Prevailing Wage for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
The prevailing wage for an English Teacher in U.S. public and private schools is set by DOL and applies to H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorships. Whether you're filing as a Middle School Teacher, a Language Arts Teacher, or a Math Teacher, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably from city to city.
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Entry-level filing for newly credentialed teachers with limited classroom experience, typically in their first one to two years of independent instruction. Level 1 applies when the position requires only a basic degree and standard state licensure with close supervision expected.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored middle school teaching positions. It covers qualified teachers with a few years of classroom experience who work independently, meet state certification requirements, and handle a full subject load without ongoing supervisory oversight.
Experienced teachers who lead curriculum development, mentor newer colleagues, or hold department responsibilities typically file at Level 3. This level reflects a track record of independent practice and specialized subject-matter depth beyond what standard certification alone demonstrates.
Fully competent teachers at the senior end of the scale, often lead educators, instructional coaches, or those with advanced credentials and demonstrated school-wide impact. Level 4 filings are uncommon in standard classroom roles but may apply to senior instructional positions.
Prevailing Wage for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 English Teacher and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your worksite school district before filing
The prevailing wage on an LCA must reflect the district where you will actually teach. California districts like those in Riverside and San Jose carry significantly higher wage floors than rural districts in Oklahoma or North Carolina, so filing at a national figure can understate your required salary.
Watch for stipend and signing bonus exclusions
School districts commonly offer one-time signing bonuses or classroom supply stipends that DOL excludes from the prevailing wage calculation. Only recurring, guaranteed salary counts toward meeting the wage floor, so confirm that your base contract salary alone clears the applicable level.
Understand why most sponsors file at Level 2
Districts sponsoring teachers typically avoid Level 1 filings because state certification requirements already imply independent practice. If an employer proposes Level 1 for a fully credentialed teacher with classroom experience, verify that the experience description on the LCA matches your actual background.
Find school districts with sponsorship history on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which school districts and charter networks have actually sponsored middle school teaching positions before, including historical sponsorship counts by visa type. Use that employer history to focus your search on districts already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for teachers.
Jobs for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for English TeacherPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-2022.00 alongside Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
English Teacher Prevailing Wage
English Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a English Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) Prevailing Wage
Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) positions fall under SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
Middle School Teacher Prevailing Wage
Middle School Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Middle School Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Music Teacher Prevailing Wage
Music Teacher Prevailing Wage
Music Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher) Prevailing Wage
PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher) positions fall under SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
Science Teacher Prevailing Wage
Science Teacher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Science Teacher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Social Studies Teacher Prevailing Wage
Social Studies Teacher Prevailing Wage
Social Studies Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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.
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education). 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 an English Teacher?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages for each occupation by geographic area. For English Teachers and other middle school instructors, the wage is tied to SOC code 25-2022 and reflects actual wages paid in the relevant metro or state area. OFLC publishes these figures annually, and employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level.
What do the four wage levels mean and which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines four levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified teachers working independently; Level 3 reflects experienced educators with expanded responsibilities; Level 4 is for senior or lead instructional roles. Your level is determined by the actual duties in your position description, not just your years of experience. Most sponsored teaching positions are filed at Level 2, but review your LCA carefully to confirm the level matches your role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same teaching role differ so much by city?
DOL sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects what employers actually pay in each metro area. A middle school teaching position in a high-cost California district sits in a market where salaries are structurally higher than in rural North Carolina or Oklahoma. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, and OFLC checks the wage against that specific area, not a national average. Choosing the wrong geographic area on the LCA is one of the more common filing errors.
What happens if a school district's offer is below the prevailing wage?
If the offered salary is below the DOL prevailing wage for the filed level and worksite location, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and the H-1B or E-3 petition cannot proceed. USCIS treats an uncertified LCA as a fatal defect. If a district offers a salary below the floor, the employer must either raise the offer to meet the wage requirement or refile at a lower wage level, provided the position description legitimately supports that level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific teaching location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 25-2022 in the specific metro area where the school is located. Enter the occupation code and select the relevant area to see all four wage levels. You can cross-reference BLS data for broader regional context. To identify which school districts have actively sponsored middle school teaching positions and at what visa types, Migrate Mate filters sponsorship history by employer, role, and location so you can see real filing patterns before you apply.
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