Prevailing Wage for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
Prevailing wages for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks under SOC 43-4081 are set by DOL using regional survey data, meaning a Front Desk Agent in Honolulu faces a very different floor than a Desk Clerk in rural Puerto Rico. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the applicable wage depends on both level and worksite city.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level front desk positions with minimal prior experience, typically less than one year. Workers perform routine tasks under close supervision, following established check-in and check-out procedures with limited independent judgment.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored front desk roles. Workers have one to three years of experience, handle guest issues with moderate independence, and manage reservations and accounts without constant supervision.
Level 3 applies to experienced desk clerks who regularly handle complex guest situations, train junior staff, and work with significant autonomy. Employers typically require three or more years of front desk or hospitality experience at this level.
Level 4 covers senior or lead front desk professionals who set procedures, resolve escalated guest issues, and may oversee a front office team. These positions often carry supervisory responsibility and require substantial demonstrated expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks 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
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
Confirm your worksite city before filing
Hawaiian resort markets like Kahului and Urban Honolulu carry prevailing wages nearly double those in Puerto Rico territories. An LCA must list the actual hotel worksite, so a filing citing a lower-wage metro for a property in Hawaii is a compliance violation.
Watch for tip-pool and bonus exclusions
Front desk roles at full-service hotels sometimes include service charges or performance bonuses in the offer letter. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only guaranteed base wages, so variable hospitality pay components cannot fill the gap to the floor.
Understand why most sponsors file at Level 2
Hotel operators rarely sponsor Level 1 front desk workers because short-tenure visa costs outweigh returns. Most sponsored Guest Service Agent petitions land at Level 2, reflecting one to three years of prior experience and a higher, more defensible wage floor.
Search Migrate Mate for hotel employers with sponsorship history
Front Desk Agent roles appear across independent hotels and chains, but actual visa sponsorship is concentrated in larger hospitality groups. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, helping you target realistic opportunities.
Jobs for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4081.00 alongside Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Desk Clerk Prevailing Wage
Desk Clerk Prevailing Wage
Desk Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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.
Front Desk Agent Prevailing Wage
Front Desk Agent Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Front Desk Agent for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Front Desk Associate Prevailing Wage
Front Desk Associate Prevailing Wage
Front Desk Associate is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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.
Front Desk Clerk Prevailing Wage
Front Desk Clerk Prevailing Wage
Front Desk Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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.
Front Office Agent Prevailing Wage
Front Office Agent Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Front Office Agent for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Guest Service Agent Prevailing Wage
Guest Service Agent Prevailing Wage
Guest Service Agent is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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.
Guest Service Representative Prevailing Wage
Guest Service Representative Prevailing Wage
Guest Service Representative positions fall under SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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.
Guest Services Agent (GSA) Prevailing Wage
Guest Services Agent (GSA) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Guest Services Agent (GSA) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Night Auditor Prevailing Wage
Night Auditor Prevailing Wage
Night Auditor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4081.00 (Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks). 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 Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 43-4081, it calculates four wage levels based on the regional distribution of actual wages paid to desk clerks in that market. Employers filing an LCA through OFLC must pay at least the DOL-published prevailing wage for the worksite location and the applicable experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate experience, Level 3 as experienced with significant autonomy, and Level 4 as fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Your level is determined by the job duties described in the LCA and I-129 petition, not just your years of experience. Review the employer's job description carefully; the level they file at sets the minimum wage they must pay.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same front desk role vary so much by city?
DOL's prevailing wage is based on regional OES survey data, so it reflects what employers in each metro actually pay for this occupation. Dense hospitality markets with high costs of living, such as Urban Honolulu or New York, produce higher survey medians. Under LCA rules, the wage obligation is tied to the worksite address on the certification, not the employer's headquarters. A hotel chain headquartered in a low-wage state must still meet the floor for each property location.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer filing an LCA or PERM application must certify to OFLC that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA and the H-1B or green card petition cannot proceed. For cases already approved, a later DOL audit finding underpayment can result in back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship filings. Consult a qualified immigration attorney if you believe your offer is below the floor.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific hotel or resort location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 43-4081 in any metro area. Select the occupational code, choose the worksite metropolitan area, and review all four wage levels. You can also cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile for the SOC code. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored Front Desk Agent and desk clerk listings by location, so you can see which employers in a specific city have a history of sponsoring this role.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks right now.
Search Jobs for this role