Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Carpenters
The prevailing wage for Helpers--Carpenters is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data and varies by worksite location and experience level. Whether your offer is for a Carpenter Helper, Carpenter Assistant, or similar support role, DOL assigns one of four wage levels based on experience and supervision. The floor shifts significantly across U.S. metros.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Carpenter Helpers with limited experience who follow direct supervision for routine tasks. These workers are building foundational skills in material handling, tool supply, and site cleanup under close oversight from journey-level carpenters.
Level 2 applies to qualified workers with some independent task execution within defined procedures. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for Helpers--Carpenters land at Level 2, reflecting solid hands-on experience but without lead or training responsibilities.
Level 3 covers experienced helpers who exercise judgment, handle varied assignments with minimal supervision, and may guide newer workers informally. These workers bring recognized trade knowledge and can adapt to non-routine situations on the job site.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent helpers who operate independently, often coordinating material flow across a crew, and whose expertise is recognized as a benchmark for the trade at that worksite. Lead or senior designations typically map here.
Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Carpenters 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 Helpers--Carpenters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches at filing
Roles titled 'Laborer' or 'Construction Helper' sometimes get filed under SOC 47-2061 instead of SOC 47-3012, landing outside the Helpers--Carpenters wage floor entirely. Confirm the SOC code on your LCA before accepting an offer.
Prioritize West Coast metros for wage floors
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland metros carry L1 prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation. If you have location flexibility, worksite city alone can shift the floor by more than thirty percent compared to lower-paying regions.
Check sponsor history for Helpers--Carpenters on Migrate Mate
Construction employers vary widely in visa sponsorship activity. Migrate Mate shows which companies have previously sponsored Carpenter Helpers and Carpenter Assistants, so you can target employers with a real track record rather than guessing from job listings.
Verify the worksite address not the employer HQ
For construction roles, the prevailing wage is tied to where you physically work, not the contractor's headquarters. A national general contractor based in a low-wage state must still meet the prevailing wage for the specific project site listed on the LCA.
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Find Jobs for Helpers--CarpentersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-3012.00 alongside Helpers--Carpenters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Carpenter Assistant Prevailing Wage
Carpenter Assistant Prevailing Wage
Carpenter Assistant positions fall under SOC 47-3012.00 (Helpers--Carpenters). 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.
Carpenter Helper Prevailing Wage
Carpenter Helper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Carpenter Helper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-3012.00 (Helpers--Carpenters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Carpenter's Helper Prevailing Wage
Carpenter's Helper Prevailing Wage
Carpenter's Helper is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-3012.00 (Helpers--Carpenters). 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 Helpers--Carpenters?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 47-3012, OFLC calculates four wage levels from that regional data. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored helper position must pay at least the level that matches the worker's experience and job duties at the specific worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with some independence, Level 3 is experienced with minimal oversight, and Level 4 is fully competent and often in a lead capacity. To identify your level, compare your years of experience, the degree of supervision you receive, and whether you train or direct others against the DOL level definitions OFLC publishes.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much city to city?
DOL bases each area's wage on regional OES surveys that capture actual pay for Helpers--Carpenters in that labor market. High-cost construction markets like San Francisco reflect local contractor pay scales, union density, and project costs. Employers must use the prevailing wage for the worksite address listed on the LCA, not their headquarters location, so even a national contractor pays the local floor wherever each project sits.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage is below the applicable DOL prevailing wage, the LCA cannot be certified by DOL, and USCIS will not approve the petition. The employer must increase the offer to meet or exceed the floor before filing. Accepting a below-floor offer does not create a compliance exception; DOL and USCIS both review the wage during adjudication.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Helpers--Carpenters position in a U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 47-3012 by metropolitan area and wage level. Select the area matching the job's worksite address, choose the wage level that fits your experience, and confirm the figure matches or falls below the offered salary. You can also search Migrate Mate to see which employers have historically sponsored Carpenter Helper roles in specific locations.
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