Prevailing Wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers
Prevailing wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers (SOC 47-2043) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer lists you as a Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, or Floor Refinisher, DOL assigns four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts substantially depending on where the work is performed.
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Entry-level Floor Sanders and Finishers with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years in the trade. Work is performed under close supervision with narrow task scope, such as sanding or finishing a single floor type with standard equipment.
Qualified Floor Sanders and Finishers with two or more years of experience who can work independently on routine jobs. Level 2 is the most common LCA filing level for this occupation, covering journeyman-level sanding, staining, and coating tasks without daily supervision.
Experienced Floor Sanders and Finishers with advanced proficiency across multiple flooring systems, finishes, or job complexities. Workers at this level may troubleshoot surface defects, operate specialty equipment, and manage sequencing on larger commercial or residential projects.
Fully competent senior or lead Floor Sanders and Finishers with broad mastery of surface preparation, finishing chemistry, and job-site coordination. Typically responsible for quality control, training junior workers, or overseeing finish schedules across multiple active projects.
Prevailing Wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers 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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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Floor Sanders and Finishers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title maps to SOC 47-2043
Employer job titles like Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, or Floor Refinisher all map to SOC 47-2043. If your offer letter uses a title that drifts toward a carpentry or tile-setting SOC, the LCA wage floor will reflect a different occupation entirely, potentially undercutting your position.
Treat Portland and New York as your wage benchmarks
Portland, OR and New York, NJ consistently post the highest prevailing wages for this occupation. If your offer is in either metro, the L4 wage floor runs significantly above the national median, so verify the certified LCA reflects the correct worksite, not a lower-wage affiliate location.
Flag signing bonuses before accepting sponsored offers
DOL's prevailing wage compliance is measured against base wages, not total compensation. A signing bonus or one-time payment cannot substitute for the annual wage floor on your LCA. Floor Sander and Finisher roles sometimes combine low base pay with upfront bonuses, which does not satisfy the requirement.
Find employers sponsoring Floor Sanders on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Floor Sanders and Finishers, so you can focus your search on companies that have navigated the LCA process for this occupation before rather than employers new to sponsoring trade-classification roles.
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Find Jobs for Floor Sanders and FinishersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2043.00 alongside Floor Sanders and Finishers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher positions fall under SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Floor Finisher Prevailing Wage
Floor Finisher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Floor Finisher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Floor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Floor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Floor Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Floor Refinisher Prevailing Wage
Floor Refinisher Prevailing Wage
Floor Refinisher positions fall under SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Floor Sander Prevailing Wage
Floor Sander Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Floor Sander for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Floor Sander and Finisher Prevailing Wage
Floor Sander and Finisher Prevailing Wage
Floor Sander and Finisher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Hardwood Floor Finisher and Sander Prevailing Wage
Hardwood Floor Finisher and Sander Prevailing Wage
Hardwood Floor Finisher and Sander positions fall under SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Hardwood Floor Refinisher Prevailing Wage
Hardwood Floor Refinisher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hardwood Floor Refinisher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Hardwood Floor Sander Prevailing Wage
Hardwood Floor Sander Prevailing Wage
Hardwood Floor Sander is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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.
Sander Prevailing Wage
Sander Prevailing Wage
Sander positions fall under SOC 47-2043.00 (Floor Sanders and Finishers). 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 Floor Sanders and Finishers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Floor Sanders and Finishers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, DOL assigns four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC and must certify the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry workers under close supervision; Level 2 covers journeyman-level work performed independently, which is the most common filing level for this occupation; Level 3 applies to experienced workers handling complex projects; Level 4 applies to senior or lead workers with the broadest scope. Your level should reflect the duties in the job description, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much from city to city?
DOL's wages are derived from regional OES surveys, so they reflect local labor market conditions rather than a national average. The LCA worksite rule requires the employer to use the wage for the specific metro where work is performed, not company headquarters. Markets like Portland and Minneapolis have significantly higher floors than Nashville or Wilmington because local survey data captures higher regional compensation rates for this trade.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored visa petition if the LCA shows a wage below the DOL-certified prevailing wage. OFLC can also investigate and debar employers who underpay sponsored workers. If your offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the base wage on the LCA before filing or the petition cannot proceed. An offer at or above the prevailing wage is a prerequisite, not a negotiating point.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current DOL prevailing wages by SOC code (47-2043), wage level, and metropolitan area. This gives you the certified floor the employer must meet on the LCA. You can also check recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for this occupation in your target city. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Floor Sanders and Finishers historically, helping you focus on companies already familiar with the process.
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