Prevailing Wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Prevailing wage requirements for an Automotive Artist, or Fine Artist, depend on DOL's four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably from city to city. Whether you work as an Illustrator or an Artist, your sponsored salary must meet or exceed the DOL wage for your level and worksite location.
See all jobs for Automotive ArtistLook up your work address
Entry-level artists with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates or those transitioning into their first sponsored role. Work is performed under close supervision with minimal independent judgment expected on complex creative or technical decisions.
The most common filing level for this occupation. Qualified artists with a foundation of professional experience who work independently on assigned projects, apply established techniques, and occasionally guide junior contributors without holding a formal supervisory title.
Experienced artists who take on complex, multi-faceted projects with significant creative autonomy. They may mentor others, contribute to project scoping, and are recognized for specialized expertise in a particular medium, style, or client market.
Fully competent senior artists or leads who set creative direction, manage high-stakes client relationships, and shape studio or department standards. Their work defines the output quality expected across the team or practice area.
Prevailing Wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 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 Automotive Artist
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Automotive Artist and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
Verify your SOC code before the LCA files
Illustrators and concept artists are sometimes filed under Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024) rather than SOC 27-1013, which carries a different wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists the correct SOC before certification, since the code locks in the prevailing wage used for your offer.
Watch how commission and royalty income counts
Many studios and agencies pay a base salary plus per-project royalties or commissions. Only guaranteed base wages count toward DOL prevailing wage compliance; variable royalty income cannot be used to bridge a shortfall between your offer and the required floor.
Compare offers across high-concentration metros
Los Angeles and San Francisco set the highest prevailing wage floors for this occupation, often three to four times the floor in metros like Columbus or Cleveland. If you are weighing competing offers, the worksite city on the LCA, not your home address, determines which floor applies.
Use Migrate Mate to find studios with sponsorship history
Fine artist sponsorship is concentrated in a small set of studios, publishers, and production companies. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this occupation before, letting you prioritize outreach toward studios already familiar with the LCA and H-1B filing process.
Jobs for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Automotive ArtistPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-1013.00 alongside Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Artist Prevailing Wage
Artist Prevailing Wage
Artist positions fall under SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Automotive Artist Prevailing Wage
Automotive Artist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Automotive Artist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Blacksmith Prevailing Wage
Blacksmith Prevailing Wage
Blacksmith is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Fine Artist Prevailing Wage
Fine Artist Prevailing Wage
Fine Artist positions fall under SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Ice Carver Prevailing Wage
Ice Carver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ice Carver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Illustrator Prevailing Wage
Illustrator Prevailing Wage
Illustrator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Muralist Prevailing Wage
Muralist Prevailing Wage
Muralist positions fall under SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Painter Prevailing Wage
Painter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Painter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Portrait Artist Prevailing Wage
Portrait Artist Prevailing Wage
Portrait Artist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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.
Sculptor Prevailing Wage
Sculptor Prevailing Wage
Sculptor positions fall under SOC 27-1013.00 (Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators). 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 determine the prevailing wage for an Automotive Artist?
DOL sets prevailing wages for this occupation using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC publishes wage tables by SOC code and geographic area. For LCA filings, employers must pay at least the wage listed for the applicable level and worksite area, which DOL updates annually based on those surveys.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level roles under close supervision. Level 2 applies to independent practitioners with a track record, and it is the most commonly filed level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced specialists with significant autonomy. Level 4 applies to senior or lead roles shaping creative direction. Your employer selects the level when filing the LCA, and it must match the actual duties in your offer letter.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys to build separate wage tables for each metropolitan area. Labor markets for artists differ sharply: Los Angeles and San Francisco have dense entertainment and media industries that drive wages up, while smaller metros show lower survey medians. The worksite address listed on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which metro wage table applies to your position.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage floor for the stated level and worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve an H-1B petition. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary, reclassify the role to a lower level with duties that genuinely match, or the sponsorship cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Automotive Artist in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up wages by SOC code 27-1013 and metro area. Enter the worksite city to retrieve the four-level wage table that applies to your position. You can also cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile to confirm the SOC code is correct for your duties before your employer files. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in specific cities, giving you a practical starting point for your job search.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators right now.
Search Jobs for Automotive Artist