Prevailing Wage for Machinists
Prevailing wages for Machinists (SOC 51-4041) are set by the DOL using regional survey data, so the floor a CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist) must meet in Seattle differs substantially from what a CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist) must meet in a lower-cost market. DOL sets four experience levels, and the applicable floor depends on both level and worksite city.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level machinists with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures and have not yet developed independent judgment in setup, tolerances, or material selection.
Level 2 covers qualified machinists who work with moderate supervision and handle a range of standard machining tasks independently. This is the most common filing level for Machinists, reflecting journeyman-level proficiency on conventional and CNC equipment.
Level 3 applies to experienced machinists who set up complex jobs, interpret engineering drawings with minimal guidance, and may informally train junior workers. These professionals typically bring several years of progressively independent shop-floor experience.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent machinists in senior or lead roles, overseeing complex precision work, troubleshooting difficult tolerances, and exercising full autonomy. Employers often use this level for master machinists or those with specialized instrument-making responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Machinists 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 Machinists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Machinists
Watch for title aliasing on LCA filings
Maintenance Machinist and Machine Repair Person roles are sometimes filed under a maintenance SOC rather than SOC 51-4041, which sets a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm your offer letter job title maps to the Machinists SOC before comparing wages.
Factor out overtime and tool allowances
DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base hourly wages only. Shift differentials, tool allowances, and production bonuses common in machining shops do not count toward satisfying the floor, so verify the straight-time base rate matches the applicable level.
Compare your metro against defense-industry clusters
Washington DC and Bremerton WA top the machinist wage scale, driven by concentrated defense and naval shipyard demand. If your offer is in a lower-cost market, the L2 floor there is substantially lower, which affects both your negotiation position and employer willingness to sponsor.
Find employers sponsoring Machinists on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists machining roles from employers with verified H-1B and green card sponsorship history, so you can filter by location and see which manufacturers and defense contractors have actually sponsored Machinists before, not just whether a company sponsors in general.
Jobs for Machinists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for MachinistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4041.00 alongside Machinists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist) positions fall under SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). 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.
CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Gear Machinist Prevailing Wage
Gear Machinist Prevailing Wage
Gear Machinist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). 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.
Machine Repair Person Prevailing Wage
Machine Repair Person Prevailing Wage
Machine Repair Person positions fall under SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). 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.
Maintenance Machinist Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Machinist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Maintenance Machinist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Manual Lathe Machinist Prevailing Wage
Manual Lathe Machinist Prevailing Wage
Manual Lathe Machinist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). 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.
Production Machinist Prevailing Wage
Production Machinist Prevailing Wage
Production Machinist positions fall under SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). 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.
Tool Room Machinist Prevailing Wage
Tool Room Machinist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Tool Room Machinist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4041.00 (Machinists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Machinists?
The DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metropolitan area, DOL calculates wages at four experience levels based on actual employer-reported pay for SOC 51-4041. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored machinist must offer at least the level wage corresponding to the position's duties and supervision requirements at the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines the levels by experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is journeyman work performed independently; Level 3 reflects experienced machinists handling complex setups; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with full autonomy. OFLC guidance instructs employers to match the level to the actual duties in the job description, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same machinist role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates separate wage floors for each metropolitan statistical area using regional OES survey responses from local employers. The LCA rule requires the employer to use the wage for the actual worksite, not company headquarters. Markets with high concentrations of defense contractors, aerospace manufacturers, or naval facilities, such as the Washington DC and Seattle metros, report substantially higher wages than lower-density manufacturing regions.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage for Machinists?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition if the LCA wage does not meet or exceed the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite. DOL can also audit LCAs and require back-pay remedies if a certified LCA wage was set below the floor. Candidates should verify the LCA wage before accepting an offer, as underpayment risk falls primarily on the employer but can affect your petition.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you enter a job title, SOC code, and metropolitan area to retrieve the current four-level prevailing wage. Select SOC 51-4041 and your worksite metro. For sponsored positions, the wage on the filed LCA must match the level and location in the job offer. Migrate Mate also lists machining roles filtered by location and employer sponsorship history, helping you identify which markets have active openings.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Machinists right now.
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