Prevailing Wage for Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Prevailing wage floors for Maintenance Workers, Machinery (SOC 49-9043) are set by DOL using regional wage surveys, so what a Lubricator earns in San Francisco differs sharply from what a Machine Repairer earns in McAllen. DOL assigns four experience levels, each carrying a distinct wage floor, and the worksite city on the LCA determines which regional rate applies.
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Entry-level workers with minimal experience performing routine lubrication, basic part changes, and closely supervised maintenance tasks. Typically holds a high school diploma or equivalent with little to no prior machinery maintenance work history.
Qualified workers who perform standard maintenance tasks with limited supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Maintenance Workers, Machinery, reflecting journeyman-level experience and familiarity with a range of machinery types.
Experienced workers who handle complex diagnostics, mentor junior staff, and manage multi-system maintenance independently. Typically has several years of hands-on machinery maintenance experience and may hold technical certifications.
Fully competent senior workers or lead mechanics responsible for the full scope of machinery maintenance, including troubleshooting, planning, and oversight. Often supervises others and possesses specialized expertise across multiple equipment categories.
Prevailing Wage for Maintenance Workers, Machinery 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 Maintenance Workers, Machinery and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title maps to SOC 49-9043
Job postings using titles like Maintainer, Maintenance Craftsman, or Maintenance Mechanic sometimes get filed under a different SOC, such as industrial machinery mechanics. Confirm your employer's LCA cites SOC 49-9043 so the correct prevailing wage floor applies to your position.
Prioritize high-concentration industrial metros
Maintenance Workers, Machinery wages vary dramatically by region. Petrochemical corridors like Beaumont and refinery-adjacent markets in California consistently post higher L1 and L2 floors than rural or service-sector-heavy areas, giving sponsored candidates stronger baseline protections.
Watch for shift differentials excluded from prevailing wage
Some employers count shift premiums or tool allowances toward meeting the prevailing wage floor, but DOL requires the base wage alone to meet the threshold. For maintenance roles with rotating shifts, confirm the straight-time rate clears the applicable level on its own.
Search Migrate Mate for employers sponsoring this role
Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring Maintenance Workers, Machinery, letting you target companies already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for hands-on trades rather than cold-approaching employers new to sponsorship.
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Find Jobs for Maintenance Workers, MachineryPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-9043.00 alongside Maintenance Workers, Machinery, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Lubricator Prevailing Wage
Lubricator Prevailing Wage
Lubricator positions fall under SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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.
Machine Repairer Prevailing Wage
Machine Repairer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Repairer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Maintainer Prevailing Wage
Maintainer Prevailing Wage
Maintainer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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.
Maintenance Craftsman Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Craftsman Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Craftsman positions fall under SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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 Man Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Man Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Maintenance Man for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Maintenance Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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.
Maintenance Technician (Maintenance Tech) Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Technician (Maintenance Tech) Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Technician (Maintenance Tech) positions fall under SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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 Worker Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Maintenance Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Oiler Prevailing Wage
Oiler Prevailing Wage
Oiler is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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.
Overhauler Prevailing Wage
Overhauler Prevailing Wage
Overhauler positions fall under SOC 49-9043.00 (Maintenance Workers, Machinery). 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 Maintenance Workers, Machinery?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 49-9043, the agency surveys employer-reported wages across every metro area and assigns four wage levels based on experience and job complexity. Employers file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC certifying that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels correspond to experience and job complexity: Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified, Level 3 is experienced, and Level 4 is fully competent. The employer selects the level when filing the LCA. You can cross-check the selection against the actual job duties and years of experience described in the offer letter. If the duties listed match senior or lead responsibilities, the filing should reflect Level 3 or Level 4, not Level 1.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much between cities?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, so each metro area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 49-9043. Dense industrial markets with refinery, manufacturing, or port infrastructure, such as those in California and the Gulf Coast, drive up local survey medians. The LCA must cite the actual worksite address, so even a national employer must use the wage floor for the specific city where the work is performed, not a company-wide average.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage floor for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or PERM petition backed by a non-compliant LCA. If the offered wage falls below the DOL-certified floor for the role and location, OFLC may deny LCA certification outright. Even if an LCA is certified with an inaccurate wage, USCIS can issue a Request for Evidence or denial if the record shows the offered wage does not meet the prevailing wage requirement for the position.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Maintenance Workers, Machinery in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 49-9043 by metro area. Enter the Standard Occupational Classification code and select the relevant metropolitan statistical area to see the current four-level wage table. For jobs already posted with visa sponsorship, Migrate Mate lists employers with a history of sponsoring this occupation, letting you filter by location so you can compare posted salaries against the applicable DOL floor before you apply.
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