Prevailing Wage for Microbiologists
Prevailing wage floors for Microbiologists are set by DOL under SOC 19-1022, covering roles ranging from Bacteriologist to Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) and Public Health Microbiologist. DOL assigns four experience-based levels to each occupation, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city, making location a key variable for any sponsored position.
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Entry-level microbiologists with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates performing routine laboratory tasks under close supervision. Employers filing at Level 1 generally cite limited independent judgment and a narrow scope of assigned duties aligned with DOL's entry definition.
Qualified microbiologists with practical experience performing standard methods independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Microbiologists, reflecting roles that require applied knowledge but not senior-level oversight, research leadership, or specialized subspecialty expertise.
Experienced microbiologists who apply advanced techniques, exercise significant independent judgment, and may guide junior staff or manage projects. Employers filing at Level 3 typically document subspecialty expertise, publication records, or complex regulatory responsibilities in the LCA.
Fully competent senior or principal microbiologists with authoritative expertise, setting methodological standards or leading research programs. Level 4 filings generally accompany titles such as Principal Scientist or Senior Research Microbiologist with demonstrated program-level accountability.
Prevailing Wage for Microbiologists 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 Microbiologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing under adjacent SOC codes
Roles titled Medical Technologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist are sometimes filed under SOC 29-2011 instead of 19-1022, which carries a different wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC your employer used on the LCA before accepting.
Account for grant-funded salary caps in academic settings
Many microbiology positions at universities and research institutes are funded by NIH or CDC grants that cap salary. Grant-funded salaries must still meet the prevailing wage floor; a funding cap below the L2 wage creates a compliance problem the employer must resolve before certifying the LCA.
Factor in the San Francisco to Orlando wage spread
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies by more than double between the lowest and highest metro areas. If you receive an offer in a lower-wage market, compare the offered salary against the local floor, not the national median, before evaluating the offer.
Search Migrate Mate for employers who have sponsored Microbiologists
Migrate Mate lists visa-sponsored microbiology roles and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts, so you can see which biotech firms, hospitals, and public health agencies have actually filed H-1B or green card petitions for this occupation before.
Jobs for Microbiologists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for MicrobiologistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1022.00 alongside Microbiologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bacteriologist Prevailing Wage
Bacteriologist Prevailing Wage
Bacteriologist positions fall under SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) Prevailing Wage
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Microbiologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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 Technologist Prevailing Wage
Medical Technologist Prevailing Wage
Medical Technologist positions fall under SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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.
Microbiological Analyst Prevailing Wage
Microbiological Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Microbiological Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Public Health Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
Public Health Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
Public Health Microbiologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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.
Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist) Prevailing Wage
Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist) Prevailing Wage
Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist) positions fall under SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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.
Research Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
Research Microbiologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Microbiologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Specialist Prevailing Wage
Research Specialist Prevailing Wage
Research Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1022.00 (Microbiologists). 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 Microbiologists?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 19-1022, OFLC calculates four wage levels from that regional survey data. Employers must select the level that matches the actual job duties and experience required, then certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds that floor.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 applies to entry positions with close supervision; Level 2 to qualified professionals working independently on standard tasks; Level 3 to experienced practitioners with advanced judgment or subspecialty skills; Level 4 to senior or principal scientists with program-level authority. The level is determined by the actual job duties described in the LCA, not solely by your title or years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same microbiology role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional BLS surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. The worksite address on the LCA determines which regional wage applies, meaning an employer must use the floor for the city where you will actually work, not their headquarters. Dense biotech and research markets like San Francisco command significantly higher floors than smaller metros, because local salary competition is reflected directly in the survey data.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored microbiology position?
An offered wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor prevents DOL from certifying the LCA. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. If an underpayment is discovered after approval, the employer faces back-wage liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship filings. Candidates should verify the wage level on the certified LCA matches the duties described in their offer before the petition is filed.
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 19-1022 wages by metropolitan area. Select the relevant metro and experience level to see the current floor. You can also cross-reference the certified LCA your employer filed, which must list the wage level and offered wage. For finding employers who have historically sponsored this role, Migrate Mate filters sponsored microbiology listings by location and visa type.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Microbiologists right now.
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