Prevailing Wage for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
The prevailing wage for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4061) sets the minimum an employer must pay to sponsor a CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist), CNC Programmer (Computer Numerical Control Programmer), or similar precision-machining professional on an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL sets four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level model makers with limited experience performing routine tasks under close supervision, typically following established procedures on standard machines. Usually fewer than two years in the occupation with no independent project responsibility.
Qualified model makers with working experience across common machining setups, requiring only general supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, reflecting journeyman-level CNC and manual machining proficiency.
Experienced model makers who handle complex or non-standard workpieces, often mentoring junior staff and adapting programs for unusual tolerances. Typically several years of progressive responsibility across multiple machine types and materials.
Fully competent model makers in senior or lead roles, setting shop-floor standards, overseeing multi-axis CNC programming, and driving process improvements. Deep cross-functional expertise and recognized technical authority within the organization.
Prevailing Wage for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic 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 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Watch title aliasing between SOC codes
Job titles like CNC Machinist or Model Builder sometimes get filed under production-worker SOCs rather than SOC 51-4061, landing below the Model Makers, Metal and Plastic prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists the correct SOC before signing an offer.
Factor in California metro premiums
San Francisco and Los Angeles carry substantially higher prevailing wages than the national median for this occupation. If an employer offers a flat national rate for a Bay Area worksite, the offer may fall short of the L2 floor before negotiations even start.
Find employers with actual machining sponsorship history
Migrate Mate filters visa-sponsorship job listings by role and shows which employers have historically sponsored Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, so you can focus on shops with a real track record rather than those new to sponsorship.
Recognize low-wage metro risk before relocating
Providence and Grand Rapids post prevailing wages well below the national median for this occupation. If your offer is tied to a facility in one of these metros, budget planning should account for a meaningfully lower wage floor than major manufacturing hubs.
Jobs for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4061.00 alongside Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist) positions fall under SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
CNC Programmer (Computer Numerical Control Programmer) Prevailing Wage
CNC Programmer (Computer Numerical Control Programmer) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a CNC Programmer (Computer Numerical Control Programmer) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Metal Model Maker Prevailing Wage
Metal Model Maker Prevailing Wage
Metal Model Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
Model Builder Prevailing Wage
Model Builder Prevailing Wage
Model Builder positions fall under SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
Model Maker Prevailing Wage
Model Maker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Model Maker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Model Maker Machinist Prevailing Wage
Model Maker Machinist Prevailing Wage
Model Maker Machinist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
Model Technician (Model Tech) Prevailing Wage
Model Technician (Model Tech) Prevailing Wage
Model Technician (Model Tech) positions fall under SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
Molding Technician (Molding Tech) Prevailing Wage
Molding Technician (Molding Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Molding Technician (Molding Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pattern Finisher Prevailing Wage
Pattern Finisher Prevailing Wage
Pattern Finisher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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.
Prototype Special Build Prevailing Wage
Prototype Special Build Prevailing Wage
Prototype Special Build positions fall under SOC 51-4061.00 (Model Makers, Metal and Plastic). 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 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic?
DOL derives prevailing wages from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Model Makers, Metal and Plastic, OFLC maps wage data to SOC 51-4061, then assigns four levels based on regional OES data. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervisory scope: Level 1 is entry with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with general supervision, Level 3 is experienced with independent judgment, and Level 4 is fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. Your level should match your actual job duties and autonomy on the LCA. If your offer letter describes lead machinist responsibilities, filing at Level 1 or 2 may draw USCIS scrutiny.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional OES survey data to set wages, so each metro reflects the local supply of skilled machinists and regional cost structures. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, not the employer's headquarters, so a San Francisco-based project pays the San Francisco floor even if the parent company is headquartered elsewhere. Dense manufacturing markets like Detroit and Southern California drive higher medians than smaller industrial metros.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the relevant level and worksite. USCIS will deny the H-1B or E-3 petition if the underlying LCA is deficient. For green card PERM cases, DOL may reject the application outright. The employer must increase the offered salary to meet the floor before filing, or reclassify the role if duties genuinely support a lower level.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website, select SOC 51-4061, and enter the worksite metro area to retrieve the current four-level wages. Cross-check against the employer's LCA, which is a public document filed with OFLC. For jobs with confirmed sponsorship histories, Migrate Mate lists model maker and CNC machinist roles by employer so you can see which companies have actively sponsored the occupation before.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic right now.
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