Prevailing Wage for File Clerks
Prevailing wage requirements for File Clerks are set by the DOL and apply to every sponsored position under H-1B, E-3, and green card pathways. Whether the offer is for a Claims Clerk, Clerk Typist, or general Clerk role, four experience levels determine the wage floor, and that floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
See all jobs for File ClerksLook up your work address
Entry-level filing clerks with minimal experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision with limited independent judgment. Most candidates have a high school diploma and fewer than two years in the occupation. Employers filing at this level are hiring for basic file management duties.
Qualified clerks with some experience who work with moderate independence on standard filing and retrieval tasks. Level 2 is the most common filing level for File Clerks, reflecting employers seeking candidates who can handle day-to-day records management with minimal oversight.
Experienced clerks who regularly handle complex records systems, train junior staff, or manage specialized filing workflows. These professionals typically bring several years in the occupation and may oversee document control across departments or locations.
Fully competent clerks in senior or lead roles with broad responsibility, including developing filing procedures, auditing records systems, or supervising small teams. Documentation Specialists with cross-functional scope or Medical Records Clerks managing compliance-heavy archives often fall here.
Prevailing Wage for File Clerks 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
See all jobs for File Clerks
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for File Clerks and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for File Clerks
Watch for title aliasing in healthcare and legal settings
Employers sometimes post Medical Records Clerk or Documentation Specialist roles but file the LCA under a different SOC, which may not match the File Clerks prevailing wage floor. Confirm the SOC code on the certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Expect Level 2 filings across most industries
Most File Clerks sponsorships land at Level 2 because employers want independent workers who need little supervision. If your offer is at Level 1 but you have two or more years of records management experience, the classification may be understating your level.
Flag California metros as wage outliers for this role
San Jose and San Francisco set some of the highest prevailing wages for clerking roles in the country. If you are evaluating offers in those metros, even entry-level positions carry significantly higher wage floors than national and Southern medians.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with clerk hiring history
File Clerks sponsorships are concentrated in healthcare systems, universities, and large government contractors. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored the role before, so you can prioritize companies with a documented track record over first-time sponsors.
Jobs for File Clerks are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for File ClerksPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4071.00 alongside File Clerks, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Claims Clerk Prevailing Wage
Claims Clerk Prevailing Wage
Claims Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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.
Clerk Prevailing Wage
Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clerk Typist Prevailing Wage
Clerk Typist Prevailing Wage
Clerk Typist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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.
Documentation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Documentation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Documentation Specialist positions fall under SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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.
Medical Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
Medical Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Records Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Office Assistant Prevailing Wage
Office Assistant Prevailing Wage
Office Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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.
Police Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
Police Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
Police Records Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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.
Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
Records Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Records Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Records Custodian Prevailing Wage
Records Custodian Prevailing Wage
Records Custodian is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4071.00 (File Clerks). 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 the DOL set the prevailing wage for File Clerks?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for each SOC code, including File Clerks (SOC 43-4071), broken down by metropolitan area. OFLC publishes these figures in its wage library, and employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect experience, supervision, and task complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level filing under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified clerks working with some independence, and it is the most common level for sponsored File Clerks positions. Level 3 applies to experienced clerks handling complex systems or training others. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with broad procedural responsibility. Your level should match your actual duties and experience, not just your job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same clerking role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. Dense employer markets with high costs of living, like San Jose or San Francisco, produce higher survey medians than smaller metros in the South or Puerto Rico. The LCA rules require the employer to use the wage for the actual worksite location, not a company headquarters or a national average, so a San Jose offer and a Macon, Georgia offer at the same level can carry very different wage floors.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. If OFLC finds a violation after certification, the employer faces back-pay liability, civil money penalties, and potential debarment from future sponsorships. For the sponsored worker, an LCA filed with an understated wage can jeopardize the underlying H-1B or green card petition. USCIS reviews wage compliance as part of petition adjudication.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a File Clerks position in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 43-4071 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city, select the correct OES survey year, and confirm the level matches your duties. If the role appears under an alternate title such as Claims Clerk or Office Assistant, verify the SOC code is still 43-4071. Migrate Mate can also help you identify employers that have sponsored File Clerks roles in specific locations so you can target companies with an established filing history.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for File Clerks right now.
Search Jobs for File Clerks