Prevailing Wage for Legislators
Prevailing wage for Legislators (SOC 11-1031) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. DOL divides the occupation into four experience levels, each with its own wage floor. The floor varies substantially by worksite city, so location on the Labor Condition Application is a key factor for any sponsored position.
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Level 1 covers entry-level legislators with limited experience in lawmaking, committee work, or constituent services. Typically applies to newly elected or appointed officeholders in junior roles with close oversight and a narrow scope of legislative responsibility.
Level 2 applies to legislators with moderate experience who handle standard legislative duties independently. This is the most common filing level for Legislators, covering professionals competent in bill drafting, committee participation, and constituent representation without requiring senior-level oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced legislators who exercise independent judgment across complex policy areas, lead committee work, and mentor junior colleagues. Typically applies to multi-term officeholders with a demonstrated record of significant legislative output and cross-agency coordination.
Level 4 applies to fully competent, senior legislators who set legislative agenda, hold leadership positions such as committee chairs or party leadership roles, and drive policy at a broad institutional level. Scope is wide, authority is high, and oversight minimal.
Prevailing Wage for Legislators 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 Legislators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Identify the correct wage level before negotiating
Legislators covers only elected officeholders under SOC 11-1031. Because base pay in this occupation is often set by statute rather than employer discretion, confirm whether the sponsor is classifying the role at the correct DOL experience level before accepting any offer.
Watch the wide wage gap between Washington and the Carolinas
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies more sharply by metro than in most occupations. Washington State metros post floors several times higher than South Carolina metros, so comparing offers across states without checking the worksite-specific floor is a significant risk.
Verify the worksite city on the Labor Condition Application
The DOL requires the LCA to list the actual worksite location. For legislators splitting time between a capital office and a district office, the primary worksite designation determines which metro wage floor applies, and misclassification can expose the sponsoring employer to compliance issues.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with a sponsorship history
Because visa sponsorship for elected legislative roles is uncommon, Migrate Mate's employer sponsorship history data helps identify the rare organizations that have sponsored workers in government and public-administration roles, so you can focus outreach on proven sponsors rather than cold prospecting.
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Find Jobs for LegislatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 11-1031.00 alongside Legislators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Alderman Prevailing Wage
Alderman Prevailing Wage
Alderman positions fall under SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
Assembly Member Prevailing Wage
Assembly Member Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Assembly Member for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Assembly Person Prevailing Wage
Assembly Person Prevailing Wage
Assembly Person is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
Assemblyman Prevailing Wage
Assemblyman Prevailing Wage
Assemblyman positions fall under SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
Assemblywoman Prevailing Wage
Assemblywoman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Assemblywoman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
City Alderman Prevailing Wage
City Alderman Prevailing Wage
City Alderman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
City Council Member Prevailing Wage
City Council Member Prevailing Wage
City Council Member positions fall under SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
City Councilman Prevailing Wage
City Councilman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a City Councilman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Congress Member Prevailing Wage
Congress Member Prevailing Wage
Congress Member is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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.
Congressional Representative Prevailing Wage
Congressional Representative Prevailing Wage
Congressional Representative positions fall under SOC 11-1031.00 (Legislators). 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 Legislators?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages for each SOC occupation, including SOC 11-1031. The OFLC then publishes these figures by metropolitan area and assigns them to four experience levels. Employers sponsoring a foreign national in this role must pay at least the prevailing wage corresponding to the worker's experience level and the certified worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with direct supervision; Level 2 is qualified and independent in standard duties; Level 3 is experienced with broad judgment and mentoring responsibilities; Level 4 is fully competent with organizational leadership authority. Your employer determines the level based on the actual duties in the petition, and USCIS reviews whether that level assignment is consistent with the role description on the approved LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, and that location determines which metro's wage floor applies. Areas with higher concentrations of well-compensated public-sector employers, such as certain Washington State metros, produce higher survey medians than lower-wage labor markets in other states.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the LCA, which means the H-1B or other sponsored petition cannot proceed. If a wage deficiency is discovered after certification, DOL can require back wages and impose penalties on the employer. Workers should verify the floor independently using the OFLC Wage Search before signing an offer letter.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Legislators in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 11-1031 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city or the relevant metro area and select the appropriate experience level. For broader occupational context, the O*NET profile for this SOC provides job-zone and task data that can help you assess which wage level best fits the duties in your offer. Migrate Mate also lists roles with employer sponsorship history, helping you target companies that have sponsored similar positions before.
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