Prevailing Wage for Foresters
Prevailing wage for Foresters under SOC 19-1032 is set by DOL and determines the minimum salary a sponsored worker must receive. Whether your offer is for an Area Forester, District Forester, or Procurement Forester position, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level foresters with limited experience, typically recent graduates performing routine tasks under close supervision. Work is well-defined with little independent judgment required. Most H-1B petitions at this level involve new professionals learning field and regulatory protocols.
Level 2 applies to qualified foresters with moderate experience who apply standard forestry principles with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Foresters, covering roles managing timber inventories, wildlife habitats, or compliance work under general guidance.
Level 3 covers experienced foresters who exercise significant independent judgment, may lead field projects, and contribute specialized expertise. These professionals typically manage complex timber procurement negotiations, multi-agency environmental compliance, or district-wide resource planning with minimal supervision.
Level 4 applies to fully competent foresters in senior or lead roles responsible for high-level decision-making, program oversight, or policy development. These professionals may supervise other foresters and hold accountability for large-scale land management or conservation outcomes.
Prevailing Wage for Foresters 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 Foresters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how government agencies title forester roles
Federal and state agencies often post positions under titles like Service Forester or Fire Prevention Forester that can be filed at Level 1 even when duties match a Level 3 scope. Confirm the wage level on the certified LCA before accepting any government-sponsored offer.
Expect a wide floor gap between California and Southeast metros
Forester prevailing wages in the San Francisco and Los Angeles metro areas run substantially higher than floors in Gainesville or Tallahassee. If your offer is in a low-wage metro, verify the LCA cites your actual worksite city, not a distant employer headquarters.
Check Migrate Mate for employers with forester sponsorship history
Forester sponsorships are concentrated among federal contractors, timber companies, and state resource agencies. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have sponsored this occupation before, so you can target companies with proven H-1B or green card filing activity.
Exclude signing bonuses when evaluating your floor compliance
DOL requires the prevailing wage be met through guaranteed, recurring base salary. Signing bonuses, one-time relocation payments, and performance-contingent incentives do not count toward the wage floor on a forester LCA petition.
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Find Jobs for ForestersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1032.00 alongside Foresters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Area Forester Prevailing Wage
Area Forester Prevailing Wage
Area Forester positions fall under SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
District Forester Prevailing Wage
District Forester Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a District Forester for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fire Prevention Forester Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Forester Prevailing Wage
Fire Prevention Forester is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
Forest Practices Field Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Forest Practices Field Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Forest Practices Field Coordinator positions fall under SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
Procurement Forester Prevailing Wage
Procurement Forester Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Procurement Forester for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Service Forester Prevailing Wage
Service Forester Prevailing Wage
Service Forester is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
Silviculturist Prevailing Wage
Silviculturist Prevailing Wage
Silviculturist positions fall under SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
Timber Marker Prevailing Wage
Timber Marker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Timber Marker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Timber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin) Prevailing Wage
Timber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin) Prevailing Wage
Timber Sales Administrator (Timber Sales Admin) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1032.00 (Foresters). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Foresters?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For Foresters under SOC 19-1032, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from the area wage distribution. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity of duties. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with moderate independence; Level 3 is experienced with significant autonomy; Level 4 is fully competent in senior or lead roles. Review the job description against these criteria and check the wage level your employer selects on the certified LCA to confirm it matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same forester role differ so much by city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, which reflect local labor market conditions, employer density, and cost of living factors. California metros show significantly higher floors than Southeast markets because the survey data captures higher area wages. The LCA must cite the actual worksite address, so a forester working in a high-wage metro is protected by that metro's floor regardless of where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored forester position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will deny the H-1B petition if the LCA reflects a wage below the floor, and a PERM-based green card application faces DOL audit risk. Candidates should request the certified LCA before signing an offer to confirm the wage level and floor cited matches what they will actually be paid.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Foresters in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages for SOC 19-1032 by metropolitan area. Select the area matching your worksite city and review all four wage levels. For context on which employers have sponsored foresters in that area, Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by role and location, letting you see which companies have active hiring and prior sponsorship activity for this occupation.
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