Prevailing Wage for History Teachers, Postsecondary

The prevailing wage for History Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1125) is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city. Whether your offer is for an Adjunct History Instructor role or a full-time Assistant Professor position, sponsored candidates on H-1B, E-3, or green card pathways must confirm their offered salary clears the applicable level.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$52K
$25.20/hr

Level 1 covers entry-level postsecondary history instructors with limited independent experience, typically new to a faculty role, working under close supervision, and handling a narrow course load without significant research or service expectations.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$68K
$32.59/hr

Level 2 applies to qualified instructors with some independent teaching experience and a defined course portfolio. This is the most common filing level for History Teachers, Postsecondary, reflecting standard full-time lecturer and non-tenure-track faculty appointments.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$83K
$39.88/hr

Level 3 covers experienced history faculty who manage their own research agenda, advise graduate students, contribute to departmental governance, and bring recognized disciplinary expertise beyond baseline classroom responsibilities.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$98K
$47.21/hr

Level 4 applies to fully competent senior faculty, typically tenured or tenure-track associate and full professors, whose scope includes leading research programs, mentoring junior colleagues, and shaping departmental curriculum and strategic direction.

Prevailing Wage for History Teachers, Postsecondary by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$23K/yr$94K/yr

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

1
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI metro
$94K$45.39/hr
2
Riverside, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro
$88K$42.10/hr
3
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$84K$40.62/hr
4
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$80K$38.44/hr
5
San Diego, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro
$80K$38.39/hr
6
Fresno, CA
Fresno, CA metro
$79K$38.17/hr
7
Madison, WI
Madison, WI metro
$77K$37.22/hr
8
Amherst Town, MA
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA metro
$71K$34.37/hr
9
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro
$71K$33.94/hr
10
Ithaca, NY
Ithaca, NY metro
$71K$33.90/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for History Teachers, Postsecondary

Confirm your appointment type matches your level

Non-tenure-track and adjunct appointments are almost always filed at Level 1 or Level 2, while tenure-track lines typically warrant Level 3 or Level 4. Filing at the wrong level for your appointment structure is one of the most common LCA errors in postsecondary education.

Watch for low-wage metros in the Southeast

Cities like Little Rock and Huntsville show Level 1 floors well below the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in one of these markets, verify the worksite city on the LCA matches exactly, since a single-campus employer may list the wrong metro.

Check whether summer pay counts toward the wage

Many colleges pay history faculty on a nine-month base with optional summer teaching. DOL prevailing wage compliance is assessed against the annualized salary, not the academic-year base alone, so confirm how your offer letter structures total annual compensation.

Use Migrate Mate to see which universities sponsor history faculty

Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify which colleges and universities have actually sponsored History Teachers, Postsecondary on H-1B or green card filings, helping you prioritize institutions with a real track record.

Jobs for History Teachers, Postsecondary are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-1125.00 alongside History Teachers, Postsecondary, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Adjunct History Instructor Prevailing Wage

Adjunct History Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Adjunct Instructor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Adjunct Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Assistant Professor Prevailing Wage

Assistant Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Associate Professor Prevailing Wage

Associate Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

History Instructor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a History Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

History Professor Prevailing Wage

History Professor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

History Teacher Prevailing Wage

History Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Instructor Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Lecturer Prevailing Wage

Lecturer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Professor Prevailing Wage

Professor positions fall under SOC 25-1125.00 (History Teachers, Postsecondary). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$52K
$25.20/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$68K
$32.59/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$83K
$39.88/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$98K
$47.21/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for History Teachers, Postsecondary?

DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 25-1125, OFLC maps those regional survey figures to four experience levels. Employers must certify on a 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 one applies to my offer?

Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with independent responsibilities and is the most common filing level for non-tenure-track faculty; Level 3 is experienced with research and advising duties; Level 4 is fully competent senior faculty. Your level should reflect the actual duties, supervisory structure, and independence described in the job posting, not just your personal credentials.

Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much between cities?

OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. Dense university markets like San Francisco and Ann Arbor show significantly higher floors than smaller markets in the South or Midwest. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, and compliance is assessed against that specific area's wage, not a national figure.

What happens if an employer's offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

USCIS will not approve an H-1B or employment-based green card petition if the underlying LCA shows a wage below the DOL prevailing floor for the worksite and level. The employer must either increase the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the position to a level consistent with the actual duties before refiling.

How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for History Teachers, Postsecondary in a specific U.S. city?

The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 25-1125, select the worksite metro, and review all four levels. You can also check O*NET for occupation details that help confirm the correct SOC classification. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for this role, so you can cross-reference which institutions have filed at each wage level.

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