Prevailing Wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
Prevailing wage requirements for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers (SOC 51-3022) set the minimum DOL-mandated pay a sponsored worker must receive. Whether you work as a Deboner, Chicken Cutter, or Fish Processor, DOL assigns four experience levels and the wage floor shifts significantly by city and worksite location.
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Entry-level workers with limited experience performing routine cutting and trimming tasks under close supervision. Typically no specialized training beyond basic on-the-job instruction and little independent judgment expected in daily work.
Workers with moderate experience who handle standard cutting and trimming assignments with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting the typical experienced line worker at a processing facility.
Experienced workers who perform complex or varied cutting tasks with minimal supervision. They may informally guide newer team members and are expected to resolve day-to-day production issues independently without management direction.
Fully competent workers who operate at a lead or senior capacity, setting production standards, handling the most technically demanding cutting assignments, and mentoring others across a processing line or department.
Prevailing Wage for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 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.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
Confirm your worksite city matches the LCA
Processing plants for this occupation are often in rural or smaller metros where prevailing wages differ sharply from nearby cities. The LCA must list the actual plant address, not a corporate headquarters, so verify the worksite city matches where you will physically work.
Watch for signing bonuses counted toward wage compliance
Some meat and poultry processors offer signing bonuses to attract workers, but DOL requires the prevailing wage to be met through regular pay. A one-time bonus cannot be amortized to bring a below-floor hourly rate into compliance.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Sponsoring cutters and trimmers under H-1B or green card is uncommon. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have filed for this occupation before, helping you target facilities with an established sponsorship track record rather than starting from scratch.
Understand why low-paying metros cluster in the Southeast
Metros like Rocky Mount and Decatur post the lowest prevailing wages for this occupation, reflecting regional OES survey data from lower-cost labor markets. If a facility in those areas offers the national median, your offer likely clears the floor with room to spare.
Jobs for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-3022.00 alongside Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Beef Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Beef Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Beef Trimmer positions fall under SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Breast Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Breast Trimmer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Breast Trimmer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Chicken Cutter Prevailing Wage
Chicken Cutter Prevailing Wage
Chicken Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Deboner Prevailing Wage
Deboner Prevailing Wage
Deboner positions fall under SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Fish Processor Prevailing Wage
Fish Processor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fish Processor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Meat Cutter Prevailing Wage
Meat Cutter Prevailing Wage
Meat Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Meat Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Meat Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Meat Trimmer positions fall under SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Seafood Processor Prevailing Wage
Seafood Processor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Seafood Processor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer Prevailing Wage
Trimmer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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.
Wing Scorer Prevailing Wage
Wing Scorer Prevailing Wage
Wing Scorer positions fall under SOC 51-3022.00 (Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers). 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 Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected from employers across each metro area. For SOC 51-3022, the agency derives four wage levels from the regional wage distribution. The employer then selects the level matching the offered position and certifies that wage on the Labor Condition Application filed with OFLC.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 covers entry workers under close supervision, Level 2 covers workers with independent baseline skills, Level 3 covers experienced workers handling complex tasks, and Level 4 covers senior or lead workers. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in your job offer, not the most favorable wage. OFLC provides detailed level definitions that employers must follow when filing.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC bases each metro's wage on regional BLS OES survey data, so local labor market conditions drive the floor. A processing facility in Louisville posts a significantly higher prevailing wage than one in Decatur because the underlying survey wages differ. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor is tied to where you will physically work, not where the company is headquartered.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage level. OFLC will not approve the application, and USCIS will deny the subsequent visa petition. If the offered salary falls short, the employer must either raise the pay to meet the floor or reclassify the role at a lower experience level that the duties genuinely support. Workers on existing visas are also protected if the employer reduces pay below the certified wage.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-3022 by state or metro area. Enter the worksite zip code or metropolitan statistical area to retrieve current Level 1 through Level 4 wage figures for Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers in that location. You can also cross-reference employer filings in OFLC disclosure data to see what wage levels companies have historically certified for this occupation. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored the role in the past.
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