Prevailing Wage for Mathematicians
The prevailing wage for Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your title reads Computational Mathematician, Cryptographer, or Research Computing Specialist, the same four experience levels apply, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city your worksite is located in.
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Entry-level filing for professionals with limited experience, typically a recent graduate or early-career hire working under close supervision on well-defined mathematical problems with minimal independent judgment expected.
The most common filing level for Mathematicians. Applies to qualified professionals with some independent experience who handle moderately complex problems with only general supervision and bring applied knowledge to their role.
Experienced professionals who work independently, often leading specific research projects or analytical workstreams. DOL recognizes a significant breadth of knowledge and the ability to solve complex, non-routine mathematical problems.
Senior or lead scope reserved for fully competent professionals who set direction, mentor others, and handle the most complex mathematical challenges in an organization. Often corresponds to principal researcher or senior scientist titles.
Prevailing Wage for Mathematicians 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 Mathematicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how defense contractors classify cryptographers
Federal defense and intelligence contractors frequently hire Cryptographers and Cryptographic Vulnerability Analysts under adjacent SOC codes rather than SOC 15-2021, which can place the LCA wage floor below what Mathematicians actually command in those markets.
Separate base pay from research bonuses
DOL prevailing wage compliance for Mathematicians is tested against guaranteed annual wages only. Performance bonuses, publication awards, and equity grants common in research roles do not count toward meeting the floor, so verify your base salary alone clears it.
Factor in the Los Angeles wage compression effect
Los Angeles shows unusually narrow spreads between Level 1 and Level 4 wages for this occupation compared with Seattle or Washington DC, meaning experienced Mathematicians may find their seniority less rewarded in the LA market than metro prestige suggests.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with math hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Mathematicians, Computational Scientists, and related titles in the past, so you can prioritize outreach to organizations already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for MathematiciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-2021.00 alongside Mathematicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Agent-Based Modeler Prevailing Wage
Agent-Based Modeler Prevailing Wage
Agent-Based Modeler positions fall under SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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.
Computational Mathematician Prevailing Wage
Computational Mathematician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Computational Mathematician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Computational Scientist Prevailing Wage
Computational Scientist Prevailing Wage
Computational Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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.
Cryptographer Prevailing Wage
Cryptographer Prevailing Wage
Cryptographer positions fall under SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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.
Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst Prevailing Wage
Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Computing Specialist Prevailing Wage
Research Computing Specialist Prevailing Wage
Research Computing Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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.
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist positions fall under SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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.
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Researcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-2021.00 (Mathematicians). 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 Mathematicians?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Mathematicians from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mapped to SOC code 15-2021. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes these figures and updates them periodically. Employers must pay at least the applicable wage level for the worksite location before USCIS will certify a sponsored petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level hires under close supervision, Level 2 to qualified professionals with some independent experience, Level 3 to experienced professionals solving complex problems with broad autonomy, and Level 4 to fully competent senior practitioners who lead others. Your level should reflect the actual duties and supervision structure in the job offer, not simply the title, because OFLC audits LCA filings against position descriptions.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Mathematicians role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates wages using regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage for the specific worksite metro, not their headquarters city. Dense employer markets like Seattle and Washington DC, which concentrate federal agencies and technology firms that hire Computational Mathematicians, produce higher survey medians than smaller metro areas.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA certified at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the correct level and worksite exposes the employer to OFLC back-wage liability and debarment, and USCIS may deny or revoke the underlying H-1B or employment-based green card petition. The sponsored worker also risks loss of status if the violation is discovered during adjudication. Candidates should independently verify the applicable floor before accepting an offer.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Mathematicians in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC code 15-2021 for your target metro area and select the appropriate experience level. For a cross-check, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes annual OES data by occupation and area. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings for Mathematicians by location and employer sponsorship history, helping you identify which companies are actively filing in a given city.
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