Prevailing Wage for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Prevailing wage for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage (SOC 13-1032) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for an Automobile Appraiser, a Damage Appraiser, or a Field Appraiser, the floor varies significantly by city and by one of four DOL experience levels.
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Entry-level appraisers with limited professional experience, typically new to vehicle damage assessment. Expect close supervision, straightforward claims, and narrowly defined responsibilities. DOL places candidates here when they are still building core appraisal judgment and familiarity with insurer workflows.
Qualified appraisers with moderate experience who handle a standard caseload independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage, reflecting the typical sponsored candidate who can work routine and moderately complex claims with minimal oversight.
Experienced appraisers who manage complex or high-value vehicle damage claims, mentor junior staff, and may coordinate with repair shops on disputed estimates. DOL assigns Level 3 when the role requires specialized judgment beyond standard claim processing.
Fully competent senior appraisers who set department standards, handle escalated disputes, lead training initiatives, or carry broad authority over appraisal methodology. Reserved for candidates with demonstrated mastery across all vehicle damage categories and insurer requirements.
Prevailing Wage for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage 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 Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch out for title aliasing on your LCA
Employers sometimes post roles as 'Field Inspector' or 'Field Appraiser' but file the LCA under a different SOC. Confirm your offer letter title maps directly to SOC 13-1032 so the prevailing wage floor applied to your position is the correct one for auto damage appraisal work.
Verify the worksite city, not employer headquarters
For field-based auto damage appraisers who inspect vehicles across a region, the LCA must list the actual worksite. Cleveland and Seattle wage floors for this occupation are meaningfully higher than Miami or Chicago, so the city on your LCA directly determines your minimum protected wage.
Account for bonus exclusions in your base salary review
DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against your base salary only. Production bonuses, claim-volume incentives, and signing bonuses that are amortized over employment do not count toward meeting the floor. Ensure your guaranteed annual base clears the applicable level independently.
Use Migrate Mate to see which insurers sponsor appraisers
Sponsoring auto damage appraisers is concentrated among a relatively small set of carriers and third-party administrators. Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer for this occupation, helping you focus applications on companies with a real track record sponsoring this role.
Jobs for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-1032.00 alongside Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) Prevailing Wage
Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) Prevailing Wage
Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) Prevailing Wage
Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Damage Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Field Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Field Appraiser Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Field Appraiser for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Field Inspector Prevailing Wage
Field Inspector Prevailing Wage
Field Inspector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Insurance Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Insurance Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Insurance Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Material Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Material Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Material Damage Appraiser for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Outside Physical Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Outside Physical Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Outside Physical Damage Appraiser is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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.
Physical Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Physical Damage Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Physical Damage Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-1032.00 (Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage). 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 determine the prevailing wage for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 13-1032, the agency calculates four wage levels based on the regional earnings distribution. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience, as certified on the Labor Condition Application filed with OFLC.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
DOL assigns levels based on the complexity, supervision, and experience required by the position. Level 1 covers entry-level roles under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified professionals working independently on standard claims; Level 3 covers experienced appraisers handling complex or high-value cases; Level 4 covers fully competent senior roles with broad authority. Your employer's LCA specifies the level, and you can verify it matches your actual job duties before signing.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much from city to city?
OFLC uses regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. A role in Seattle or Cleveland commands a higher floor than the same role in Miami or San Juan because regional compensation differs. Critically, the worksite address on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters, determines which metro's wage schedule applies. Field appraisers who inspect vehicles across multiple cities should confirm which worksite DOL is using.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot legally certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage level. If the offered salary falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, blocking the H-1B or PERM petition from proceeding. If underpayment is discovered after certification, USCIS can deny the petition and DOL can investigate for back-wage liability. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating guideline.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage role in a specific city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL wage for SOC 13-1032 in the metro where you will work. Select the correct area, verify the level matches your role's duties, and compare it to the base salary in your offer. You can also review the O*NET profile to confirm job duties align with this SOC. Migrate Mate lists sponsored positions for this occupation and shows which employers have a history of sponsoring auto damage appraisers, giving you a starting point for targeted applications.
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