Prevailing Wage for Fence Erectors
Prevailing wage for Fence Erectors, the SOC 47-4031 occupation, is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys that produce four experience levels. Whether your offer comes to you as a Fence Builder, Fence Installer, or Fence Contractor, the floor that matters for H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship shifts significantly depending on the city where the work is performed.
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Entry-level fence erectors with limited field experience and basic supervised installation tasks. Workers at this level typically follow established procedures, handle standard residential or commercial fencing materials, and require close oversight on most assignments.
Qualified erectors with hands-on experience across multiple fence types and materials who work with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Fence Erectors, reflecting journeyman-level field competence on a range of residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
Experienced erectors who independently manage complex installations, interpret site plans, and may direct junior crew members. Workers at this level bring specialized skills in heavy-duty or ornamental fencing systems and troubleshoot non-standard structural or terrain challenges.
Fully competent lead erectors or working foremen who take responsibility for project planning, crew coordination, quality control, and client communication on large or technically demanding fencing contracts with minimal supervisory oversight.
Prevailing Wage for Fence Erectors 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 Fence Erectors and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your worksite city before accepting an offer
Fence installation is inherently site-specific. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and DOL wages for this occupation vary widely, with California metros paying significantly more than Southern or rural markets at every experience level.
Watch how employers classify fence crew leaders
Some employers title a lead installer as Fence Technician or Fence Mechanic and file at Level 2 even when the role carries full crew supervision. If your duties match Level 3 or Level 4, the filing level should reflect that, or your offer may fall short of the correct floor.
Understand why overtime structure matters for this trade
Fence erectors commonly work variable hours tied to project schedules. The prevailing wage floor applies to the base rate and regular hours. Overtime premiums do not substitute for a deficient base wage on an LCA, so confirm the straight-time rate independently.
Use Migrate Mate to see which employers sponsor fence roles
Fence erector sponsorship is uncommon relative to office occupations. Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, letting you identify the contractors and commercial fencing companies that have actually filed for this SOC rather than guessing from job postings.
Jobs for Fence Erectors are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Fence ErectorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-4031.00 alongside Fence Erectors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Fence Builder Prevailing Wage
Fence Builder Prevailing Wage
Fence Builder positions fall under SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). 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.
Fence Contractor Prevailing Wage
Fence Contractor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fence Contractor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fence Installer Prevailing Wage
Fence Installer Prevailing Wage
Fence Installer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). 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.
Fence Laborer Prevailing Wage
Fence Laborer Prevailing Wage
Fence Laborer positions fall under SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). 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.
Fence Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Fence Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fence Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fence Technician (Fence Tech) Prevailing Wage
Fence Technician (Fence Tech) Prevailing Wage
Fence Technician (Fence Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). 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.
Gate Technician (Gate Tech) Prevailing Wage
Gate Technician (Gate Tech) Prevailing Wage
Gate Technician (Gate Tech) positions fall under SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). 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.
Wood Fence Erector Prevailing Wage
Wood Fence Erector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Wood Fence Erector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-4031.00 (Fence Erectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Fence Erectors?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate median wages for SOC 47-4031 in each metropolitan area. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification then assigns four wage levels based on experience, from entry through fully competent. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels range from Level 1, covering entry-level workers under close supervision, to Level 4, which applies to fully competent lead erectors who plan and oversee projects independently. Your level is determined by the duties, supervision received, and complexity of work in the job description, not your years of experience alone. Review the actual job duties against DOL's level definitions, or ask your employer which level they intend to file on the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Fence Erector role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. The LCA must list the specific worksite location, and wage compliance is assessed against that location's figures. High-cost construction markets like San Francisco or San Jose produce significantly higher floors than lower-wage metros in Texas or Virginia because local union activity, cost of living, and employer density all influence the underlying survey data.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
For H-1B and PERM-based green card petitions, the employer must certify on the LCA that it will pay at least the prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. If the offered wage falls below that floor, USCIS or DOL can reject, audit, or revoke the petition. Employers found to have underpaid sponsored workers may face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorships. The prevailing wage requirement is not negotiable on a sponsored filing.
How do I find and verify the Fence Erectors prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website lets you look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 47-4031 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite area and the occupation code to retrieve the four-level wage table for that location. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B sponsorship history for fence-related roles, so you can pair the wage lookup with a search for active sponsors in your target city.
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