Prevailing Wage for Library Assistants, Clerical
Library Assistants, Clerical (SOC 43-4121) are subject to DOL prevailing wage requirements when sponsored for H-1B, E-3, or green card status. Whether your title is Library Aide, Acquisitions Assistant, or Cataloging Assistant, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly depending on which U.S. city the worksite is located in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level library assistants who perform routine tasks under close supervision with minimal independent judgment. Typically requires little or no prior library experience and a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers filing here are hiring candidates learning basic circulation and shelving procedures.
Level 2 applies to qualified library assistants with some relevant experience who work with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Library Assistants, Clerical, covering roles involving patron registration, locating materials, and handling a range of standard circulation desk responsibilities.
Level 3 covers experienced library assistants who apply specialized knowledge to complex tasks with limited supervision. Candidates at this level often handle cataloging support, electronic media processing, or lead responsibilities across a specific collection area, typically with several years of direct library experience.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent library associates who exercise independent judgment, mentor junior staff, and manage specialized workflows such as acquisitions coordination or systems support. These professionals typically have extensive experience and operate with minimal oversight across multiple library functions.
Prevailing Wage for Library Assistants, Clerical 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 Library Assistants, Clerical and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your filing level matches actual duties
Library assistant roles filed at Level 1 often involve purely physical tasks like shelving and sorting. If your position includes patron registration, interlibrary loan processing, or electronic media management, Level 2 is typically the correct floor. Filing below your actual duties creates wage compliance risk.
Watch the wage gap between California metros
San Francisco and San Jose prevailing wages for this occupation run substantially higher than inland California metros like Modesto. If your employer is headquartered in a high-wage metro but your worksite is elsewhere, the LCA must reflect the actual worksite location, not headquarters.
Distinguish library associate titles from library aide titles
Job postings using titles like Library Associate or Cataloging Assistant sometimes get filed under clerical SOC codes rather than professional librarian codes. Confirm your employer's LCA cites SOC 43-4121 so your offer clears the correct wage floor rather than an unrelated occupation.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with filing history
Public libraries, academic institutions, and county government employers sponsor this occupation at very different rates. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored library assistant roles, so you can focus your applications on organizations with a demonstrated track record.
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Find Jobs for Library Assistants, ClericalPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4121.00 alongside Library Assistants, Clerical, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Acquisitions Assistant Prevailing Wage
Acquisitions Assistant Prevailing Wage
Acquisitions Assistant positions fall under SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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.
Cataloging Assistant Prevailing Wage
Cataloging Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cataloging Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Library Aide Prevailing Wage
Library Aide Prevailing Wage
Library Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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.
Library Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Assistant positions fall under SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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.
Library Associate Prevailing Wage
Library Associate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Library Associate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Library Circulation Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Circulation Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Circulation Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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.
Library Clerical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Clerical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Clerical Assistant positions fall under SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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.
Library Clerk Prevailing Wage
Library Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Library Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Library Services Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Services Assistant Prevailing Wage
Library Services Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). 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 Library Assistants, Clerical?
DOL bases prevailing wages on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 43-4121, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from the wage distribution within each geographic area. Employers sponsoring a library assistant must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience, autonomy, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers with moderate supervision; Level 3 applies to experienced staff with limited oversight; Level 4 is for fully competent professionals working independently. To identify your level, compare your actual job duties and supervisory structure to DOL's published level definitions. Your employer's LCA specifies the level they filed.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same library assistant role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 43-4121. Dense urban markets with higher costs of living, stronger public sector unions, or concentrated academic library employers drive wages higher. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the wage obligation follows the work location, not the employer's headquarters city.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage floor?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. OFLC will reject or audit the LCA, and USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition built on a noncompliant LCA. For green card PERM applications, DOL can deny certification. The offered wage must meet or exceed the prevailing wage before any petition moves forward.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Library Assistants, Clerical position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-4121 by metropolitan area. Select the area matching your worksite, not your employer's headquarters, and review all four levels to confirm which applies. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have sponsored library assistant roles in specific locations, giving you a starting point for evaluating offers against market rates.
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