Prevailing Wage for Motion Picture Projectionists
Prevailing wage for Motion Picture Projectionists, the DOL occupation covering Cinema Projectionists, Booth Operators, and Digital Projectionists, is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels. The floor varies significantly by city, so where a sponsored position is located matters as much as the level filed.
See all jobs for Motion Picture ProjectionistsLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level projectionists with limited experience, typically performing routine setup and operation tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level are building foundational skills in projection equipment and sound reproduction without independent responsibility for complex troubleshooting.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Motion Picture Projectionists. It covers qualified workers who operate projection and sound systems with moderate independence, handle routine maintenance, and apply established procedures without requiring constant oversight from senior staff.
Level 3 applies to experienced projectionists who troubleshoot complex equipment issues, may oversee booth operations across multiple screens, and work with minimal supervision. These workers typically bring several years of hands-on experience with both digital and legacy projection systems.
Level 4 is for fully competent senior projectionists or lead technicians with comprehensive expertise across digital and film systems, responsibility for training others, and a track record of independent judgment in high-demand or premium exhibition environments.
Prevailing Wage for Motion Picture Projectionists 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
See all jobs for Motion Picture Projectionists
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Motion Picture Projectionists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Motion Picture Projectionists
Verify whether your title matches SOC 39-3021
Titles like Projection Technician or Film Specialist sometimes get filed under audiovisual or media equipment SOC codes, missing the Motion Picture Projectionists prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm your offer letter title maps to SOC 39-3021 before accepting a sponsored role.
Watch the wage gap between Los Angeles and Chicago
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies sharply across the three main hiring metros. Los Angeles rates at every level significantly exceed Chicago and New York figures, so comparing offers across cities without checking city-specific DOL data can lead to accepting a below-floor salary.
Check how bonus pay counts toward your prevailing wage
DOL prevailing wage compliance for projectionists is measured against base salary only. Signing bonuses, performance bonuses, and premium-screening stipends do not count toward meeting the floor, so an offer that appears competitive may still fall short on the base wage line.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored projectionists
Cinema and exhibition employers rarely advertise sponsorship history publicly. Migrate Mate shows which companies have sponsored Motion Picture Projectionists before, so you can prioritize outreach to employers with a verified track record in this specific occupation.
Jobs for Motion Picture Projectionists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Motion Picture ProjectionistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-3021.00 alongside Motion Picture Projectionists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Booth Operator Prevailing Wage
Booth Operator Prevailing Wage
Booth Operator positions fall under SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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.
Cinema Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Cinema Projectionist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cinema Projectionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Digital Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Digital Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Digital Projectionist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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.
Film Specialist Prevailing Wage
Film Specialist Prevailing Wage
Film Specialist positions fall under SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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.
Movie Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Movie Projectionist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Movie Projectionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Projection Technician Prevailing Wage
Projection Technician Prevailing Wage
Projection Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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.
Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Projectionist Prevailing Wage
Projectionist positions fall under SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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.
Projector Booth Operator Prevailing Wage
Projector Booth Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Projector Booth Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Technical Projection Guide Prevailing Wage
Technical Projection Guide Prevailing Wage
Technical Projection Guide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-3021.00 (Motion Picture Projectionists). 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 Motion Picture Projectionists?
DOL sets the prevailing wage for Motion Picture Projectionists using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC publishes these figures annually as the Occupational Employment Statistics prevailing wage. The result is four wage levels tied to experience, each reflecting what employers in a given area actually pay workers in SOC 39-3021.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with routine independence, Level 3 is experienced with complex troubleshooting responsibility, and Level 4 is fully competent or senior. The employer selects the level when filing the LCA based on the duties and supervision described in the job. Review the LCA to confirm the level matches your actual scope of work, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation differ so much from city to city?
OFLC bases wages on regional Occupational Employment Statistics surveys, which capture what employers in each metro area actually pay. Labor costs, union density, and local cost of living vary across markets. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the prevailing wage is tied to where you work, not where the employer is headquartered. Los Angeles rates reflect the concentration of major studio exhibition contracts and union scale agreements.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. Without a certified LCA, the H-1B or E-3 petition cannot proceed. If a certified LCA is later found to misrepresent the offered wage, USCIS can deny or revoke the petition. The employer bears the compliance obligation, but the candidate should verify the offer independently.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Motion Picture Projectionists role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 39-3021 by state and metro area. Select the correct worksite metropolitan area, choose the wage level that matches the duties in your offer, and confirm your offered salary meets or exceeds that figure. Migrate Mate also lists sponsored roles filtered by occupation and location, letting you compare employer salary ranges against the DOL floor for each market.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Motion Picture Projectionists right now.
Search Jobs for Motion Picture Projectionists