Prevailing Wage for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Prevailing wage for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1053) is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys, so the floor an Assistant Professor or Environmental Sciences Professor must meet depends on the worksite city listed on the LCA. DOL defines four experience levels, from entry-level Adjunct Professor positions through fully competent roles, each carrying a different minimum.
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Entry-level postsecondary teachers with limited independent teaching history, typically new to the faculty role and working under direct departmental supervision. DOL Level 1 applies when the position involves routine assignments with closely defined duties and minimal autonomous research expectations.
Qualified teachers with a few years of postsecondary teaching experience and an established course load. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, reflecting standard tenure-track and lectureship positions with moderate independence.
Experienced faculty who independently design curricula, lead research programs, and mentor junior colleagues. DOL Level 3 applies when the role requires specialized expertise, a publication record, and judgment that goes beyond routine teaching duties.
Senior faculty with a recognized research or teaching profile, often holding tenured or named positions. Level 4 reflects fully autonomous scope, including directing graduate programs, securing external grants, and setting departmental academic direction.
Prevailing Wage for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary 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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Flag title mismatches before the LCA is filed
Employers sometimes post roles as 'Lecturer' or 'Visiting Scientist' and file under a different SOC, inadvertently bypassing the Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary floor. Confirm the employer's intended SOC code on the certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Account for research stipends excluded from prevailing wage
Universities frequently offer supplemental research stipends, summer salary from grants, or one-time relocation allowances. DOL counts only the base annual salary toward prevailing wage compliance, so verify that your guaranteed base alone clears the floor for your level.
Compare metro floors before targeting institutions
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies significantly between markets. San Francisco and Minneapolis post substantially higher floors than New Orleans or Trenton. Targeting institutions in high-floor metros also signals stronger salary negotiation leverage based on published DOL data.
Use Migrate Mate to identify universities with H-1B sponsorship history
Sponsorship for postsecondary teaching roles is concentrated at larger research universities. Migrate Mate shows which institutions have actually sponsored Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary or related faculty roles before, so you can focus applications on proven sponsors.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-1053.00 alongside Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Adjunct Professor Prevailing Wage
Adjunct Professor Prevailing Wage
Adjunct Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Assistant Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
Associate Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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 Engineering Professor Prevailing Wage
Environmental Engineering Professor Prevailing Wage
Environmental Engineering Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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 Sciences Professor Prevailing Wage
Environmental Sciences Professor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Environmental Sciences Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Environmental Studies Professor Prevailing Wage
Environmental Studies Professor Prevailing Wage
Environmental Studies Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Faculty Member Prevailing Wage
Faculty Member Prevailing Wage
Faculty Member positions fall under SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
Lecturer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1053.00 (Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary). 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 Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. For each metro area, BLS calculates wage distributions by occupation. OFLC then maps those distributions to four wage levels, with Level 1 near the lower percentile and Level 4 near the upper percentile. The certified prevailing wage on the LCA reflects the figure for the specific worksite location and wage level the employer selects.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels correspond to increasing experience and autonomy. Level 1 covers entry positions with close supervision, Level 2 qualified roles with standard independence, Level 3 experienced positions requiring specialized judgment, and Level 4 fully competent senior roles. The employer determines the level based on the actual job duties described in the LCA. Review the LCA's job duties section and compare it honestly against DOL's level definitions to confirm the filing level matches your responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation differ so much between cities?
OFLC bases each area's wage floor on regional OES surveys, which capture actual salaries paid in that labor market. Dense academic and research markets like San Francisco or Minneapolis produce higher survey medians than smaller markets. The LCA rules require employers to use the prevailing wage for the specific worksite address, not a national average. An institution hiring for a San Francisco campus must meet that metro's higher floor even if its headquarters are elsewhere.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for this role?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. Without a certified LCA, neither an H-1B petition nor an E-3 visa application can proceed. If USCIS discovers a wage deficiency after approval, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment. An offer below the floor is not a negotiating starting point for a sponsored position; the employer must either raise the salary or file at a different wage level that accurately reflects the actual duties.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website, select the current wage year, enter SOC code 25-1053, and choose the metropolitan area matching your worksite. The tool returns all four wage levels for that area. Cross-reference the result against the O*NET occupation profile to confirm the SOC code fits the actual job duties. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in your target city, so you can gauge realistic offer ranges before negotiating.
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