Prevailing Wage for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Prevailing wage for Cell Technician roles in the U.S. is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your job offer is titled CNC Machine Setter, Machine Operator, or Injection Molding Technician, the same SOC 51-4081 floor applies. DOL defines four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level Cell Technicians with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years operating cutting or forming equipment. Workers at this level follow close supervision, handle routine tasks on a single machine type, and are still building proficiency across setups.
Qualified Cell Technicians with two or more years of experience handling multiple machine types with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting standard production floor roles where workers set up and operate equipment independently.
Experienced Cell Technicians who troubleshoot complex machine faults, train junior operators, and manage multi-machine cells with minimal oversight. Workers at this level typically hold specialized CNC programming or process-improvement experience that sets them above the standard operator tier.
Fully competent Cell Technicians in senior, lead, or team-lead roles overseeing production cells, coordinating with engineering on tooling changes, and holding accountability for output quality and throughput. Often functions as a subject-matter resource for the broader shop floor team.
Prevailing Wage for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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 Cell Technician and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches on LCA filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a related machinist or assembler SOC instead of 51-4081, which can set a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm that your offer letter job title maps to the SOC your employer used on the certified LCA before accepting.
Compare wages across manufacturing-dense metros
Cell Technician wages vary sharply by region. Markets like Dallas and Seattle pay well above the national median at every level, while markets such as Augusta and Killeen sit near the bottom. Location matters as much as experience tier when evaluating an offer.
Verify shift differentials count toward the wage floor
Many Cell Technician offers include shift-differential pay or production bonuses. DOL counts only regular, recurring cash wages toward the prevailing wage floor. Signing bonuses and one-time incentives do not satisfy the requirement, so confirm your base wage alone clears the floor.
Find employers sponsoring Cell Technicians on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which manufacturers have a verified history of sponsoring CNC Machine Setter and Machine Operator roles. Filtering by visa type and location lets you target companies that have actually filed for this occupation rather than those new to sponsorship.
Jobs for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Cell TechnicianPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4081.00 alongside Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cell Technician Prevailing Wage
Cell Technician Prevailing Wage
Cell Technician positions fall under SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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 Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter) Prevailing Wage
CNC Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a CNC Machine Setter (Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Setter) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabrication Set-Up Person Prevailing Wage
Fabrication Set-Up Person Prevailing Wage
Fabrication Set-Up Person is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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.
Injection Molding Technician Prevailing Wage
Injection Molding Technician Prevailing Wage
Injection Molding Technician positions fall under SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Machine Technician Prevailing Wage
Machine Technician Prevailing Wage
Machine Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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.
Mold Setter Prevailing Wage
Mold Setter Prevailing Wage
Mold Setter positions fall under SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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.
Production Operator Prevailing Wage
Production Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Production Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Shear Operator Prevailing Wage
Shear Operator Prevailing Wage
Shear Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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.
Tooling Set-Up Person Prevailing Wage
Tooling Set-Up Person Prevailing Wage
Tooling Set-Up Person positions fall under SOC 51-4081.00 (Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, 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 Cell Technician roles?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for each SOC code. For Cell Technicians under SOC 51-4081, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes level-specific floors that reflect actual wages paid to workers in the same occupation and geographic area. Employers must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
OFLC assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 reflects a qualified worker operating independently, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced workers with specialized skills or training responsibilities. Level 4 covers lead or senior-scope roles. Review your actual duties against those definitions, not just your job title, to identify the correct level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Cell Technician role differ so much city to city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a national average. Employers must use the wage for the worksite listed on the LCA, not their headquarters city. Manufacturing-concentrated metro areas with tight labor supply, such as Seattle or St. Louis, produce higher survey wages than smaller or lower-cost markets, creating significant geographic variation even within the same SOC.
What happens if a sponsored job offer is below the prevailing wage floor?
An LCA certified at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage is a compliance violation. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence or deny the H-1B petition if the offered wage does not meet the floor. Employers found to have underpaid sponsored workers can face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship. If your offer is below the floor, the employer must increase the offered wage before the LCA can be properly certified.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Cell Technician role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-4081 wages by metropolitan area. Select the correct geographic area matching your worksite and confirm the wage level that reflects your duties. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupational context. For finding employers who have sponsored Injection Molding Technician or CNC Machine Setter positions historically, Migrate Mate lets you filter by visa type and location to see companies with active sponsorship records for this occupation.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic right now.
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