Prevailing Wage for Human Resources Managers
Prevailing wages for Human Resources Managers under SOC 11-3121 are set by the DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level generalists to senior HR Directors and Employee Relations Managers. Whether your offer letter reads HR Manager, HR Admin Director, or HR VP, the floor that matters for H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level HR professionals with limited experience, typically recent graduates or early-career specialists handling routine tasks under close supervision. DOL assigns Level 1 when the role involves applying established procedures rather than exercising independent judgment or managing staff.
The most common filing level for Human Resources Managers. Covers professionals with moderate experience who work independently on standard HR functions, exercise judgment on routine matters, and may oversee junior staff without holding full departmental authority.
Experienced managers who design and lead HR programs, mentor junior staff, and handle complex employee relations or compliance issues with minimal supervision. DOL associates Level 3 with roles requiring specialized expertise and broader organizational responsibility.
Senior HR leaders, including HR Directors and HR VPs, who set department strategy, direct large teams, and hold organization-wide accountability for workforce planning, policy, and compliance. DOL reserves Level 4 for fully autonomous, top-of-function roles.
Prevailing Wage for Human Resources Managers 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 11-3121
Titles like Employee Relations Manager or HR Ops Manager sometimes get filed under different SOC codes by employers, shifting the applicable wage floor. Verify your LCA lists SOC 11-3121 before signing an offer, because a misfiled code can understate your legal minimum.
Watch how bonus pay affects wage compliance
DOL prevailing wage calculations for HR roles must be met through base salary alone. Signing bonuses, annual incentives, and equity grants are excluded from the wage computation, so an offer mixing a below-floor base with a large bonus is still non-compliant.
Factor in metro concentration when comparing offers
HR Manager wages vary sharply between dense employer markets like San Francisco and Boston and lower-cost metros like Mayaguez. The worksite address on the LCA, not the company headquarters, determines which OES regional wage your employer must meet at each level.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with HR hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored HR Managers and HR Directors before, so you can target companies already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for this occupation rather than educating a first-time sponsor on the requirements.
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Find Jobs for Human Resources ManagersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 11-3121.00 alongside Human Resources Managers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Employee Relations Manager Prevailing Wage
Employee Relations Manager Prevailing Wage
Employee Relations Manager positions fall under SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). 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.
HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director) Prevailing Wage
HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a HR Admin Director (Human Resources Administration Director) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
HR Director (Human Resources Director) Prevailing Wage
HR Director (Human Resources Director) Prevailing Wage
HR Director (Human Resources Director) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). 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.
HR Manager (Human Resources Manager) Prevailing Wage
HR Manager (Human Resources Manager) Prevailing Wage
HR Manager (Human Resources Manager) positions fall under SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). 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.
HR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager) Prevailing Wage
HR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a HR Ops Manager (Human Resources Operations Manager) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
HR VP (Human Resources Vice President) Prevailing Wage
HR VP (Human Resources Vice President) Prevailing Wage
HR VP (Human Resources Vice President) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). 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.
Recruitment Director Prevailing Wage
Recruitment Director Prevailing Wage
Recruitment Director positions fall under SOC 11-3121.00 (Human Resources Managers). 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 Managers?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Human Resources Managers from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. OFLC publishes these figures annually by SOC code and geographic area. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for the correct experience level at the actual worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns one of four levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level roles under close supervision; Level 2 applies to independent contributors, and is the most common filing level for HR Managers; Level 3 covers experienced professionals leading programs; Level 4 applies to senior leaders like HR Directors and HR VPs with full departmental authority. Your employer selects the level, but it must accurately reflect the actual job duties described in the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same HR Manager role differ so much between cities?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions. Dense employer markets like San Francisco and New York produce higher surveyed wages than smaller metros. The rule is worksite-specific: if your employer's LCA lists a particular city, that city's OES-derived wage applies, regardless of where the company is headquartered or where your manager sits.
What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored HR Manager position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition if the LCA wage does not meet the DOL prevailing wage for the listed level and worksite. If an LCA is certified with an incorrect wage and USCIS or DOL later audits the filing, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment. An offer below the prevailing wage floor cannot be legally sponsored, so a shortfall must be resolved before the LCA is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Human Resources Managers at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current DOL prevailing wages by SOC code 11-3121 and metro area. Select the wage level that matches your job duties and experience. You can also review public LCA disclosure data that employers file with OFLC to see what wages other companies have certified for comparable HR Manager roles in the same market. Migrate Mate filters sponsored HR jobs by location and employer sponsorship history, helping you identify companies actively hiring in your target city.
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