Prevailing Wage for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
The prevailing wage for a Communications Technologist under SOC 17-3023 is set by DOL and determines the minimum a sponsored employer must pay. Whether your offer is for an Electrical Engineering Technician, Electronics Technician, or Engineering Technician role, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. city the work occurs in.
See all jobs for Communications TechnologistLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level Electronics Engineering Technicians or similar roles requiring limited experience, typically zero to two years. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and well-defined, and the position involves applying standard procedures rather than independent judgment.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It applies to qualified technicians with two or more years of experience who work with moderate supervision, handle varied assignments, and apply established electrical and electronic theory with some independent problem-solving.
Level 3 fits experienced Communications Technologists or Engineering Technicians who operate with considerable autonomy. They design, modify, or evaluate circuitry and controls independently, often serve as technical leads on projects, and mentor junior staff without holding a formal supervisory title.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior professionals who set technical direction, resolve complex non-routine problems, and may represent the employer on external technical matters. This level is typical for principal technicians or senior-specialist roles carrying broad organizational responsibility.
Prevailing Wage for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians 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
See all jobs for Communications Technologist
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Communications Technologist and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Watch for defense-contractor worksite misclassification
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians placed at military installations or federal facilities often have their worksite recorded as the contractor's home office rather than the government site. DOL wages tie to the actual work location, so a mismatch can underprice the required floor substantially.
Flag signing bonuses excluded from the wage calculation
One-time signing bonuses and equity grants do not count toward DOL prevailing wage compliance for this occupation. If an employer bundles these into a headline offer, verify that the base salary alone clears the applicable level floor before accepting.
Compare offers using Migrate Mate employer history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Electronics Technician and Communications Technologist roles, letting you filter by visa type and location before applying. Seeing a company's sponsorship track record helps you prioritize employers already familiar with LCA filings for this SOC.
Recognize when a title maps to a higher-paid SOC
Roles titled 'Electrical Engineer' rather than 'Engineering Technician' fall under SOC 17-2071, carrying a meaningfully higher prevailing wage floor. If your duties match engineering rather than technician work, confirm with your employer which SOC they intend to file under before the LCA is submitted.
Jobs for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Communications TechnologistPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-3023.00 alongside Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Communications Technologist Prevailing Wage
Communications Technologist Prevailing Wage
Communications Technologist positions fall under SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Electrical Engineering Technician Prevailing Wage
Electrical Engineering Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electrical Engineering Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electrical Technician Prevailing Wage
Electrical Technician Prevailing Wage
Electrical Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Electronics Engineering Technician Prevailing Wage
Electronics Engineering Technician Prevailing Wage
Electronics Engineering Technician positions fall under SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Electronics Technician Prevailing Wage
Electronics Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electronics Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Engineering Technologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technologist positions fall under SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
System Technologist Prevailing Wage
System Technologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a System Technologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Technologist Prevailing Wage
Technologist Prevailing Wage
Technologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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 a Communications Technologist?
DOL derives prevailing wages for this occupation from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OFLC converts raw survey data into four wage levels per geographic area. Employers filing an LCA for an H-1B or E-3 Communications Technologist must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties, experience requirements, and supervisory scope.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry, Level 2 as qualified, Level 3 as experienced, and Level 4 as fully competent. The correct level is determined by the complexity of the duties, degree of supervision, and years of relevant experience reflected in the actual job offer, not the job title alone. Review the employer's LCA for the stated level and compare it against your offer letter's responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Engineering Technician role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local labor market conditions. Dense defense and energy markets such as Bremerton or Baton Rouge produce higher floors than smaller metros. Crucially, the wage on the LCA must match the worksite listed on that form; remote arrangements or secondary worksites each carry the wage for their own geographic area.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Electronics Technician position?
An LCA filed at a wage below the applicable DOL level will not be certified by OFLC, blocking the H-1B or E-3 petition entirely. If USCIS later audits a certified LCA and finds the employer actually paid less than the stated wage, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship. The safe approach is to confirm the base salary clears the floor before any visa paperwork is submitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Electrical Engineering Technician in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 17-3023 by metropolitan statistical area. Select the relevant wage level and confirm it matches the duties your employer has described. Migrate Mate can complement this by showing which companies have sponsored this occupation in past years, helping you identify employers whose LCA filing history aligns with the location and level you're targeting.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians right now.
Search Jobs for Communications Technologist