Prevailing Wage for Musicians and Singers
Prevailing wage for Musicians and Singers under SOC 27-2042 is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer covers work as a Chorister with a symphony, a Gospel Singer on a sponsored contract, or an Orchestra Musician at a regional venue, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level musicians with limited professional experience, typically performing under close supervision in defined ensembles or supporting roles. Employers filing at this level generally document recent graduates or performers new to sponsored positions with no independent repertoire responsibilities.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Musicians and Singers. It applies to qualified performers with demonstrated professional experience, independent performance capability, and the ability to fulfill principal or featured roles without close supervisory oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced musicians who exercise independent judgment, lead sections or ensembles, mentor junior performers, and take on principal-chair or featured-soloist responsibilities that require specialized technical proficiency and a documented performance record.
Level 4 covers fully competent musicians at the top of their professional range: principal soloists, conductors, or ensemble directors whose scope includes artistic direction, program development, and responsibilities that influence the organization's overall musical output.
Prevailing Wage for Musicians and Singers 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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Match your filing level to your role scope
Symphony orchestras and opera companies frequently file at Level 2 or Level 3 depending on whether the position is section musician or principal chair. Confirm which level your LCA specifies before accepting an offer, since title alone rarely signals the correct level.
Flag metro-to-metro wage gaps in performing arts markets
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies more sharply by city than most SOC codes. Naples and Minneapolis floors sit far above Birmingham or Provo floors. If your worksite city is listed on the LCA, that city's wage applies, not the national median.
Watch how touring and multi-venue gigs are classified
Musicians who perform at multiple venues under a single sponsored contract can face worksite classification issues. DOL requires the LCA to reflect the primary worksite. A touring schedule spread across cities may require amended filings if the primary worksite changes materially.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers sponsoring this role
Migrate Mate lists visa-sponsored positions and shows which employers have sponsored Musicians and Singers historically. Orchestras, entertainment companies, and hospitality groups with active sponsorship records are filterable by visa type and location, helping you target verified sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Musicians and SingersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-2042.00 alongside Musicians and Singers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Choir Member Prevailing Wage
Choir Member Prevailing Wage
Choir Member positions fall under SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Chorister Prevailing Wage
Chorister Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chorister for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Gospel Singer Prevailing Wage
Gospel Singer Prevailing Wage
Gospel Singer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Musician Prevailing Wage
Musician Prevailing Wage
Musician positions fall under SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Opera Singer Prevailing Wage
Opera Singer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Opera Singer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Orchestra Musician Prevailing Wage
Orchestra Musician Prevailing Wage
Orchestra Musician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Percussionist Prevailing Wage
Percussionist Prevailing Wage
Percussionist positions fall under SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Singer Prevailing Wage
Singer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Singer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Violinist Prevailing Wage
Violinist Prevailing Wage
Violinist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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.
Vocalist Prevailing Wage
Vocalist Prevailing Wage
Vocalist positions fall under SOC 27-2042.00 (Musicians and Singers). 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 Musicians and Singers?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 27-2042, OFLC converts survey percentiles into four wage levels. Level 1 uses the 17th percentile, Level 2 the 34th, Level 3 the 50th, and Level 4 the 67th. Employers must pay at least the level matching the position's actual duties and experience requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified performer working independently; Level 3 is an experienced musician with section-lead or featured responsibilities; Level 4 is a fully competent principal or artistic director. Your level is determined by the job duties on the Labor Condition Application, not your job title. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC to confirm the level assigned.
Why does the prevailing wage vary so much from city to city for the same role?
OFLC sets wages using regional OES surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage percentiles reflecting local employer concentrations and pay practices. The LCA worksite-on-filing rule means the wage floor that applies is the one for the city where you will actually perform, not the employer's headquarters city. Markets with dense performing arts institutions, like San Francisco or Minneapolis, produce higher survey medians than markets with fewer employers, like Birmingham or Provo.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition without a certified LCA. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary to meet the prevailing wage or request a lower wage level that accurately reflects the position's duties. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the violation acceptable.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. city for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up SOC 27-2042 by metropolitan area and wage level. Select the correct worksite area and compare the result against the salary in your offer letter. O*NET provides the full occupation profile and SOC code if you need to confirm the correct classification. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored Musicians and Singers in specific locations, so you can benchmark offers against active sponsors.
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