Prevailing Wage for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
The prevailing wage for Engineering Laboratory Technician roles (SOC 17-3027) is set by DOL using four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located. Whether your offer is for an Engineering Technical Analyst position or an Engineering Lab Technician slot, the level and city together determine the minimum a sponsor must pay.
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Entry-level filing applies to technicians new to the occupation, typically with an associate degree or limited hands-on experience. Work is closely supervised, tasks are well-defined, and the role involves applying established procedures rather than independent judgment.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It fits technicians with some years of practical experience who work with moderate supervision, handle routine troubleshooting, and apply technical knowledge independently on standard equipment or test setups.
Experienced technicians who work with limited supervision, manage more complex testing or modification tasks, and may guide junior staff qualify at Level 3. Relevant certifications or specialized knowledge in a particular mechanical system often correlate with this designation.
Fully competent technicians at Level 4 operate with considerable autonomy, take responsibility for critical test programs or equipment development projects, and provide technical leadership. This level reflects deep specialized expertise and a track record of independent contribution.
Prevailing Wage for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians 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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Watch for title mismatches at the SOC boundary
Titles like Manufacturing Engineering Technician or Mechanical Designer sometimes get filed under broader engineering SOCs instead of SOC 17-3027, which sets a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm the LCA lists the correct SOC before accepting an offer.
Factor in energy and defense sector pay gaps
Gulf Coast metros like Baton Rouge and New Orleans show significantly higher L2 and L3 wages than the national median, driven by petrochemical and offshore engineering employers. If your offer is in a lower-paying inland market, the gap from national figures can be substantial.
Find sponsors with a proven track record using Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Engineering Laboratory Technician roles and filters listings by visa type, so you can focus on companies that have actually filed for this occupation rather than those that list sponsorship as a possibility.
Scrutinize how signing bonuses affect base wage compliance
DOL prevailing wage compliance for this occupation is measured against the base salary on the LCA, not total compensation. Signing bonuses, equipment allowances, and shift premiums are excluded, so a low base paired with large one-time payments can still fall short of the required floor.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-3027.00 alongside Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Engineering Laboratory Technician (Engineering Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Laboratory Technician (Engineering Lab Technician) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Laboratory Technician (Engineering Lab Technician) positions fall under SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Engineering Technical Analyst Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technical Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Engineering Technical Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Engineering Technologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technologist Prevailing Wage
Engineering Technologist positions fall under SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Manufacturing Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Manufacturing Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Manufacturing Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Engineering Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Mechanical Designer Prevailing Wage
Mechanical Designer Prevailing Wage
Mechanical Designer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech) Prevailing Wage
Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech) Prevailing Wage
Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech) positions fall under SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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.
Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Process Technician Prevailing Wage
Process Technician Prevailing Wage
Process Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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 and Development Technician (R and D Tech) Prevailing Wage
Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech) Prevailing Wage
Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech) positions fall under SOC 17-3027.00 (Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians). 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 Engineering Laboratory Technician positions?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish wage floors for each occupation in each metropolitan area. For SOC 17-3027, four wage levels are calculated from that regional survey data. Employers filing a Labor Condition Application must offer at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location, as determined through the OFLC Wage Search tool.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity of work. Level 1 covers entry-level technicians under close supervision. Level 2 is for qualified workers with independent task handling, and it is the most commonly filed level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced technicians with limited supervision and specialized skills. Level 4 reflects fully competent senior practitioners. Your offer letter and the employer's LCA should both state the level; if they conflict, ask the employer to reconcile them before you accept.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Engineering Lab Technician role vary so much from city to city?
DOL conducts regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys that capture local labor market conditions, so wages reflect what employers in each metro actually pay. A dense concentration of petrochemical or aerospace employers in a market drives up the regional average, pushing the floor higher. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, not a corporate headquarters, so the applicable wage is the one for wherever the technician physically works.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored Engineering Technical Analyst position falls below the prevailing wage?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage is below the prevailing wage for the stated level and worksite. USCIS will also deny an H-1B or other sponsored petition if the underlying LCA is deficient. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor, refile at a lower wage level if that accurately reflects the role, or the sponsorship cannot proceed. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the filing compliant.
How can I verify the prevailing wage for an Engineering Laboratory Technician role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 17-3027 by metropolitan area. Enter the occupation code and the metro that matches your worksite to see the current L1 through L4 wage floors. You can also cross-reference Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage data for that metro. For finding employers who have actively sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters visa-sponsorship job listings by role and location so you can identify companies with a real filing history.
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