Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Prevailing wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers is set by DOL under SOC 41-1011 and applies to sponsored positions including roles titled Department Manager, Department Supervisor, or Grocery Manager. DOL defines four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on the city where the work is performed.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level supervisors new to overseeing retail staff, typically with limited experience directing others. Work is performed under close guidance, with basic scheduling and floor supervision duties and minimal independent decision-making authority.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers. It fits supervisors with moderate experience independently managing a department or shift, handling staff performance, and coordinating day-to-day operations with routine oversight from upper management.
Level 3 covers experienced supervisors who exercise significant independent judgment, manage complex staffing situations, and may oversee multiple departments or locations. They typically mentor junior supervisors and handle escalated operational issues with minimal direction from management.
Level 4 applies to fully competent supervisors in senior or lead roles, often with multi-unit or regional scope. These professionals set operational standards, drive staffing strategy, and are recognized as subject-matter experts within their retail organization.
Prevailing Wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 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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Identify where retail supervisors cluster geographically
Wage floors for this occupation vary sharply between metros. San Jose and Seattle carry significantly higher prevailing wages than Puerto Rico markets. Confirming the worksite city on the LCA before accepting an offer protects you from a mismatched floor.
Watch for title aliasing into adjacent SOC codes
Retail supervisor roles are sometimes filed under general manager or operations manager SOC codes, which carry different prevailing wage floors. Verify the SOC code on the LCA matches 41-1011 so the correct retail-specific wage applies to your offer.
Account for bonus exclusions in retail comp packages
Retail supervisor offers frequently include store-performance bonuses or hourly premium pay that DOL excludes from prevailing wage calculations. Base salary alone must clear the applicable level floor; variable retail incentives do not count toward compliance.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, so you can focus on retail chains and department store groups that have actually filed for this occupation rather than those new to sponsorship.
Jobs for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 41-1011.00 alongside First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bakery Manager Prevailing Wage
Bakery Manager Prevailing Wage
Bakery Manager positions fall under SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Delicatessen Manager Prevailing Wage
Delicatessen Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Delicatessen Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Department Manager Prevailing Wage
Department Manager Prevailing Wage
Department Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Department Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Department Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Department Supervisor positions fall under SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Grocery Manager Prevailing Wage
Grocery Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Grocery Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Key Carrier Prevailing Wage
Key Carrier Prevailing Wage
Key Carrier is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Meat Department Manager Prevailing Wage
Meat Department Manager Prevailing Wage
Meat Department Manager positions fall under SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Parts Sales Manager Prevailing Wage
Parts Sales Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Parts Sales Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Shift Manager Prevailing Wage
Shift Manager Prevailing Wage
Shift Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Store Manager Prevailing Wage
Store Manager Prevailing Wage
Store Manager positions fall under SOC 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across more than 500 metro areas. For SOC 41-1011, DOL calculates four wage levels by applying percentile breaks to the observed wage distribution for retail supervisors in each geographic area. The resulting figures are published through the OFLC Wage Search tool and are updated annually.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified supervisors working independently in routine settings; Level 3 applies to experienced supervisors exercising significant judgment; Level 4 is for fully competent senior or lead supervisors. The employer selects the level on the LCA based on the actual job duties and supervision structure described in the offer.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role differ so much from city to city?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A Department Supervisor position in San Jose reflects Bay Area cost of labor, while the same title in a Puerto Rico market reflects local retail wage norms. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage table applies, not the employer's headquarters location.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA cannot be certified by DOL if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. If certification is denied or later found non-compliant, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the role at a level consistent with the actual wage.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool published by DOL to look up SOC 41-1011 wages by metro area and experience level. You can also check recent LCA disclosure data through OFLC to see what wage levels employers have historically filed for Department Manager and similar titles. Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by role and location, letting you see which employers are actively hiring retail supervisors for visa-sponsored positions.
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