Prevailing Wage for Media and Communication Workers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Media and Communication Workers, All Other (SOC 27-3099) is set by the DOL and determines the minimum salary a U.S. employer must offer to sponsor a visa or green card. DOL publishes four experience-based levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level positions where the worker performs routine tasks under close supervision, typically with limited professional experience in media or communication. Employers filing at this level generally expect the candidate to be learning established methods on the job.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored media and communication workers. It applies to qualified professionals who work independently on assignments, apply standard industry practices, and bring a solid foundation of relevant professional experience to the role.
Level 3 applies to experienced workers who handle complex assignments, exercise independent judgment, and may provide guidance to junior staff. These professionals typically bring several years of demonstrated expertise across media production, communications strategy, or related specializations.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior professionals who function as subject-matter authorities, lead projects or teams, and shape standards within the organization. Employers filing at this level are sponsoring workers whose scope of responsibility extends well beyond day-to-day execution.
Prevailing Wage for Media and Communication Workers, All Other 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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Watch for title aliasing in media filings
Roles like content strategist or digital communications specialist are sometimes filed under adjacent SOC codes rather than 27-3099, which can result in a prevailing wage determination that misses this occupation's floor. Confirm the SOC code on the certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Factor out bonuses before comparing to the floor
Signing bonuses and performance incentives are excluded from DOL prevailing wage calculations for sponsored positions. Media and communication roles at agencies and studios often carry variable bonuses; your base salary alone must clear the prevailing wage for your level and worksite city.
Prioritize California metros if negotiating compensation
San Jose and San Francisco set Level 2 and Level 3 floors substantially above the national median for this occupation. If you have location flexibility, those metros give you stronger wage protection and a higher negotiating baseline than lower-cost regions like Salt Lake City or Memphis.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for this occupation
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical visa sponsorship counts for media and communication roles, so you can focus on companies that have actually filed for workers in this SOC rather than spending time on employers with no sponsorship track record.
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Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Media and Communication Workers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 27-3099, DOL calculates four wage levels by applying percentage thresholds to the regional median wage. Employers sponsoring a worker in this occupation must obtain a prevailing wage determination through OFLC and certify an LCA confirming the offered wage meets or exceeds that floor.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 reflects entry-level work under supervision; Level 2 covers qualified independent contributors; Level 3 applies to experienced professionals exercising judgment and occasionally mentoring others; Level 4 is reserved for senior or lead-level experts. Your level is determined by the job duties described in the LCA, not your title alone. Review the employer's LCA filing on the OFLC public disclosure data to confirm which level was used for your position.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same media and communication role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution. The worksite address on the certified LCA controls which regional figure applies, not the employer's headquarters. Dense employer markets like San Francisco and San Jose show high concentrations of media and tech companies, pushing regional medians well above areas like Raleigh or Salt Lake City where the occupation is less concentrated.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA cannot be certified by DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level for the worksite location. For H-1B and similar visa categories, USCIS will not approve the petition without a certified LCA. If a discrepancy surfaces after certification, DOL Wage and Hour Division can investigate and require back pay. Candidates should confirm the LCA wage level matches the duties described in the offer before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Media and Communication Workers, All Other in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL prevailing wage for SOC 27-3099 in any metropolitan area. Select the occupation code, enter the worksite location, and the tool returns all four wage levels. You can also cross-reference Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment data for context. Migrate Mate filters by role and location and shows which employers have sponsored workers in this occupation, helping you target companies already familiar with the filing process.
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