Prevailing Wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
The prevailing wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must offer when sponsoring a CDL Driver on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city, so an Over the Road Driver offer that clears the threshold in one metro may fall short in another.
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Level 1 covers entry-level drivers new to long-haul or tractor-trailer work, typically with under two years of CDL experience, performing standard routes under direct supervision with limited independent route or load decisions.
Level 2 applies to qualified drivers with two or more years of commercial trucking experience who handle routine routes with moderate independence. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for this occupation use Level 2 as the benchmark.
Level 3 applies to experienced drivers who manage complex routes, haul specialized or hazardous cargo, or train newer drivers. They exercise significant judgment and operate with minimal supervision on regional or over-the-road assignments.
Level 4 covers fully competent lead drivers or driver-supervisors with extensive tractor-trailer experience, responsibility for fleet compliance or team coordination, and recognized expertise in specialized freight, logistics planning, or regulatory adherence.
Prevailing Wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 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 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Watch for per-mile pay in prevailing wage math
Many trucking employers structure compensation as cents-per-mile rather than a salary. For LCA purposes, DOL requires the annualized equivalent to meet the prevailing wage floor, so confirm your offer converts correctly before your employer files.
Flag worksite city carefully for regional routes
Drivers based in a low-wage metro but regularly dispatched from a high-wage hub like Seattle or New York may have LCA worksite questions. The certified worksite on the LCA must reflect where you actually report, not where freight originates.
Distinguish CDL class when comparing wage levels
Class A CDL roles hauling 53-foot trailers typically file at Level 2 or higher, while Class B or local delivery positions often draw Level 1 filings. Confirm your offer cites the correct SOC 53-3032 and not a light-truck code that carries a lower floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with CDL history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers for visas, so you can prioritize carriers and logistics firms that already have an active sponsorship track record rather than approaching companies with no H-1B or green card filings in this SOC.
Jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-3032.00 alongside Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) Prevailing Wage
CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) Prevailing Wage
CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) positions fall under SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Driver Prevailing Wage
Driver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Driver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Line Haul Driver Prevailing Wage
Line Haul Driver Prevailing Wage
Line Haul Driver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Log Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Log Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Log Truck Driver positions fall under SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) Prevailing Wage
Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Production Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Production Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Production Truck Driver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Road Driver Prevailing Wage
Road Driver Prevailing Wage
Road Driver positions fall under SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Semi Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Semi Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Semi Truck Driver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tractor Trailer Driver Prevailing Wage
Tractor Trailer Driver Prevailing Wage
Tractor Trailer Driver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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.
Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Truck Driver Prevailing Wage
Truck Driver positions fall under SOC 53-3032.00 (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers). 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 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
DOL bases prevailing wages on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through regional employer surveys. For SOC 53-3032, OFLC translates that survey data into four wage levels. An employer sponsoring a driver 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 know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with limited experience and close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified, independent drivers and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced drivers with specialized skills or mentoring duties. Level 4 is for fully competent lead or supervisory roles. Your level should match your actual job duties and years of CDL experience, not just your title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same driver role vary so much by city?
OFLC assigns wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so pay norms in high-cost, high-demand metros like Seattle or the New York area push floors significantly higher than in rural or Puerto Rico markets. The LCA must list the actual worksite, meaning the wage floor is anchored to where the driver reports, not the employer's headquarters. Dense freight corridors and union-heavy markets also concentrate higher-wage filings.
What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify a Labor Condition Application where the offered wage is below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B or H-2B petition. For green card PERM cases, a below-floor offer similarly blocks certification. The employer must either raise the offered wage or reclassify the position to a level whose floor the salary meets.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 53-3032 by state and metropolitan area. Select the appropriate wage level for your experience and confirm the result matches what your employer lists on the LCA. Migrate Mate can complement this research by showing which logistics and trucking employers have active sponsorship histories for this occupation, helping you identify viable openings before you negotiate.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers right now.
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