Prevailing Wage for Financial Risk Specialists
The prevailing wage for Financial Risk Specialists under SOC 13-2054 is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Analysts through senior Risk Managers. Whether your offer covers a Risk Analyst position or an Equity Research Analyst role, the floor varies significantly by worksite city and your assigned level.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Risk Analysts with limited experience, typically recent graduates performing routine tasks under close supervision. DOL assigns this level when the position requires no independent judgment and involves defined, repetitive analytical functions within structured frameworks.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Financial Risk Specialists. It applies to qualified professionals with some independent judgment, moderate experience in credit or market risk analysis, and the ability to handle moderately complex assignments without constant supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced Risk Managers and senior Analysts who exercise significant independent judgment, mentor junior staff, and manage complex portfolios or risk models. DOL expects demonstrated expertise and the ability to develop new approaches rather than follow established procedures.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent specialists in lead or principal roles with broad authority over methodology and strategy. These professionals typically set risk frameworks, advise senior leadership, and possess recognized expertise equivalent to a senior Risk Manager or chief risk function lead.
Prevailing Wage for Financial Risk Specialists 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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Watch how financial firms title-alias risk roles
Titles like Securities Analyst or Equity Research Analyst sometimes get filed under different SOC codes, missing the SOC 13-2054 floor entirely. Confirm your offer letter title aligns with the LCA's SOC code before signing.
Exclude bonuses and RSUs when checking the floor
Financial Risk Specialists often receive substantial annual bonuses and equity grants. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only guaranteed base salary, so offers heavy on variable compensation may sit below the required floor on paper.
Prioritize New York and San Francisco offers carefully
The L1 floor in New York and San Francisco is nearly double the national entry-level median. Employers in those markets typically file at L2 or L3, meaning a below-market offer in those cities stands out more clearly against DOL data.
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Migrate Mate shows which companies have historically sponsored Financial Risk Specialists on H-1B or green card petitions, so you can focus applications on employers with a real sponsorship track record in this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Financial Risk SpecialistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-2054.00 alongside Financial Risk Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Analyst Prevailing Wage
Analyst Prevailing Wage
Analyst positions fall under SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). 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.
Equity Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
Equity Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Equity Research Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Risk Analyst Prevailing Wage
Risk Analyst Prevailing Wage
Risk Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). 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.
Risk Manager Prevailing Wage
Risk Manager Prevailing Wage
Risk Manager positions fall under SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). 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.
Risk Specialist Prevailing Wage
Risk Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Risk Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Securities Analyst Prevailing Wage
Securities Analyst Prevailing Wage
Securities Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2054.00 (Financial Risk Specialists). 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 Financial Risk Specialists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 13-2054, it calculates four wage levels by applying percentile thresholds to local wage distributions. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC certifying the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level Analysts under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified professionals handling moderately complex work with some autonomy. Level 3 covers experienced Risk Managers with significant independent judgment. Level 4 applies to fully competent senior leads setting methodology and strategy. Your level is determined by the actual job duties described in the LCA, not your title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same risk role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so they reflect local employer competition and cost of labor in each metro. A Risk Analyst role in New York or San Francisco commands a far higher floor than the same role in Monroe, Louisiana, because the survey data reflects what employers in those markets actually pay. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, so a remote worker physically located in a low-wage metro uses that metro's floor, not the employer's headquarters city.
What happens if an offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with OFLC if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA. If a discrepancy surfaces after filing, USCIS can issue a Request for Evidence or deny the petition. DOL can also audit employers and require back pay if violations are found during the employment period.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Financial Risk Specialists in a specific city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 13-2054 in any metropolitan area. Select the relevant wage level based on your job duties and experience. You can also review OFLC public disclosure data to see what wage levels employers have recently filed for Risk Analyst and Risk Manager roles in your target city. Migrate Mate lets you filter Financial Risk Specialist job listings by location and view each employer's sponsorship history, helping you identify which companies are actively hiring in your market.
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