Prevailing Wage for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Prevailing wages for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary are set by the DOL under SOC 25-1064 and apply to sponsored positions including Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Geography Instructor roles. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the metropolitan worksite listed on the Labor Condition Application.
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Entry-level postsecondary geography instructors with limited professional experience, typically new to independent teaching responsibilities. Usually recent doctoral graduates or instructors working under direct supervision with a narrow course load and no established research portfolio.
The most common filing level for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary. Applies to qualified instructors with a few years of independent teaching experience, a defined course portfolio, and foundational research or service contributions meeting standard departmental expectations.
Experienced geography faculty with a recognized research agenda, consistent publication record, or specialized program responsibilities. Often Associate Professors or senior instructors whose work extends beyond teaching into curriculum leadership or departmental service.
Fully competent faculty at the top of the occupation, typically tenured professors or geography program directors with national scholarly recognition, extensive publication histories, and leadership over departmental or interdisciplinary academic programs.
Prevailing Wage for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Geography Teachers, Postsecondary and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your LCA lists your actual worksite campus
Postsecondary geography positions often involve fieldwork, conference travel, or split assignments across campuses. The prevailing wage on your LCA must correspond to the primary worksite city, not the university's main address if you teach primarily at a branch location.
Watch how California metros skew your wage floor
San Francisco, Riverside, and Los Angeles consistently produce the highest prevailing wages for this occupation. If you receive an offer from a California institution, the required floor at even the entry level can be substantially higher than the national median.
Distinguish between base salary and total compensation
DOL prevailing wage compliance for postsecondary geography faculty is measured against base salary only. Summer research stipends, one-time relocation allowances, and grant-funded supplements do not count toward satisfying the wage floor on your LCA.
Search Migrate Mate to see which universities sponsor geography faculty
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which colleges and universities have actually sponsored Geography Teachers, Postsecondary positions before targeting your application to departments with a documented sponsorship record.
Jobs for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-1064.00 alongside Geography Teachers, Postsecondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage
Assistant Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
Associate Professor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Associate Professor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Geography Instructor Prevailing Wage
Geography Instructor Prevailing Wage
Geography Instructor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Geography Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Human Geography Instructor Prevailing Wage
Human Geography Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Human Geography Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Human Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Human Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Human Geography Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
Lecturer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Lecturer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Physical Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Physical Geography Professor Prevailing Wage
Physical Geography Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor Prevailing Wage
Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1064.00 (Geography Teachers, Postsecondary). 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 Geography Teachers, Postsecondary?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. For SOC 25-1064, the agency calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for the occupation in each metropolitan area. Employers filing a Labor Condition Application must pay at least the level corresponding to the position's actual duties and experience requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level instructors with limited experience working under supervision, Level 2 to qualified faculty meeting standard departmental expectations, Level 3 to experienced instructors with a recognized research or teaching record, and Level 4 to fully competent senior faculty in leadership roles. The level is determined by the actual duties and experience requirements stated in the LCA and H-1B petition, not by your title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same geography faculty role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from metropolitan-area OES surveys, so each metro reflects local employer pay patterns. California markets like San Francisco and Riverside report significantly higher wages than southern metros such as Nashville. The LCA rule requires the employer to use the wage for the specific worksite city, meaning a position at one university may carry a very different floor than an identical role at a peer institution in another metro.
What happens if my offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application if the offered salary falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. OFLC will reject or audit LCAs with below-floor wages, and USCIS can deny the H-1B petition if the certified wage is not met. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or file at a lower wage level only if the actual duties genuinely support that classification.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Geography Teachers, Postsecondary position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 25-1064 by metropolitan area and wage level. This tool reflects the same DOL data employers must use when filing an LCA. You can also check O*NET for occupation details that help you assess which wage level your duties match. Migrate Mate lets you filter by role and location to see which universities have sponsored postsecondary geography positions, giving you a practical starting point for identifying real offers.
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