Prevailing Wage for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Prevailing wage for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand (SOC 51-9022) is set by DOL and applies to sponsored roles including positions filed under titles like Buffer, Finisher, and Jewelry Polisher. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite is in.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level grinders and polishers performing routine tasks under direct supervision, typically with less than two years of experience and no specialized material expertise. Employers filing here expect on-the-job training for most techniques.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand. It covers workers with practical experience across multiple materials or finishing methods who can work with moderate supervision and handle standard production tolerances independently.
Level 3 applies to experienced finishers who handle complex or precision work, such as jewelry polishing or high-tolerance metal components, with minimal supervision. Workers at this level typically train junior staff and troubleshoot process defects.
Level 4 covers fully competent lead workers or casting finishers who set quality standards, direct workflow, and apply advanced finishing techniques across a range of materials. These positions often carry responsibility for output quality across a production line.
Prevailing Wage for Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand 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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Confirm which material specialty drives your level
Employers filing for metal chippers often classify at Level 2 while glass or jewelry polishing roles with precision tolerances land at Level 3. The material and tolerance requirements in the job description directly affect which wage floor applies to your offer.
Watch for low-paying metros undercutting the national floor
Metros like Greensboro and Albuquerque have Level 1 prevailing wages well below the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in one of these areas, confirm the cited worksite city on the LCA matches where you will actually perform the work.
Check employer sponsorship history on Migrate Mate
Manufacturing and jewelry production employers vary widely in H-1B and green card sponsorship activity for hand finishing roles. Migrate Mate shows which companies have historically sponsored Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand so you can prioritize proven sponsors before negotiating.
Flag title aliasing before your LCA is filed
Titles like Finisher or Grinder sometimes get misfiled under broader production SOC codes, shifting the applicable wage floor away from SOC 51-9022. Verify your employer is using the correct occupation code on the LCA before certification to avoid a compliance gap.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9022.00 alongside Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Buffer Prevailing Wage
Buffer Prevailing Wage
Buffer positions fall under SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Casting Finisher Prevailing Wage
Casting Finisher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Casting Finisher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Chipper Prevailing Wage
Chipper Prevailing Wage
Chipper is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher Prevailing Wage
Finisher positions fall under SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Grinder Prevailing Wage
Grinder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Grinder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Jewelry Polisher Prevailing Wage
Jewelry Polisher Prevailing Wage
Jewelry Polisher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Knife Grinder Prevailing Wage
Knife Grinder Prevailing Wage
Knife Grinder positions fall under SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Metal Finisher Prevailing Wage
Metal Finisher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Metal Finisher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Polisher Prevailing Wage
Polisher Prevailing Wage
Polisher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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.
Stand Grinder Prevailing Wage
Stand Grinder Prevailing Wage
Stand Grinder positions fall under SOC 51-9022.00 (Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand). 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 Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand?
DOL determines prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys. For SOC 51-9022, DOL maps those survey results to four wage levels and publishes them through the OFLC Wage Search. Employers sponsoring a Buffer, Finisher, or similar role must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels correspond to increasing skill and independence: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate supervision, Level 3 is experienced with minimal supervision, and Level 4 is fully competent with lead responsibilities. Your level should match the job duties described in the LCA, not just your personal experience. If the posted role lists quality oversight or training duties, Level 3 or 4 may apply.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much from city to city?
DOL conducts regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys that capture local labor market conditions. A Jewelry Polisher position in San Jose or Las Vegas will have a substantially higher prevailing wage than the same role in Greensboro or Albuquerque because local employer competition, cost of labor, and industry concentration differ. The worksite address on the LCA determines which regional wage applies, so the city where you physically work controls your floor, not your employer's headquarters.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
For H-1B and PERM-based green card cases, the employer must attest on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the occupation and location. If the offer falls short, USCIS can deny the petition and OFLC can investigate for back-wage liability. The employer bears the compliance obligation, but an underpaid offer is also grounds for you to renegotiate before the LCA is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, enter SOC code 51-9022, select the relevant metropolitan area, and choose the wage level that matches the job duties. The result shows the current DOL prevailing wage for that location and level. You can also cross-reference published BLS wage data for the occupation. If you want to see which employers have actively sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters sponsorship history by occupation and location.
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