Prevailing Wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
The prevailing wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (SOC 13-1161) sets the minimum salary a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring an H-1B, E-3, or green card for this occupation. Whether your title is Market Research Analyst, Market Research Consultant, or Business Development Specialist, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level analysts who perform routine research tasks under close supervision, typically with a bachelor's degree and little to no prior professional experience in market research or marketing analysis. Employers file at this level for new graduates in structured analyst programs.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for market research and marketing specialists. It covers professionals with a few years of experience who work independently on research projects, interpret data, and deliver recommendations with moderate oversight from senior staff.
Level 3 applies to experienced analysts who manage complex research programs, may supervise junior team members, and exercise significant independent judgment. Candidates typically bring five or more years of relevant experience along with demonstrated specialization in a methodology or market segment.
Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead professionals who set research strategy, direct teams, and contribute to business decisions at a high level. These positions require deep expertise, a record of independent contribution, and responsibility for program-wide outputs or client relationships.
Prevailing Wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists 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 this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Check whether your title matches this SOC
Titles like Marketing Manager, Brand Strategist, or Consumer Insights Director sometimes get filed under different SOC codes, each with its own wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 13-1161 so the correct prevailing wage applies to your sponsored position.
Understand how agency versus in-house filing differs
Market research roles at dedicated research agencies often file at Level 1 or Level 2, while in-house analyst positions at technology or financial services firms more frequently reach Level 3 or Level 4, reflecting broader scope and higher base compensation expectations.
Verify the worksite city before comparing wages
A Communications Specialist role listed as remote may carry the prevailing wage of the employer's headquarters, not your home city. San Jose and San Francisco floors for this occupation run substantially higher than the national median, so the worksite address on the LCA directly determines your wage floor.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa type and shows which employers have previously sponsored market research and marketing specialist roles, helping you prioritize companies with a real track record of H-1B or E-3 sponsorship for this occupation rather than those attempting it for the first time.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-1161.00 alongside Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Business Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Business Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Business Development Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). 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.
Communications Specialist Prevailing Wage
Communications Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Communications Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Demographic Analyst Prevailing Wage
Demographic Analyst Prevailing Wage
Demographic Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). 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.
Market Analyst Prevailing Wage
Market Analyst Prevailing Wage
Market Analyst positions fall under SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). 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.
Market Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
Market Research Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Market Research Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Market Research Consultant Prevailing Wage
Market Research Consultant Prevailing Wage
Market Research Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). 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.
Market Research Specialist Prevailing Wage
Market Research Specialist Prevailing Wage
Market Research Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). 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.
Market Researcher Prevailing Wage
Market Researcher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Market Researcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1161.00 (Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for SOC 13-1161 using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The resulting figures are published in the OFLC Wage Library and updated annually. Employers must pay at least the DOL-determined wage for the assigned level and worksite before USCIS will approve an H-1B or related petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines the four levels by experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified and works with moderate oversight; Level 3 is experienced with significant independent judgment; Level 4 is fully competent at a senior or lead scope. The level on your employer's Labor Condition Application should match the actual duties and experience requirements in your offer, not just your years in the workforce generally.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same market research role vary so much between cities?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys to set area-specific floors, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. Dense employer markets like San Jose and San Francisco push the floor significantly higher than metros in the South or Midwest. Critically, the worksite address listed on the Labor Condition Application, not the employer's headquarters or your home address, determines which area wage applies.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored position falls below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot file a valid Labor Condition Application if the offered wage is below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite and experience level. OFLC will reject or invalidate an LCA with a subprevailing wage, and USCIS will not approve the H-1B or E-3 petition without a certified LCA. For green card PERM cases, a below-floor offer similarly disqualifies the application. Employers must commit to the prevailing wage before any petition moves forward.
How do I find the prevailing wage for a Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up SOC 13-1161 wages by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city to see the current Level 1 through Level 4 floors for that location. You can also review OFLC LCA disclosure data to see what wages employers have actually listed for comparable positions. Migrate Mate surfaces employers with a history of sponsoring market research and marketing roles, giving you a starting point for outreach before you negotiate.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists right now.
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