Prevailing Wage for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

Prevailing wage for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs (SOC 43-4061) sets the minimum DOL-required salary an employer must pay when sponsoring a visa. Whether a posting lists the title as Eligibility Specialist, Benefits Program Technician, or Business and Employment Specialist, the same SOC applies. DOL sets four experience levels, and the floor varies significantly by city.

See all jobs for this role

Look up your work address

Level 1Entry
National median
$40K
$19.39/hr

Entry-level eligibility interviewers with limited experience, typically following established procedures under close supervision. Usually recent graduates or candidates new to government program administration. Employers file at Level 1 when the role involves routine case intake with minimal independent judgment.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$45K
$21.87/hr

Qualified professionals with one to three years of benefits determination or case management experience. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs, covering staff who handle standard caseloads independently but within defined agency guidelines.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$50K
$24.26/hr

Experienced workers who handle complex cases, interpret policy across multiple benefit programs, and may informally mentor junior staff. Typically requires several years of progressively responsible eligibility or social services work. Employers file at Level 3 for roles with expanded program scope.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$55K
$26.43/hr

Fully competent senior eligibility interviewers or lead case managers who exercise significant independent judgment, develop agency procedures, or oversee program compliance. Level 4 applies when the position carries substantial discretionary authority and cross-program expertise.

Prevailing Wage for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

Loading map…
$21K/yr$67K/yr

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

1
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$67K$32.38/hr
2
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$62K$29.70/hr
3
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro
$60K$28.95/hr
4
Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA metro
$60K$28.81/hr
5
Salinas, CA
Salinas, CA metro
$59K$28.15/hr
6
Saginaw, MI
Saginaw, MI metro
$57K$27.38/hr
7
Modesto, CA
Modesto, CA metro
$56K$26.99/hr
8
Traverse City, MI
Traverse City, MI metro
$56K$26.90/hr
9
Flint, MI
Flint, MI metro
$56K$26.89/hr
10
Oxnard, CA
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro
$56K$26.87/hr

See all jobs for this role

See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.

Search visa-sponsored jobs

Prevailing Wage Guide for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs

Confirm your title maps to SOC 43-4061

Job postings for Eligibility Specialist, Case Manager, or Benefits Program Technician sometimes get filed under a broader social services SOC, lowering the prevailing wage floor. Verify the LCA lists SOC 43-4061 before accepting a sponsored offer.

Weigh government agency pay against nonprofit rates

State and county agencies dominate hiring for this occupation and generally post wages closer to L3 or L4. Nonprofit social service contractors often file at L1 or L2, so the same job title can carry a meaningfully lower wage floor depending on employer category.

Research California metros before comparing offers

San Jose and San Francisco prevailing wages for this occupation run well above the national median, while Tallahassee and Myrtle Beach sit near the bottom. A Level 2 offer in one metro may clear the floor while an identical salary in a higher-cost area falls short.

Find employers who have sponsored this role before

Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs positions, so you can focus your search on agencies and organizations that have already navigated the LCA and visa process for this specific occupation.

Jobs for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Jobs for this role

Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4061.00 alongside Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician) Prevailing Wage

Benefits Program Tech (Benefits Program Technician) positions fall under SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Business and Employment Specialist Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Business and Employment Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Case Manager Prevailing Wage

Case Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Eligibility Examiner Prevailing Wage

Eligibility Examiner positions fall under SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Eligibility Specialist Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Eligibility Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Eligibility Worker Prevailing Wage

Eligibility Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Program Eligibility Specialist Prevailing Wage

Program Eligibility Specialist positions fall under SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Social Welfare Examiner (SWEX) Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Social Welfare Examiner (SWEX) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Workforce Advisor Prevailing Wage

Workforce Advisor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Workforce Services Representative (WSR) Prevailing Wage

Workforce Services Representative (WSR) positions fall under SOC 43-4061.00 (Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$40K
$19.39/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$45K
$21.87/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$50K
$24.26/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$55K
$26.43/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs?

DOL derives prevailing wages for this occupation from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages are broken into four levels based on experience and complexity. Employers sponsoring a visa must file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC, certifying they will pay at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?

Level 1 covers entry-level roles with close supervision, Level 2 covers qualified independent workers, Level 3 covers experienced staff with complex caseloads, and Level 4 covers senior or lead positions with significant discretion. To identify your level, review the LCA your employer files with OFLC. It must state the SOC code, wage level, and offered wage. If the duties described match a higher level than filed, the offer may be below the correct floor.

Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much from city to city?

DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro area survey applies, not where the company is headquartered. Dense public-sector labor markets like San Jose and San Francisco produce higher OES medians, while smaller or lower-cost metros like Myrtle Beach or Tallahassee produce lower floors. A remote-work arrangement still requires the LCA to list the actual worksite location.

What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

OFLC will not certify a Labor Condition Application where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the stated level and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other work visa petition. If the LCA is already certified but the offered salary is misclassified at a lower level than the role warrants, the employer faces compliance liability and potential back-pay obligations. Candidates should request a copy of the certified LCA before signing an offer.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs in a specific U.S. location?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-4061 by metro area and wage level. Select the relevant Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage source, enter the worksite city or metropolitan statistical area, and the tool returns the current prevailing wage for each level. Cross-check the figure against the wage listed on your employer's LCA. Migrate Mate also lists sponsored positions for this occupation with employer sponsorship history, helping you identify which organizations actively file for this role.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs right now.

Search Jobs for this role