Prevailing Wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Prevailing wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters (SOC 17-3012) is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Drafter to fully competent Electrical Designer. Whether your offer letter names you a Drafting Technician, Computer-Aided Design Operator, or Designer, the DOL floor that applies depends on your level and worksite city.
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Entry-level drafters with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures, have minimal independent judgment, and usually hold a relevant associate or bachelor's degree with little to no prior drafting work history.
The most common filing level for Electrical and Electronics Drafters. Workers apply standard drafting techniques with moderate supervision, typically holding one to three years of relevant experience and handling a full range of wiring diagrams and layout drawings independently.
Experienced drafters with several years of specialized practice who work with significant autonomy, often mentoring junior staff. They handle complex circuit board assembly diagrams, interface with engineers on non-routine problems, and may lead discrete drafting projects.
Fully competent senior drafters or lead Electrical Designers who set standards, oversee teams, and handle the most technically demanding assignments. Typically five or more years of experience, recognized as a subject-matter authority within the organization.
Prevailing Wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters 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 Electrical and Electronics Drafters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Verify your worksite city before accepting
Prevailing wage floors for Electrical and Electronics Drafters vary sharply by metro. An offer acceptable under the San Juan floor may fall well below what DOL requires for the same level in Bridgeport or New York. Confirm the LCA lists your actual worksite, not the employer's headquarters.
Watch for title mismatches on the LCA
Roles filed as 'Electrical Designer' or 'CAD Operator' sometimes get classified under a different SOC code, shifting the prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your employer's LCA specifies SOC 17-3012 so the wage requirement applies to Electrical and Electronics Drafters specifically, not a neighboring occupation.
Exclude bonuses when comparing the wage floor
DOL's prevailing wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters must be met by base salary alone. Signing bonuses, project completion bonuses, and RSU grants do not count toward the floor. An offer that relies on variable pay to clear the L2 wage is non-compliant.
Find employers who have sponsored drafters before
Migrate Mate shows which companies have historical visa sponsorship records for roles like Electrical and Electronics Drafters, so you can focus applications on employers already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for this occupation rather than educating a first-time sponsor.
Jobs for Electrical and Electronics Drafters are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-3012.00 alongside Electrical and Electronics Drafters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Computer-Aided Design Operator Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Design Operator Prevailing Wage
Computer-Aided Design Operator positions fall under SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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.
Designer Prevailing Wage
Designer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Designer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Drafter Prevailing Wage
Drafter Prevailing Wage
Drafter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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.
Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech) Prevailing Wage
Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech) Prevailing Wage
Drafting Technician (Drafting Tech) positions fall under SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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 Designer Prevailing Wage
Electrical Designer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electrical Designer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electrical Drafter Prevailing Wage
Electrical Drafter Prevailing Wage
Electrical Drafter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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.
Layout Designer Prevailing Wage
Layout Designer Prevailing Wage
Layout Designer positions fall under SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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.
Printed Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer) Prevailing Wage
Printed Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Printed Circuit Board Designer (PCB Designer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Staking Engineer Prevailing Wage
Staking Engineer Prevailing Wage
Staking Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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.
Staking Technician (Staking Tech) Prevailing Wage
Staking Technician (Staking Tech) Prevailing Wage
Staking Technician (Staking Tech) positions fall under SOC 17-3012.00 (Electrical and Electronics Drafters). 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 Electrical and Electronics Drafters?
DOL derives prevailing wages from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Electrical and Electronics Drafters, the agency maps survey data to SOC 17-3012 and divides the resulting wage distribution into four levels. Employers use the OFLC Wage Search to retrieve the certified figure for their worksite before filing a Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 covers entry-level drafters under close supervision; Level 2 applies to workers performing the full range of drafting tasks with moderate oversight; Level 3 covers experienced practitioners with significant autonomy; Level 4 applies to senior or lead Electrical Designers. Your level should match your actual duties and experience, and USCIS will review that alignment when adjudicating an H-1B petition.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same drafting role differ so much by city?
DOL sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 17-3012. High-cost markets with dense defense, semiconductor, or utilities employers, such as San Jose or New York, push survey medians significantly higher than lower-cost markets. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the wage that governs your offer is the one for the city where you will physically work, not where the employer is incorporated.
What happens if my job offer for a sponsored position is below the prevailing wage floor?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the DOL prevailing wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters at the applicable level. OFLC will reject or decertify the LCA, blocking the H-1B or green card process entirely. If a petition reaches USCIS with a wage discrepancy, it faces denial or a Request for Evidence. The fix is employer-side: the offered wage must be raised before the LCA is filed.
How do I look up the prevailing wage for Electrical and Electronics Drafters in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search and enter SOC code 17-3012 along with the metropolitan area where the job is located. Select the wage year that matches when the LCA will be filed, since DOL updates its wage library annually. Cross-check the result against the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment tables for the same metro. Migrate Mate also lists open Electrical and Electronics Drafter roles filtered by location and employer sponsorship history, helping you identify which offers are worth pursuing before negotiating.
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