Prevailing Wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers
The prevailing wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers (SOC 35-3023) sets the minimum DOL floor any U.S. employer must meet when sponsoring a Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker, or Cafe Server on a work visa or green card. DOL publishes four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level workers with limited experience, typically under one year in a counter service or cafeteria setting, performing routine tasks under close supervision. Employers filing at Level 1 expect the worker to develop core skills on the job with direct oversight.
Workers with a year or more of experience handling standard counter and service tasks with moderate independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Fast Food and Counter Workers, matching the typical sponsored hire who can work with minimal daily supervision.
Experienced workers who perform a full range of counter, cafeteria, or deli tasks with limited oversight and may train newer staff. Employers filing here expect demonstrated proficiency and the ability to handle varied service situations without guidance.
Fully competent workers in senior or lead roles, setting standards, overseeing workflow, or managing a counter or cafeteria station. Level 4 filings typically reflect a shift supervisor or lead dietary aide with broad responsibility across the service operation.
Prevailing Wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 Fast Food and Counter Workers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title matches SOC 35-3023
Titles like Dietary Aide or Deli Worker sometimes get filed under food preparation SOCs instead of 35-3023, which carries a different wage floor. Verify your job offer specifies the counter-service duties that anchor this occupation code before accepting.
Account for California metro premiums
San Jose, San Francisco, and Napa metros carry prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in a high-cost California market, the L2 floor there is roughly 50 percent higher than in Puerto Rico metros at the low end.
Watch how tips factor into total compensation
DOL prevailing wage compliance for sponsored counter workers is based on the base hourly wage, not tip-inclusive earnings. An employer citing blended tip income to meet the floor on an LCA filing is likely out of compliance, so confirm base pay separately.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Counter and cafeteria service roles are rarely sponsored, so employer history matters. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually filed visas for Fast Food and Counter Workers roles, so you can target companies with a documented track record rather than guessing.
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Find Jobs for Fast Food and Counter WorkersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-3023.00 alongside Fast Food and Counter Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cafe Server Prevailing Wage
Cafe Server Prevailing Wage
Cafe Server positions fall under SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Cafeteria Server Prevailing Wage
Cafeteria Server Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cafeteria Server for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cafeteria Worker Prevailing Wage
Cafeteria Worker Prevailing Wage
Cafeteria Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Counter Worker Prevailing Wage
Counter Worker Prevailing Wage
Counter Worker positions fall under SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker) Prevailing Wage
Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dietary Aide Prevailing Wage
Dietary Aide Prevailing Wage
Dietary Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Food Server Prevailing Wage
Food Server Prevailing Wage
Food Server positions fall under SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Food Service Worker Prevailing Wage
Food Service Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Food Service Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Server Prevailing Wage
Server Prevailing Wage
Server is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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.
Snack Bar Attendant Prevailing Wage
Snack Bar Attendant Prevailing Wage
Snack Bar Attendant positions fall under SOC 35-3023.00 (Fast Food and Counter Workers). 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 Fast Food and Counter Workers?
DOL bases prevailing wages for SOC 35-3023 on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. OFLC publishes these figures annually. The result is a floor tied to actual local wages paid to comparable workers, not a national average, so the number an employer must meet depends entirely on where the worksite is located.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate independence, Level 3 as experienced with limited oversight, and Level 4 as fully competent in a lead or senior capacity. Your level is determined by the actual duties and supervision in the job offer, not your years of experience alone. Employers certify the level on the LCA, and USCIS reviews whether it matches the position description.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same counter worker role vary so much by city?
OFLC assigns wages by metropolitan statistical area using regional BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey results. Employer density, local minimum wage laws, and cost of labor all drive variation. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage floor applies, so an employer filing for a San Jose location must meet that metro's floor, not the national median. Moving a worksite even across a county line can change the applicable wage level.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. DOL will not certify the LCA, which blocks the visa petition from proceeding. If an underpayment is discovered after certification, OFLC can investigate, assess back wages, and debar the employer from future sponsorship. For the worker, a defective LCA can invalidate the underlying visa petition.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Fast Food and Counter Workers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 35-3023 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city or metro, select the occupation code, and the tool returns the current DOL wage floor for each of the four levels. Cross-check the result against the wage listed on the employer's LCA filing, which OFLC makes publicly available in its disclosure data. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored this role by location, helping you identify active sponsors in your target market.
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