Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

The prevailing wage for Animal Research Facility Supervisor roles sets the DOL-mandated salary floor any H-1B, E-3, or green card sponsor must meet before filing an LCA. Whether the position is titled Cattle Manager, Hatchery Manager, or Farm Supervisor, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts meaningfully by city.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$43K
$20.81/hr

Level 1 covers entry-level Animal Research Facility Supervisors with limited experience, typically performing supervision under close direction. Workers at this level handle routine tasks with defined procedures and minimal independent decision-making authority over crew or production outcomes.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$53K
$25.43/hr

Level 2 is the most common filing level for Animal Research Facility Supervisor positions. These workers have practical field experience, exercise independent judgment on daily operations, and require only general supervision from senior management or ownership.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$62K
$29.95/hr

Level 3 applies to experienced supervisors who handle complex operational challenges, mentor junior staff, and may oversee multiple crews or production units. They work with minimal oversight and are expected to resolve non-routine problems independently.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$72K
$34.59/hr

Level 4 covers fully competent supervisors in senior or lead roles, often responsible for large-scale operations, multi-site coordination, or specialized production programs. Their expertise shapes organizational practices, and they may report directly to ownership or executive management.

Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$22K/yr$62K/yr

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

1
Longview, WA
Longview-Kelso, WA metro
$62K$29.94/hr
2
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$57K$27.36/hr
3
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$57K$27.29/hr
4
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa, OK metro
$56K$26.98/hr
5
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro
$55K$26.68/hr
6
Yuma, AZ
Yuma, AZ metro
$54K$25.93/hr
7
Kahului, HI
Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro
$54K$25.83/hr
8
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK metro
$53K$25.69/hr
9
Napa, CA
Napa, CA metro
$53K$25.64/hr
10
Barnstable Town, MA
Barnstable Town, MA metro
$52K$25.06/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers

Watch for SOC mismatches on agricultural management titles

Titles like Farm Manager or Ranch Supervisor sometimes get filed under general management SOC codes rather than SOC 45-1011, meaning the LCA wage floor may not match the actual role. Confirm your offer letter title maps to the correct SOC before signing.

Account for housing and per-diem exclusions in agricultural comp

Employers in farming and forestry operations sometimes include housing allowances or per-diem in total compensation. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only the cash wage, so non-cash benefits cannot substitute for meeting the L2 or L3 floor.

Compare metro wages before accepting a rural worksite offer

Wages for Harvesting Supervisor and Hatchery Manager roles vary sharply by location. San Francisco and Longview, WA report significantly higher floors than Orlando or San Juan. The worksite city on the LCA, not the employer headquarters, determines which prevailing wage applies.

Find employers sponsoring farming supervisors on Migrate Mate

Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified history of sponsoring Animal Research Facility Supervisor and related agricultural roles. Filtering by visa type and location helps identify companies that have actually filed for this occupation rather than those that merely post open positions.

Jobs for First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 45-1011.00 alongside First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Animal Research Facility Supervisor Prevailing Wage

Animal Research Facility Supervisor positions fall under SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Cattle Manager Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cattle Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Farm Supervisor Prevailing Wage

Farm Supervisor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Fish Hatchery Manager Prevailing Wage

Fish Hatchery Manager positions fall under SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Harvesting Supervisor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Harvesting Supervisor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Hatchery Manager Prevailing Wage

Hatchery Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Logging Crew Foreman Prevailing Wage

Logging Crew Foreman positions fall under SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Logging Supervisor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Logging Supervisor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Pest Management Supervisor Prevailing Wage

Pest Management Supervisor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Wildlife Manager Prevailing Wage

Wildlife Manager positions fall under SOC 45-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$43K
$20.81/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$53K
$25.43/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$62K
$29.95/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$72K
$34.59/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Animal Research Facility Supervisor roles?

DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 45-1011, the agency assigns four wage levels based on experience and responsibility. Employers filing an LCA 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 identify mine?

Level 1 applies to entry-level positions with close supervision. Level 2 covers workers with practical experience exercising independent judgment, and it is the most commonly filed level for Animal Research Facility Supervisor roles. Level 3 reflects experienced professionals handling complex tasks. Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead supervisors. Your level should match your actual duties and experience, not just your title.

Why does the prevailing wage for Cattle Manager and Hatchery Manager roles differ so much by city?

DOL bases each metro wage on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A Hatchery Manager position in San Francisco or Longview, WA sits in a higher-cost labor market than the same role in Orlando or San Juan. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and that location determines which regional wage floor the employer must meet, regardless of where the company is headquartered.

What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage for this role?

USCIS will not approve an H-1B or employment-based green card petition if the underlying LCA shows a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor. OFLC can also audit or invalidate an LCA filed with a non-compliant wage. If an offer is below the applicable level wage, the employer must either increase the salary or refile the LCA at the correct wage before the petition can proceed.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?

Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 45-1011 wages by metropolitan area or county. Select the correct fiscal year, enter the worksite location, and confirm the wage level matches your experience. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupation details. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location and visa type to see which employers are actively hiring for this occupation in your target market.

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