Prevailing Wage for Fundraisers
Prevailing wage for Fundraisers is set by the DOL under SOC 13-1131 and applies to sponsored positions including roles titled Development Associate, Grant Coordinator, and Development Officer. DOL establishes four experience levels, each with a distinct wage floor, and the applicable rate depends on the worksite city, meaning the same role can carry very different minimums across U.S. metros.
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Level 1 covers entry-level fundraisers with limited experience, typically in their first one to two years performing routine tasks under direct supervision. Employers filing at this level are generally sponsoring candidates new to solicitation, donor management, or grant writing workflows.
Level 2 applies to qualified fundraisers who work independently on standard campaigns, donor outreach, or grant portfolios with minimal oversight. This is the most common filing level for Fundraisers, reflecting candidates with two to four years of progressive development experience.
Level 3 covers experienced fundraisers who exercise judgment on complex campaigns, manage major donor relationships, or lead multi-channel solicitation strategies. Employers typically file here for candidates overseeing significant portfolios or coordinating cross-functional development teams.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior professionals, including senior development officers and principal fundraising consultants, who set strategy, manage large teams, and are accountable for organizational revenue targets. Filings at this level reflect lead or director-scope responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Fundraisers 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 Fundraisers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title maps to SOC 13-1131
Titles like Direct Response Consultant or Fundraising Consultant are sometimes filed under marketing or management SOC codes, which carry different wage floors. Confirm your offer letter title and job duties align with SOC 13-1131 before accepting a sponsored position.
Watch how nonprofits structure total compensation
Many nonprofits offset lower base salaries with benefits or year-end bonuses. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base wage only, so bonus-heavy offers may clear the floor on paper while delivering less guaranteed annual pay than the level wage implies.
Check San Jose and San Francisco worksite rates separately
Bay Area metros carry some of the highest prevailing wages for this occupation nationally. If your employer is headquartered elsewhere but your worksite is in San Jose or San Francisco, the LCA must reflect the worksite city rate, not the employer headquarters rate.
Find employers that have sponsored Fundraisers before
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which organizations have actually sponsored Development Associates or Grant Coordinators under H-1B or green card pathways, narrowing your search to sponsors with a track record in this occupation.
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Find Jobs for FundraisersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-1131.00 alongside Fundraisers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Contract Grant Writer Prevailing Wage
Contract Grant Writer Prevailing Wage
Contract Grant Writer positions fall under SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). 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.
Development Associate Prevailing Wage
Development Associate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Development Associate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Development Officer Prevailing Wage
Development Officer Prevailing Wage
Development Officer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). 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.
Direct Response Consultant Prevailing Wage
Direct Response Consultant Prevailing Wage
Direct Response Consultant positions fall under SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). 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.
Fundraising Consultant Prevailing Wage
Fundraising Consultant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fundraising Consultant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Grant Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Grant Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Grant Coordinator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). 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.
Philanthropy Officer Prevailing Wage
Philanthropy Officer Prevailing Wage
Philanthropy Officer positions fall under SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). 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.
Principal Gifts Officer Prevailing Wage
Principal Gifts Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Principal Gifts Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1131.00 (Fundraisers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Fundraisers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from employers across every metropolitan area. For SOC 13-1131, OFLC calculates four wage levels by applying percentage thresholds to the regional median. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored Fundraiser position must offer at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with independent work, Level 3 is experienced with complex responsibilities, and Level 4 is fully competent with senior or lead scope. DOL assigns levels based on job duties, supervisory structure, and years of experience. Review the job description carefully, because the employer selects the level on the LCA and USCIS scrutinizes mismatches between the stated level and actual duties.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Fundraiser role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so the wage floor reflects local employer pay practices in each metropolitan area. The LCA worksite rule requires the employer to use the wage for the city where you will actually work, not where the organization is headquartered. High-cost metros like San Jose and San Francisco produce substantially higher floors than smaller markets, which is why a single national figure does not apply.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored position falls below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS will deny an H-1B petition supported by a non-compliant LCA. For green card PERM applications, DOL itself audits the offered wage against the prevailing wage determination. A below-floor offer must be corrected before sponsorship can proceed, either by raising the wage or reclassifying the level.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Fundraiser role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 13-1131 and metropolitan area. Select the relevant fiscal year and worksite area to see all four level wages. To find employers who have actively sponsored Fundraisers, Development Associates, or similar roles, Migrate Mate lists positions from employers with verified sponsorship history, filterable by role, location, and visa type.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Fundraisers right now.
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