Prevailing Wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

The prevailing wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (SOC 49-3042) is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Equipment Mechanic positions through fully competent Field Service Technician roles. The floor varies significantly by worksite city, so a Construction Equipment Mechanic offer that clears the threshold in one metro may fall short in another.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$48K
$22.88/hr

Entry-level mechanics with limited experience, typically under two years in the field. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and well-defined, and the role involves basic diagnostic and repair assignments on mobile equipment under direct oversight.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$55K
$26.51/hr

Qualified mechanics with solid hands-on experience, generally two to four years. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines. Workers handle standard repair and overhaul tasks with moderate supervision and some independent judgment.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$63K
$30.12/hr

Experienced mechanics who work independently across a broad range of equipment types, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Typically five or more years in the trade. May mentor junior technicians and handle complex diagnostic work with minimal supervision.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$70K
$33.70/hr

Fully competent senior mechanics or lead field technicians with extensive experience and specialized expertise. Expected to resolve the most complex equipment failures, set technical standards, and may carry supervisory or training responsibilities across a crew or shop.

Prevailing Wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$24K/yr$68K/yr

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

1
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$67K$32.22/hr
2
San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro
$65K$31.49/hr
3
Fairbanks, AK
Fairbanks-College, AK metro
$65K$31.37/hr
4
Port St. Lucie, FL
Port St. Lucie, FL metro
$63K$30.08/hr
5
Barnstable Town, MA
Barnstable Town, MA metro
$60K$29.01/hr
6
Bridgeport, CT
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT metro
$60K$28.99/hr
7
Boston, MA
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro
$60K$28.87/hr
8
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro
$60K$28.85/hr
9
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$60K$28.83/hr
10
Honolulu, HI
Urban Honolulu, HI metro
$60K$28.81/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Verify your worksite city before accepting

For field mechanics and field service technicians, the LCA worksite must reflect where equipment is actually operated, not the employer's headquarters. A role based out of a Louisiana office but dispatched to California construction sites carries California prevailing wage obligations.

Watch for title aliasing between SOC codes

Some employers file Equipment Technician roles under general maintenance or industrial machinery SOC codes instead of 49-3042. If the LCA lists a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor changes and may not reflect the actual Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics wage for your location.

Account for overtime structure in your offer evaluation

Heavy equipment mechanics often receive overtime-heavy compensation packages in construction and mining. DOL prevailing wage is calculated on the base hourly rate only. Overtime, per diem, and hazard pay do not count toward satisfying the wage floor on your LCA.

Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history

Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines for H-1B or green card filings. Construction and mining firms with repeat sponsorship records are higher-probability targets than companies with no prior history in this trade.

Jobs for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-3042.00 alongside Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Construction Equipment Mechanic Prevailing Wage

Construction Equipment Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Equipment Mechanic Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Equipment Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Equipment Technician Prevailing Wage

Equipment Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Field Mechanic Prevailing Wage

Field Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Field Service Technician Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Field Service Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Field Technician Prevailing Wage

Field Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Heavy Equipment Mechanic Prevailing Wage

Heavy Equipment Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Heavy Equipment Technician Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Heavy Equipment Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Mechanic Prevailing Wage

Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic Prevailing Wage

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$48K
$22.88/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$55K
$26.51/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$63K
$30.12/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$70K
$33.70/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines?

DOL derives prevailing wages for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metropolitan area, BLS surveys employer-reported wages for SOC 49-3042 and DOL converts those survey results into four wage levels. Employers filing an LCA for H-1B or PERM sponsorship must pay at least the level that matches the offered position's experience requirements.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to my offer?

DOL assigns wage levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level mechanics under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified mechanics handling standard repairs with moderate independence. Level 3 covers experienced technicians working across complex systems. Level 4 applies to senior or lead mechanics with full autonomy. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC; it must state the wage level, and that level's floor must be met by your offered salary.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same mechanic role differ so much between cities?

DOL's prevailing wage is calculated from regional OES surveys, so it reflects actual employer-reported wages in each labor market. San Francisco and Seattle have dense union and infrastructure employer markets that bid up wages for field mechanics, while rural or lower-cost metros like Hammond, Louisiana show lower survey results. The LCA worksite rule means the relevant wage is where the equipment is physically operated, not where the company is headquartered, so a multi-state employer must meet the wage of each specific worksite metro.

What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

An employer cannot file a certified LCA with OFLC if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level. If an LCA is filed with an incorrect level or an understated wage and later audited, USCIS may issue a request for evidence or deny the petition. For PERM-based green card cases, DOL can reject or audit applications where the wage does not meet the prevailing wage determination for the occupation and location. This applies regardless of what both parties agree to privately.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website and enter SOC code 49-3042 along with the specific metropolitan area where the work will be performed. The tool returns all four wage levels for that location. You can also cross-reference the O*NET profile for this occupation to confirm the correct SOC code. Migrate Mate lists employers who have actively sponsored this role, which helps you identify companies already familiar with the prevailing wage requirements in your target city.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines right now.

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