Prevailing Wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
The prevailing wage for a Human Resources Assistant (HR Assistant) is set by the DOL at four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on where the job is located. Whether your offer is titled Human Resources Administrative Assistant (HR Administrative Assistant) or HR Associate, the same SOC 43-4161 wage floor applies to H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship.
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Entry-level HR Assistants with limited experience performing routine personnel record-keeping under close supervision. Typically recent graduates or those new to the occupation with no independent judgment expected and straightforward task scope.
The most common filing level for HR Assistants. Applies to professionals with one to three years of experience handling personnel records, preparing employment reports, and working with moderate independence on standard HR administrative tasks.
Experienced HR Assistants who manage more complex employee data tasks, resolve discrepancies in personnel files, and may guide junior staff. Typically four or more years in the occupation with demonstrated independent judgment.
Fully competent HR Assistants at the senior end of the occupation, handling the full range of personnel record functions with minimal oversight, often serving as a point of expertise for HR data compliance and recordkeeping systems.
Prevailing Wage for Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping 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 your title maps to SOC 43-4161
Job postings for HR Coordinators or People Operations Assistants sometimes get filed under a different SOC, which changes the wage floor entirely. Verify that the LCA on your offer references SOC 43-4161 before comparing any wage figure to the prevailing wage.
Watch for low-paying metro outliers
HR Assistant prevailing wages in Puerto Rico metros like Mayaguez and Ponce sit well below the national median, while California markets such as San Jose and San Francisco set floors roughly double those levels. Worksite location on the LCA controls which floor applies, not where your employer is headquartered.
Separate base pay from total compensation
DOL prevailing wage compliance for HR Assistants is measured against base salary only. Signing bonuses, one-time equity grants, and variable performance pay do not count toward meeting the wage floor, so confirm the base figure alone clears the applicable level.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with HR sponsorship history
In-house HR Assistant roles at large corporations sponsor more frequently than agency or contract placements. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored HR Assistants in the past, so you can focus applications on companies with a track record for this specific occupation.
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Find Jobs for Human Resources AssistantPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4161.00 alongside Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Human Resources Administrative Assistant (HR Administrative Assistant) Prevailing Wage
Human Resources Administrative Assistant (HR Administrative Assistant) Prevailing Wage
Human Resources Administrative Assistant (HR Administrative Assistant) positions fall under SOC 43-4161.00 (Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping). 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.
Human Resources Assistant (HR Assistant) Prevailing Wage
Human Resources Assistant (HR Assistant) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Human Resources Assistant (HR Assistant) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4161.00 (Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Human Resources Associate (HR Associate) Prevailing Wage
Human Resources Associate (HR Associate) Prevailing Wage
Human Resources Associate (HR Associate) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4161.00 (Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping). 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.
Personnel Clerk Prevailing Wage
Personnel Clerk Prevailing Wage
Personnel Clerk positions fall under SOC 43-4161.00 (Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping). 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 Human Resources Assistants?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage for Human Resources Assistants using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. The OFLC publishes four wage levels based on experience and complexity. Employers filing an LCA for H-1B or E-3 sponsorship must pay at least the level that matches the actual job duties and experience required.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level HR Assistants with routine task scope and close supervision. Level 2, the most common filing level for this occupation, applies to workers with moderate experience and some independence. Level 3 covers experienced professionals handling more complex recordkeeping. Level 4 represents fully competent practitioners. The level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not your title, and is documented on the employer's LCA filing.
Why does the prevailing wage for an HR Assistant vary so much from city to city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions directly set the floor. An HR Assistant position in San Jose carries a significantly higher wage floor than the same role in a smaller metro because local wages for the occupation are higher. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so a remote worker based in a low-wage area is covered by that area's floor, not the employer's headquarters city.
What happens if my sponsored HR Assistant offer is below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or E-3 petition if the underlying LCA certifies a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage level. OFLC can also audit and decertify LCAs found to be non-compliant. If your offer letter states a salary below the floor for the worksite location and level, the employer must increase the base wage before the LCA can be certified. This is not negotiable at the petition stage.
How do I verify the prevailing wage for an HR Assistant position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-4161 for your worksite metro area and select the wage level matching your job duties. The tool returns the four level wages for that location. You can also check O*NET for occupational details that help you assess which level applies. For finding employers who actively sponsor HR Assistants, Migrate Mate filters by role and location to show companies with verified sponsorship history.
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