, helping you assess which employers are already familiar with the wage requirements.
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