Prevailing Wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Prevailing wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (SOC 51-6092) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across hundreds of U.S. metro areas. Whether your offer letter calls you a Pattern Maker, Pattern Designer, or Cutter, DOL assigns four experience levels to this occupation, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which city your worksite falls in.
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Entry-level patternmakers with limited experience, typically working under close supervision on routine pattern tasks. Employers filing at Level 1 generally sponsor candidates who are new to U.S. industry standards or recently transitioned from related textile roles.
Qualified patternmakers with hands-on experience handling a full range of pattern construction and grading assignments independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, covering professionals who need minimal day-to-day direction.
Experienced patternmakers who handle complex garment construction challenges, mentor junior staff, and exercise independent judgment on fit, grading tolerances, and technical package standards. Employers typically reserve this level for senior individual contributors.
Fully competent senior or lead patternmakers whose scope includes cross-functional oversight, setting technical standards, and resolving production-level fit or construction problems. Level 4 filings reflect the top of the occupation's experience range.
Prevailing Wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers 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 Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Verify your title maps to SOC 51-6092
Offer letters for this occupation often use titles like Pattern Technician, Pattern Designer, or Designer. If an employer files your LCA under a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor applied to your position may not reflect the correct occupation, leaving your sponsored wage potentially under the correct threshold.
Watch how New York metro wages compare
The New York metro area consistently posts the highest prevailing wages for patternmakers among surveyed metros, reflecting the density of apparel houses there. If your worksite is in a satellite office outside the core metro, confirm which OES area governs your LCA worksite address.
Exclude bonuses when calculating your base against the floor
DOL's prevailing wage calculation for sponsored patternmakers counts only guaranteed cash compensation. Signing bonuses, production bonuses, and any equity components do not count toward satisfying the wage floor on your LCA.
Find employers who have sponsored patternmakers before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a history of sponsoring Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, so you can focus your job search on companies that have already navigated this SOC rather than those filing for the first time.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6092.00 alongside Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter positions fall under SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Designer Prevailing Wage
Designer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Designer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Pattern Designer Prevailing Wage
Pattern Designer Prevailing Wage
Pattern Designer positions fall under SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pattern Maker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pattern Technician Prevailing Wage
Pattern Technician Prevailing Wage
Pattern Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Production Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Production Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Production Pattern Maker positions fall under SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Sewing Pattern Layout Technician Prevailing Wage
Sewing Pattern Layout Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sewing Pattern Layout Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Technical Designer Prevailing Wage
Technical Designer Prevailing Wage
Technical Designer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6092.00 (Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers?
DOL draws on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro areas nationwide. For SOC 51-6092, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience, supervision required, and complexity of work. Employers sponsoring a patternmaker must pay at least the level that matches the actual duties and experience the position requires, not simply the lowest available level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified professionals working independently on standard pattern tasks and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced professionals handling complex assignments. Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead roles with the broadest scope. Your level is determined by the duties in the job description, not your years of experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same patternmaker role differ so much city to city?
OFLC uses regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions separately for each metro area. The rule is that the prevailing wage is tied to the worksite address listed on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters. Dense apparel markets like New York set much higher floors than lower-concentration metros because local employer competition for skilled patternmakers drives wages up in those surveys.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or green card petition where the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage certified on the LCA. If your offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the wage before filing or reexamine which level accurately describes the role. Employers cannot use allowances, bonuses, or equity to bridge the gap to the prevailing wage minimum.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
OFLC publishes wage data through the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up prevailing wages by SOC code, metro area, and wage level. Enter SOC 51-6092 along with the metro area that matches your prospective worksite to see current Level 1 through Level 4 figures. If you want to see which employers have active sponsorship history for this occupation, Migrate Mate filters sponsored listings by role and location.
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