Prevailing Wage for Environmental Engineers
Prevailing wage for Environmental Engineers is set by DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the job is located. Whether your offer is for an Air Pollution Control Engineer, an Environmental Remediation Specialist, or a broader Engineer role, the sponsored salary must meet the DOL minimum for your city and level.
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Entry-level engineers with limited independent judgment, typically recent graduates or those new to environmental practice. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine, and the role applies established methods to standard pollution control or remediation tasks.
Qualified engineers with a degree and some independent project experience. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Environmental Engineers, covering roles that handle site assessments, permitting, or waste treatment design with moderate supervision.
Experienced engineers who lead project phases, interpret complex regulatory requirements, and may mentor junior staff. Work involves significant independent judgment on remediation strategies, pollution control systems, or multi-site environmental programs.
Fully competent senior engineers with deep specialization and leadership scope. These professionals set technical direction, oversee large remediation or compliance programs, and may serve as principal consultant or technical authority for the organization.
Prevailing Wage for Environmental Engineers 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 Environmental Engineers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how consulting firms title these roles
Environmental consulting employers frequently use titles like Environmental Analyst or Environmental Consultant on job postings. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 17-2081; a consulting title filed under a management or analyst SOC can carry a lower prevailing wage floor than the engineering occupation warrants.
Factor out signing bonuses before comparing
DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base salary on the LCA, not total compensation. Signing bonuses, performance bonuses, and equity grants do not count toward meeting the Environmental Engineers wage floor, so verify base salary alone clears the level.
Check metros near major remediation and energy corridors
Prevailing wages for this occupation vary sharply by region. Markets tied to oil and gas or industrial remediation, such as Midland, TX, and Pacific Northwest corridors, post significantly higher floors than Southeast or Puerto Rico metros at every level.
Find employers that have sponsored Environmental Engineers before
Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical visa sponsorship counts, so you can identify which environmental consulting firms, government contractors, and industrial companies have actually sponsored this occupation rather than relying on posted job descriptions alone.
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Find Jobs for Environmental EngineersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-2081.00 alongside Environmental Engineers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Air Pollution Control Engineer Prevailing Wage
Air Pollution Control Engineer Prevailing Wage
Air Pollution Control Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). 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.
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Engineering Consultant Prevailing Wage
Engineering Consultant Prevailing Wage
Engineering Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). 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.
Environmental Analyst Prevailing Wage
Environmental Analyst Prevailing Wage
Environmental Analyst positions fall under SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). 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.
Environmental Consultant Prevailing Wage
Environmental Consultant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Environmental Consultant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Environmental Remediation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Environmental Remediation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Environmental Remediation Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). 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.
Hazardous Substances Engineer Prevailing Wage
Hazardous Substances Engineer Prevailing Wage
Hazardous Substances Engineer positions fall under SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). 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.
Sanitary Engineer Prevailing Wage
Sanitary Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sanitary Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-2081.00 (Environmental Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Environmental Engineers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. For Environmental Engineers under SOC 17-2081, OFLC converts that regional wage data into four wage levels and publishes the results in the prevailing wage library. Employers must use the wage that matches the worksite location and the complexity of the role being sponsored.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry positions with close supervision and routine tasks, Level 2 to qualified roles with some independent work, Level 3 to experienced engineers exercising significant judgment, and Level 4 to senior or lead positions. Your level is determined by the actual duties, supervision received, and complexity of the role as described in the LCA, not by your years of experience alone. Employers choose the level, but USCIS can challenge a mismatch between the stated level and the job description.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much city to city?
OFLC bases wages on regional OES surveys, which reflect local labor market conditions. Dense industrial markets and high-cost metros produce higher survey medians than rural or low-wage regions. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, not the employer's headquarters, so a position in San Francisco carries a different floor than the same title in Jackson, MS. Remote work arrangements may require multiple LCA worksites if employees work across metro areas.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA for a wage below the applicable prevailing wage. OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage is below the floor, which blocks the H-1B or PERM process from proceeding. If an LCA is filed with an incorrect wage and USCIS or DOL audits the case, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment. Candidates should request to see the certified LCA and confirm the offered wage meets or exceeds the stated prevailing wage.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Environmental Engineers in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 17-2081 in the relevant metropolitan area. Select the occupation code, enter the worksite city or OES area, and the tool returns all four wage levels. You can also reference the O*NET profile for the occupation to confirm the correct SOC code. Migrate Mate lists jobs from employers with verified sponsorship history for this occupation, helping you identify which companies are actively hiring Environmental Engineers under visa sponsorship.
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