Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers
The prevailing wage for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers (SOC 33-1011) is set by DOL using regional wage surveys, so the floor a Correctional Supervisor or Correctional Officer Captain must meet depends on where the job is located. DOL defines four experience levels, each carrying a different wage floor, and the gap between metros can be substantial.
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Entry-level filing for supervisors with limited supervisory experience, typically relying on established procedures and close oversight. Employers filing at Level 1 generally cite candidates transitioning from line correctional officer roles into their first formal supervisory position.
The most common filing level for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers. Covers candidates with moderate supervisory experience who apply standard practices independently, coordinate shift activities, and handle routine compliance tasks without constant oversight.
For experienced supervisors who manage complex situations, mentor junior supervisors, and exercise independent judgment on facility operations. Candidates at this level typically hold several years of progressive supervisory responsibility within a correctional environment.
Senior or lead supervisors who set operational standards, handle escalated incidents, and may oversee multiple units or facilities. Level 4 filings reflect fully competent professionals recognized as subject-matter authorities within their department.
Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers 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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Confirm your title maps to SOC 33-1011
Job postings for Correctional Officer Captain or Shift Supervisor are sometimes filed under a facilities-management or general supervision SOC, which carries a different wage floor. Verify your LCA references SOC 33-1011 specifically before accepting an offer.
Account for California's outsized wage premiums
Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno metros set wage floors far above the national median for this occupation. If your worksite is in California, the L1 floor alone may exceed what qualifies as an L4 wage in lower-paying Southern states.
Exclude overtime and shift-differential pay from compliance math
Correctional supervisors frequently receive substantial shift differentials and overtime. DOL prevailing-wage compliance is calculated against base salary only. Offers padded with overtime or hazard pay to clear the floor may not satisfy the LCA requirement.
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Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify agencies and contractors that have actually sponsored Correctional Supervisor or similar SOC 33-1011 roles rather than approaching facilities with no sponsorship track record.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 33-1011.00 alongside First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Correctional Officer Captain Prevailing Wage
Correctional Officer Captain Prevailing Wage
Correctional Officer Captain positions fall under SOC 33-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers). 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.
Correctional Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Correctional Supervisor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Correctional Supervisor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 33-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage for this occupation using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. OFLC then publishes four wage levels derived from that survey data. Employers sponsoring a First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers on an H-1B or PERM application must certify they will pay at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels correspond to experience and responsibility: Level 1 is entry supervisory, Level 2 is qualified with independent day-to-day responsibility, Level 3 is experienced with complex caseloads or multi-unit duties, and Level 4 is fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Your employer determines the level when filing the LCA, based on the actual job duties in the petition. Review the LCA carefully to confirm the level matches your real scope of work.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much between cities?
OFLC sets wages from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted at the metropolitan area level, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. California metros, where public-sector correctional pay is highest, produce substantially higher floors than rural Southern markets. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, so a role physically located in a high-cost metro cannot use a lower-cost area's figure even if the employer is headquartered elsewhere.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite. For PERM applications, USCIS can deny the petition on the same basis. If a certified LCA is later audited and found to understate wages actually paid, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment. Candidates should request the certified LCA and compare the stated wage to DOL's published floor before signing an offer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC code 33-1011, choose the relevant metropolitan area, and select the wage level that matches the position's duties. The result is the DOL-published floor your offer must meet. For historical context on which employers have actually sponsored First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers, Migrate Mate's employer sponsorship data lets you filter by role and location to see who has filed in the past.
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