Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Roofers
The prevailing wage for Helpers--Roofers (SOC 47-3016) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Four experience levels determine the floor, and the required wage shifts significantly depending on which U.S. metro area appears on the Labor Condition Application. International candidates should check both the level and the worksite city before evaluating any offer.
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Level 1 covers entry-level roofer helpers with no prior experience in the role. Workers at this level perform basic material handling, site cleanup, and equipment supply under close supervision. Employers file here when the position requires no independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified helpers with some hands-on experience assisting roofers on active projects. This is the most common filing level for Helpers--Roofers, reflecting the typical hire who can work with moderate supervision on standard residential or commercial roofing jobs.
Level 3 covers experienced helpers who work with minimal supervision and may assist with more technical aspects of roofing preparation, material staging, and safety compliance. Workers at this level typically have several years of consistent field experience on varied project types.
Level 4 applies to fully competent helpers who function near-independently, may informally guide newer helpers, and are trusted with specialized tasks on complex roofing projects. Employers file here for senior helpers who require little to no direct oversight on the job site.
Prevailing Wage for Helpers--Roofers 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--Roofers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify the worksite city on every LCA
Prevailing wages for roofer helpers vary sharply between metros: San Francisco floors sit well above those in Lakeland or Houston. The worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which OES wage applies to your offer.
Watch for Level 1 filings in high-cost markets
Some roofing contractors file at Level 1 even for helpers with prior site experience because the job description emphasizes cleanup and material supply. If you have documented roofing labor history, a Level 2 filing in your metro produces a meaningfully higher wage floor.
Check employer sponsorship history for Helpers--Roofers
Roofing contractors who sponsor visa workers for helper roles are a small subset of the industry. Use Migrate Mate to filter by employers who have an actual history of sponsoring Helpers--Roofers, rather than applying broadly to roofing companies with no prior filings.
Confirm base wage counts toward the prevailing wage floor
For hourly construction helper roles, only guaranteed base wages count toward DOL prevailing wage compliance. Signing bonuses paid upfront or tool allowances do not satisfy the floor. Verify that the hourly rate alone clears the applicable level before accepting an offer.
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Find Jobs for Helpers--RoofersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-3016.00 alongside Helpers--Roofers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Roofer Helper Prevailing Wage
Roofer Helper Prevailing Wage
Roofer Helper positions fall under SOC 47-3016.00 (Helpers--Roofers). 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--Roofers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages for each SOC code by metropolitan area. For Helpers--Roofers (SOC 47-3016), OFLC calculates four wage levels from that regional survey data. Employers sponsoring a worker in this role must offer at least the level that matches the worker's experience and the LCA worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels correspond to increasing experience and independence: Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate supervision, Level 3 is experienced with minimal oversight, and Level 4 is fully competent with near-independent performance. Your employer selects the level based on the actual duties and experience the position requires. Review the job description carefully and compare it to DOL's level definitions to confirm the filing is accurate for your background.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same helper role differ so much from city to city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. A metro with high construction demand and unionized labor, like San Francisco, produces a higher survey median than a market with lower construction wages, like Lakeland. Critically, the prevailing wage that applies to your LCA is always the rate for the worksite city listed on the Labor Condition Application, regardless of where the employer is headquartered or where payroll is processed.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot legally certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance during H-1B and PERM adjudication. If the offer is below floor, the employer must either raise the wage before filing or the petition will not be approvable. Workers already on status who discover a below-floor wage can face back-pay liability for the employer under DOL enforcement.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Helpers--Roofers location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code (47-3016) and metropolitan area. Select the relevant survey year and worksite metro to see all four level wages. You can also check O*NET for occupation-level data. For finding employers who have already sponsored roofer helper roles in specific cities, Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer and location.
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