Prevailing Wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
Prevailing wage for Automotive Technician roles, including Car Audio Installers and Car Electronics Installers, is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. The DOL defines four experience levels, each with a distinct wage floor, and the rate varies significantly depending on which U.S. city appears on the Labor Condition Application.
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Entry-level Automotive Technician with limited hands-on experience, typically performing installations or repairs under direct supervision. Workers at this level are still developing familiarity with vehicle electronics systems and generally hold no advanced certifications.
Qualified Automotive Technician with working experience in vehicle electronics installation and diagnostics, operating with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting journeyworker status in dealership and specialty shop environments.
Experienced technician who handles complex diagnostic and repair tasks with minimal supervision, often serving as a resource for junior staff. Typically has several years of documented experience across multiple vehicle electronics systems.
Senior or lead technician with full competency across vehicle communications, security, navigation, and sound systems. May oversee a team, set quality standards, or act as the primary technical authority at a facility.
Prevailing Wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles 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 across SOC codes
Employers sometimes post Car Stereo Installer or Electronic Technician roles but file LCAs under a different SOC, such as a broader repair category. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 49-2096 before accepting an offer to ensure the correct wage floor applies.
Verify your worksite city, not headquarters
For mobile or multi-location automotive technicians, the LCA wage must reflect the actual shop or dealership address where work is performed. A Sacramento posting filed at a lower-wage metro rate is a compliance gap that affects your offer.
Exclude signing bonuses from the wage floor calculation
DOL prevailing wage for Car Electronics Installers must be met by base hourly or salary pay alone. One-time signing bonuses, tool allowances, and commission structures generally cannot be counted toward satisfying the prevailing wage floor on the LCA.
Search sponsored Automotive Technician roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists Automotive Technician and Car Audio Installer positions from employers with verified sponsorship history, so you can see which dealerships and specialty shops have actually filed for this occupation before applying.
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Find Jobs for Automotive TechnicianPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-2096.00 alongside Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Automotive Technician Prevailing Wage
Automotive Technician Prevailing Wage
Automotive Technician positions fall under SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Car Audio Installer Prevailing Wage
Car Audio Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Car Audio Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Car Electronics Installer Prevailing Wage
Car Electronics Installer Prevailing Wage
Car Electronics Installer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Car Stereo Installer Prevailing Wage
Car Stereo Installer Prevailing Wage
Car Stereo Installer positions fall under SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Electronic Equipment Installer Prevailing Wage
Electronic Equipment Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Electronic Equipment Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Electronic Technician Prevailing Wage
Electronic Technician Prevailing Wage
Electronic Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Installation Technician Prevailing Wage
Installation Technician Prevailing Wage
Installation Technician positions fall under SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Installer Prevailing Wage
Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Mobile Electronics Installation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Mobile Electronics Installation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Mobile Electronics Installation Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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.
Mobile Electronics Installer Prevailing Wage
Mobile Electronics Installer Prevailing Wage
Mobile Electronics Installer positions fall under SOC 49-2096.00 (Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles). 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 Automotive Technician roles?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for each metropolitan area. For SOC 49-2096, the OFLC assigns one of four wage levels based on the experience and supervision requirements described in the job duties. Employers file a Labor Condition Application declaring 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 applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level technicians working under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified, independent workers and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced technicians with complex responsibilities. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your level should match the actual job duties and supervision structure described in the petition, not simply your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. A Car Audio Installer in Sacramento or Atlanta operates in a market with higher surveyed wages than the same role in San Juan or Austin. The LCA must list the specific worksite metro, and the wage floor for that area applies regardless of where the sponsoring employer is headquartered.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition if the LCA wage is below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and job level. If the offer is deficient, the employer must either increase the base salary before filing the LCA or reclassify the role at a level whose floor the offered wage meets. Accepting a below-floor offer does not protect the worker from petition denial.
How do I find the prevailing wage for an Automotive Technician role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 49-2096 for the metropolitan area where you would work. Select the wage level that matches the job duties described in your offer letter. Cross-check against recent LCA filings in the OFLC disclosure data to see what wages employers have actually certified for Car Electronics Installer and similar titles in that metro. Migrate Mate also lists sponsored roles with employer sponsorship history, helping you identify which companies in that area have filed for this occupation.
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