Prevailing Wage for Medical Assistants
Prevailing wage for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels, from entry-level Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) positions through senior Clinical Medical Assistant and Chiropractor Assistant roles. The floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city, so a sponsored offer in one metro may clear the threshold that a comparable role elsewhere does not.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level medical assistants with limited experience, typically new graduates or those working under close supervision performing routine clinical and administrative tasks with minimal independent judgment. Most employers file at this level for candidates just entering the field.
Level 2 covers qualified medical assistants with moderate experience who handle a broader range of clinical duties with only general supervision. This is the most common filing level for medical assistants, reflecting the occupation's typical mid-career hiring profile.
Level 3 applies to experienced practitioners who exercise independent judgment, handle complex patient interactions, and may train junior staff. Employers filing at this level typically seek candidates with several years of demonstrated clinical experience in a specific specialty setting.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent medical assistants in senior or lead roles, such as those overseeing clinical operations, mentoring teams, or functioning as a primary clinical resource within a busy practice. These filings are uncommon and require strong documented experience.
Prevailing Wage for Medical Assistants 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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Confirm your specialty setting affects your level
Medical assistants in ophthalmology, chiropractic, or surgical settings often qualify for Level 3 filings due to specialized procedural skills. If your offer reflects a general-practice L2 wage for a specialty role, the level designation may not match your actual scope.
Watch for bonus exclusions in California clinics
Top-paying metros for this occupation are concentrated in California. Employers there sometimes structure comp with signing bonuses that cannot count toward the prevailing wage floor under DOL rules, leaving the base salary short of the required threshold.
Check sponsor history for clinic chains versus hospitals
Large hospital systems and multi-location clinic chains sponsor medical assistants far more frequently than independent practices. Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts, so you can quickly see which healthcare organizations have actually filed for this role before.
Flag title mismatches that shift the SOC
Job postings using titles like Health Assistant or Doctor's Assistant sometimes get filed under a different SOC, such as home health aides or nursing assistants, missing the SOC 31-9092 floor entirely. Verify the LCA lists SOC 31-9092 before accepting any sponsored offer.
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Find Jobs for Medical AssistantsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 31-9092.00 alongside Medical Assistants, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Prevailing Wage
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Prevailing Wage
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) positions fall under SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Chiropractor Assistant Prevailing Wage
Chiropractor Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chiropractor Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Medical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Clinical Medical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Clinical Medical Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Doctor's Assistant Prevailing Wage
Doctor's Assistant Prevailing Wage
Doctor's Assistant positions fall under SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Health Assistant Prevailing Wage
Health Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Health Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ophthalmic Assistant Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmic Assistant Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmic Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Ophthalmological Assistant Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmological Assistant Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmological Assistant positions fall under SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Optometric Assistant Prevailing Wage
Optometric Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Optometric Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Outpatient Surgery Assistant Prevailing Wage
Outpatient Surgery Assistant Prevailing Wage
Outpatient Surgery Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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.
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Prevailing Wage
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Prevailing Wage
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) positions fall under SOC 31-9092.00 (Medical Assistants). 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 the DOL set the prevailing wage for medical assistants?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics through employer surveys in each metro area. For SOC 31-9092, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from the regional wage distribution. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience before an LCA can be certified.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines the levels by experience and supervision: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with general oversight, Level 3 is experienced with independent judgment, and Level 4 is fully competent in a lead or senior capacity. Your level is determined by the duties in the actual job offer, not the job title alone. Review the position description against these criteria and confirm which level your employer intends to file on the LCA.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
OFLC bases each metro's wage on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the floor. California metros consistently post the highest figures for medical assistants because of dense employer competition and state-level wage floors. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, not the employer's headquarters, so a multi-location employer must use the wage for the city where you will actually work.
What happens if my job offer is 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 for the worksite location and experience level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other employment-based petition. If you discover a shortfall before filing, you can ask the employer to raise the base salary or reclassify the position to the correct level. Once a petition is filed with an underpaying offer, denial is likely.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for medical assistants in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 31-9092 for any metro area. Enter the occupation code and select the worksite state and metro to see all four level wages. Cross-reference against your written offer letter to confirm the base salary meets or exceeds the applicable level. You can also search Migrate Mate to see which employers have sponsored medical assistants in specific metros, giving you a real-world benchmark for what sponsored offers in that area typically look like.
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