Prevailing Wage for Medical Transcriptionists
Prevailing wage for Medical Transcriptionists is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across more than 160 metro areas. Whether you're filing as a Clinical Medical Transcriptionist, a Documentation Specialist, or a Medical Language Specialist, DOL assigns one of four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level transcriptionists with limited experience, typically performing routine transcription tasks under close supervision. Candidates with less than one to two years of hands-on medical transcription work and no specialized clinical documentation training generally fall here.
Level 2 covers qualified transcriptionists who work independently on standard dictation with only occasional supervision. This is the most common filing level for Medical Transcriptionists, reflecting the typical candidate who brings a few years of clinical documentation experience and familiarity with specialty terminology.
Level 3 applies to experienced transcriptionists who handle complex multi-specialty dictation, mentor junior staff, or take on quality-review responsibilities. Candidates with five or more years in the role and demonstrated proficiency across surgical, pathology, or radiology report types typically land here.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior professionals in lead or supervisory documentation roles, setting standards for transcription accuracy and workflow. Candidates managing documentation teams, developing style guides, or overseeing EHR integration projects in large health systems are typically filed at this level.
Prevailing Wage for Medical Transcriptionists 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 Medical Transcriptionists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches your specialty
Pathology Transcriptionists and radiology-focused Medical Scribes are often filed at Level 2 or Level 3 because specialty dictation complexity justifies it. If your offer letter specifies multi-specialty or surgical transcription, verify the level reflects that scope before signing.
Watch for remote-work worksite classification errors
Medical transcription is frequently performed remotely, but DOL requires the LCA to list your actual worksite, not the employer's headquarters. A California-based employer filing at a Texas wage floor when you work in San Jose significantly underpays the prevailing wage floor for your location.
Exclude signing bonuses when checking wage compliance
Some Documentation Specialist offers include a one-time signing bonus structured to offset a below-floor base salary. DOL counts only the regular rate of pay toward prevailing wage compliance; signing bonuses and productivity bonuses that are not guaranteed do not count toward the floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored transcriptionists
Medical transcription sponsorship is concentrated among a small set of health system employers. Migrate Mate shows which companies have actual H-1B or green card sponsorship history for this occupation, so you can focus your search on employers already familiar with the process.
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Find Jobs for Medical TranscriptionistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 31-9094.00 alongside Medical Transcriptionists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Clinical Medical Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Medical Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Medical Transcriptionist positions fall under SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Documentation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Documentation Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Documentation Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Medical Language Specialist Prevailing Wage
Medical Language Specialist Prevailing Wage
Medical Language Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Medical Scribe Prevailing Wage
Medical Scribe Prevailing Wage
Medical Scribe positions fall under SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Medical Transcriber Prevailing Wage
Medical Transcriber Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Transcriber for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pathology Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Pathology Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Pathology Transcriptionist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Radiology Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Radiology Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Radiology Transcriptionist positions fall under SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Scribe Prevailing Wage
Scribe Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Scribe for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Transcriptionist Prevailing Wage
Transcriptionist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-9094.00 (Medical Transcriptionists). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Medical Transcriptionists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages for Medical Transcriptionists under SOC code 31-9094. OFLC translates that survey data into four wage levels based on experience and job complexity. Employers filing an LCA must offer at least the level that matches the sponsored position's actual duties and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is independent qualified work and covers most standard Medical Transcriptionist roles; Level 3 reflects experienced professionals handling complex dictation or quality review; Level 4 covers senior or lead documentation specialists. Review your job description against DOL's level definitions and compare the duties listed on the LCA to confirm the employer filed at the right level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Medical Transcriptionist role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the variation. A metro with dense health system employers and high living costs produces higher survey averages than a lower-cost region. DOL rules require the LCA to list the actual worksite location, meaning the prevailing wage that applies is the one for the city where you physically perform the work, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA certified below the correct prevailing wage exposes the employer to back-pay liability and DOL debarment, and USCIS may issue a request for evidence or deny the H-1B petition if the offered wage does not meet the floor. The employer must pay at least the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to comparable workers at that worksite. If you suspect the offer is below the floor, use the OFLC Wage Search to check the applicable level for your location.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Medical Transcriptionists in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC code 31-9094 and select the metropolitan area where you will work. The tool returns all four wage levels for that location. Cross-reference the level on any LCA disclosure the employer provides. For finding employers with a track record of sponsoring this role, Migrate Mate lets you filter by occupation and see historical sponsorship counts by company, which helps you prioritize outreach to employers already set up to file.
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