Prevailing Wage for Electricians
Prevailing wage floors for Electricians (SOC 47-2111) vary significantly across U.S. metros because DOL calculates them from regional labor market surveys. Whether you hold a sponsorship offer as a Control Electrician, Industrial Electrician, or Electrical Journey Person, DOL sets four experience levels, and the applicable floor depends on both your level and worksite location.
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Level 1 covers entry-level electricians with limited hands-on experience, typically performing routine wiring and installation tasks under direct supervision. Candidates are still building familiarity with the National Electrical Code and local permit requirements.
Level 2 applies to qualified electricians who work independently on standard installations and maintenance with minimal oversight. This is the most common filing level for Electricians, reflecting journeyman-level competency and working knowledge of applicable codes.
Level 3 covers experienced electricians who handle complex wiring systems, troubleshoot industrial or commercial equipment, and may coordinate with other trades. Candidates at this level typically bring several years of post-apprenticeship field experience.
Level 4 applies to fully competent electricians in senior or lead roles, including those overseeing crews, designing installation plans, or specializing in high-voltage or control systems. Strong independent judgment and mentorship responsibilities characterize this level.
Prevailing Wage for Electricians 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 Electricians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which wage level matches your license tier
Journeyman and master electrician licenses signal different experience depths to DOL reviewers. Employers sponsoring a journeyman often file at Level 2, while a master license with supervisory scope typically supports Level 3 or Level 4. Confirm your employer's intended level before signing an offer.
Watch for low-wage metro filings on multisite projects
Electricians frequently move between job sites. If your LCA lists a low-wage metro as the primary worksite rather than the city where you primarily work, the prevailing wage floor on that filing may not reflect your actual working location. The LCA worksite city controls which regional wage applies.
Exclude overtime and per diem from your wage floor comparison
Electricians in construction and industrial settings often receive per diem allowances and overtime pay. DOL's prevailing wage is calculated against your base hourly or annual rate only. Per diem and overtime do not count toward satisfying the floor on your LCA.
Search Migrate Mate for employers with Electricians sponsorship history
Electrical contractors and facility management companies vary widely in sponsorship activity. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Electricians roles, so you can focus applications on companies with a documented record rather than guessing at sponsorship willingness.
Jobs for Electricians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for ElectriciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2111.00 alongside Electricians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Control Electrician Prevailing Wage
Control Electrician Prevailing Wage
Control Electrician positions fall under SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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 Journey Person Prevailing Wage
Electrical Journey Person Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electrical Journey Person for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electrical Troubleshooter Prevailing Wage
Electrical Troubleshooter Prevailing Wage
Electrical Troubleshooter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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.
Housing Maintenance Electrician Prevailing Wage
Housing Maintenance Electrician Prevailing Wage
Housing Maintenance Electrician positions fall under SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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.
Industrial Electrician Prevailing Wage
Industrial Electrician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Industrial Electrician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Inside Wireman Prevailing Wage
Inside Wireman Prevailing Wage
Inside Wireman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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.
Maintenance Electrician Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Electrician Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Electrician positions fall under SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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.
Paper Mill Electrician Prevailing Wage
Paper Mill Electrician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Paper Mill Electrician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Wireman Prevailing Wage
Wireman Prevailing Wage
Wireman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2111.00 (Electricians). 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 Electricians?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Electricians using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL assigns four wage levels based on the distribution of reported wages for SOC 47-2111. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored Electrician must pay at or above the level that matches the employee's experience and the certified worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level work under supervision; Level 2 is independent journeyman-level performance; Level 3 covers experienced professionals handling complex systems; Level 4 applies to senior or lead electricians with supervisory or specialized responsibilities. Your level is determined by the job duties and experience requirements in the employer's LCA, not by your personal preference or job title alone. Review the certified LCA to see which level your employer filed.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Electricians role vary so much by city?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area has its own wage distribution for SOC 47-2111. Dense union labor markets in the Pacific Northwest and Bay Area drive higher survey wages, while areas with lower construction activity or cost of living produce lower floors. Under the LCA rules, the wage that applies is the one for the worksite address listed on your certified LCA, not your employer's headquarters city.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If an employer files an LCA certifying a wage at or above the prevailing wage floor but then pays you less, they are in violation of DOL requirements and can face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorships. If the offer itself is structured below the floor, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which blocks the entire H-1B or PERM process. Candidates should compare the offered salary to the applicable level wage before the LCA is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Electricians in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you enter SOC code 47-2111, select your target metropolitan area, and view the current Level 1 through Level 4 wage floors. BLS also publishes area wage estimates for Electricians that can serve as a cross-reference. For finding employers that have actively sponsored this occupation, Migrate Mate filters listed roles by visa type and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts for Electricians specifically.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Electricians right now.
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