Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Extraction Workers
The prevailing wage for Helpers--Extraction Workers (SOC 47-5081) is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Driller Helpers to fully competent Continuous Miner Operator Helpers. Whether your offer covers a Powderman or a Driller's Assistant role, the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level workers with little to no related experience in extraction support tasks. Typically performing closely supervised duties under direct instruction, with no expectation of independent judgment. DOL assigns this level when the job requires only basic orientation to the occupation.
Workers with some practical experience assisting extraction craft workers and who perform standard duties with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Helpers--Extraction Workers, reflecting the typical experience employers seek when sponsoring this role.
Experienced workers who perform a broad range of extraction helper duties with minimal supervision. They may handle more complex tasks such as equipment maintenance support or working alongside multiple craft specialties, drawing on several years of hands-on field experience.
Fully competent workers who operate with significant autonomy across all extraction helper duties. They may informally guide less experienced crew members and are expected to handle non-routine situations on site without direct supervisor involvement.
Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Extraction Workers 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 the worksite state for extraction postings
Extraction work often moves between project sites. The LCA must reflect the actual worksite location, and prevailing wages for helpers in Phoenix or Billings differ substantially from Tampa or Odessa. A posting with a headquarters address may understate the applicable floor.
Watch for signing bonuses excluded from the wage calculation
Some extraction employers structure compensation with one-time signing bonuses that do not count toward the annualized wage for LCA compliance. Confirm that base salary alone clears the prevailing wage floor before evaluating total compensation.
Check employer sponsorship history for extraction roles on Migrate Mate
Helpers--Extraction Workers is a niche sponsorship category. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can prioritize companies with a proven track record rather than those filing for the first time.
Avoid title mismatches that shift the SOC code
Titles like Powderman or Longwall Machine Operator Helper are legitimate aliases for SOC 47-5081, but employers sometimes file these under craft-worker SOC codes with higher prevailing wages. Verify the SOC code on the certified LCA matches 47-5081 if that is your actual role.
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Find Jobs for Helpers--Extraction WorkersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5081.00 alongside Helpers--Extraction Workers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Continuous Miner Operator Helper Prevailing Wage
Continuous Miner Operator Helper Prevailing Wage
Continuous Miner Operator Helper positions fall under SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). 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.
Driller Helper Prevailing Wage
Driller Helper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Driller Helper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Driller's Assistant Prevailing Wage
Driller's Assistant Prevailing Wage
Driller's Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). 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.
Longwall Machine Operator Helper Prevailing Wage
Longwall Machine Operator Helper Prevailing Wage
Longwall Machine Operator Helper positions fall under SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). 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.
Miner Helper Prevailing Wage
Miner Helper Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Miner Helper for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Powderman Prevailing Wage
Powderman Prevailing Wage
Powderman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). 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.
Salt Miner Prevailing Wage
Salt Miner Prevailing Wage
Salt Miner positions fall under SOC 47-5081.00 (Helpers--Extraction Workers). 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 Helpers--Extraction Workers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages by occupation and geography. For Helpers--Extraction Workers under SOC 47-5081, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that survey data. Employers sponsoring a worker on H-1B or permanent residence must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines the four levels by experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 reflects moderate experience with standard duties, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers workers who operate more independently across a broader task range. Level 4 applies to fully competent workers with significant autonomy. The employer selects the level based on the actual job duties described in the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions for extraction support work in each area. The LCA worksite-on-petition rule requires employers to use the wage for the location where the worker will actually be placed, not the employer's headquarters. Markets with active mining and energy sectors, such as Phoenix or Billings, tend to set higher floors than metros with sparse extraction activity.
What happens if an offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level. USCIS will deny the H-1B petition if the underlying LCA is not certified. For green card cases, PERM requires the job offer to meet or exceed the prevailing wage at the time of filing. A below-floor offer must be renegotiated before the employer can proceed with sponsorship.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool allows you to look up the current prevailing wage for Helpers--Extraction Workers by SOC code 47-5081 and metropolitan area. Enter the worksite location and select the appropriate experience level to see the floor that applies to your offer. You can also review certified LCA disclosures through OFLC to see what wage levels employers have recently filed for this occupation in your target city.
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