Prevailing Wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Classroom Teacher roles in U.S. public and private elementary schools fall under DOL wage-determination rules whenever an employer files an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. Whether the position is titled Elementary Teacher, Art Teacher, or Math Teacher, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which metro the school is in.
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Entry-level classroom teachers with limited professional experience, typically new graduates or those new to U.S. elementary school systems. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine, and independent judgment is minimal. Most employers file at Level 1 for first-year teaching placements.
Qualified teachers with some years of classroom experience who work independently on standard assignments. Level 2 is the most common filing level for elementary school teachers, reflecting positions that require professional judgment but not supervisory or specialized leadership duties.
Experienced teachers with a strong track record who handle complex student needs, mentor newer colleagues, or lead subject-area initiatives. Work requires substantial independent judgment and is typically subject to only general supervision from school administrators.
Fully competent senior teachers or instructional leads who set curriculum standards, supervise other teaching staff, or hold department-head responsibilities. These roles require comprehensive professional expertise and are rarely entry-level sponsored positions.
Prevailing Wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 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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Check whether your teaching credential affects your level
Many school districts tie pay grades directly to state licensure, so a teacher holding a full state credential often gets filed at Level 2 or higher even in a first-year role. Confirm that the LCA wage level aligns with your actual credential tier, not just years served.
Watch for California metro premiums before accepting
El Centro, Merced, Visalia, and San Jose consistently post the highest prevailing wages for elementary teachers in the country. If you are comparing offers across states, the California premium can be substantial and should factor into your total compensation review.
Use Migrate Mate to identify districts with sponsorship history
School districts that have sponsored elementary teachers before are far more likely to navigate the LCA and H-1B process smoothly. Migrate Mate shows which employers have an actual track record sponsoring this occupation, so you can prioritize districts with proven experience.
Clarify whether stipends and bonuses count toward the wage floor
Some districts offer signing bonuses or professional-development stipends that are paid separately from base salary. DOL counts only guaranteed, recurring wages toward prevailing wage compliance, so a base offer below the floor cannot be cured by a one-time bonus.
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Find Jobs for Classroom TeacherPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-2021.00 alongside Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Classroom Teacher Prevailing Wage
Classroom Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Classroom Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Elementary Classroom Teacher Prevailing Wage
Elementary Classroom Teacher Prevailing Wage
Elementary Classroom Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Elementary School Teacher Prevailing Wage
Elementary School Teacher Prevailing Wage
Elementary School Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Elementary Teacher Prevailing Wage
Elementary Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Elementary Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Music Teacher Prevailing Wage
Music Teacher Prevailing Wage
Music Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Primary Teacher Prevailing Wage
Primary Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Primary Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Reading Teacher Prevailing Wage
Reading Teacher Prevailing Wage
Reading Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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.
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2021.00 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). 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 a classroom teacher position?
DOL derives prevailing wages for elementary school teachers from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC maps those survey results to SOC 25-2021 and publishes four wage levels for each geographic area. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC before filing an LCA, and the certified wage becomes the minimum the employer must pay for the sponsored position.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 applies to entry-level teachers under close supervision, while Level 2 covers independently working teachers with some experience, which is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced teachers handling complex assignments, and Level 4 covers senior or lead instructional staff. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure of the role described in the job offer and LCA, not simply your years of experience.
Why can the prevailing wage for the same classroom teacher role differ so much from one city to another?
DOL prevailing wages are anchored to regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. High-cost metros like San Jose and Seattle have dense, well-funded school districts that push median wages up significantly. Territories like Puerto Rico and Guam reflect much lower local wage norms. Crucially, the wage on an LCA must correspond to the actual worksite location, so if a teacher is assigned to a specific school, that school's metro area determines the applicable floor, not the district's headquarters city.
What happens if a school district offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the DOL-determined prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. USCIS will deny an H-1B or other sponsored petition that relies on a deficient LCA. If an underpayment is discovered after approval, the employer faces back-wage liability and potential debarment from sponsoring future workers. The offer must be adjusted to meet or exceed the floor before filing, not after.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for an elementary teacher job in a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current four-level wage for SOC 25-2021 in any metro area where DOL publishes data. Enter the occupational code and select the worksite metropolitan area to see the certified wage floors. For broader context on which districts have sponsored this occupation and in which locations, Migrate Mate shows employer-level sponsorship history so you can cross-reference offer letters against known filing patterns before accepting a position.
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