Prevailing Wage for Natural Sciences Managers
Natural Sciences Managers covered under SOC 11-9121 are subject to DOL prevailing wage requirements whenever an employer sponsors an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. Whether your offer is for a Lab Manager, Analytical Services Manager, or Chemical Engineer Supervisor role, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level managers who apply basic supervisory knowledge under close direction, typically with limited independent authority over research programs. DOL expects minimal specialized management experience and a recently completed advanced degree in a natural science or related field.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Natural Sciences Managers. It applies to professionals with moderate experience who exercise independent judgment within established frameworks, directing small to mid-sized scientific teams without requiring constant senior oversight.
Level 3 applies to experienced managers who design and lead complex research programs, mentor staff, and contribute to organizational strategy. DOL expects a track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and demonstrated subject-matter depth in a specific scientific domain.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior managers with broad authority, including those overseeing multiple departments or directing enterprise-wide scientific strategy. These professionals typically hold advanced degrees, command specialist expertise, and set research direction with minimal supervisory constraint.
Prevailing Wage for Natural Sciences Managers 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 Natural Sciences Managers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing in LCA filings
Roles posted as Environmental Program Manager or Research Administrator sometimes get filed under a broader management SOC rather than 11-9121, producing a lower prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 11-9121 before signing an offer.
Verify your worksite city on the LCA
The wage gap between high-concentration science hubs like San Francisco and lower-paying metros like Erie, PA is substantial for this occupation. The worksite address on the LCA, not your employer's headquarters, determines which DOL wage floor applies.
Exclude bonuses and equity when checking compliance
DOL prevailing wage for Natural Sciences Managers must be met through base salary alone. Signing bonuses, research performance awards, and equity grants do not count toward the floor, even when they are a significant part of total compensation packages at biotech and FAANG employers.
Find sponsors with Natural Sciences Managers history on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored Natural Sciences Managers and related roles before, so you can focus applications on companies with a documented track record rather than those listing sponsorship as a possibility.
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Find Jobs for Natural Sciences ManagersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 11-9121.00 alongside Natural Sciences Managers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Analytical Services Manager Prevailing Wage
Analytical Services Manager Prevailing Wage
Analytical Services Manager positions fall under SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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.
Chemical Engineer Supervisor Prevailing Wage
Chemical Engineer Supervisor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chemical Engineer Supervisor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Chemical Process Exploration Manager Prevailing Wage
Chemical Process Exploration Manager Prevailing Wage
Chemical Process Exploration Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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.
Environmental Program Manager Prevailing Wage
Environmental Program Manager Prevailing Wage
Environmental Program Manager positions fall under SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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.
Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager) Prevailing Wage
Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Lab Manager (Laboratory Manager) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Administrator Prevailing Wage
Research Administrator Prevailing Wage
Research Administrator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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.
Research and Development Director (R and D Director) Prevailing Wage
Research and Development Director (R and D Director) Prevailing Wage
Research and Development Director (R and D Director) positions fall under SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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.
Research Manager Prevailing Wage
Research Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Water Team Leader Prevailing Wage
Water Team Leader Prevailing Wage
Water Team Leader is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 11-9121.00 (Natural Sciences Managers). 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 determine the prevailing wage for Natural Sciences Managers?
DOL bases prevailing wages on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 11-9121, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that regional survey data. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual duties and required experience, and they certify this on the Labor Condition Application filed before petitioning USCIS.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with moderate independent judgment, and it is the most common level filed for Natural Sciences Managers. Level 3 covers experienced professionals directing complex programs, while Level 4 applies to senior managers with broad organizational authority. Review the job duties, reporting structure, and required years of experience in your offer letter, then compare those factors against DOL's level definitions to identify the correct floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Natural Sciences Managers role vary so much between cities?
OFLC calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions. Dense science and technology markets like San Francisco and Boston have high concentrations of biotech, pharmaceutical, and research employers competing for qualified managers, which pushes surveyed wages higher. The LCA rule requires employers to use the wage floor for the actual worksite location, so a position located in a lower-cost metro carries a substantially lower floor than the same title at a Bay Area employer.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application at a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage floor. If the offered salary falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA and the H-1B or E-3 petition cannot proceed. For PERM green card cases, DOL may audit or deny the application. The employer must increase the base salary to at least the prevailing wage for the correct SOC and wage level before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Natural Sciences Managers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 11-9121 for the metropolitan area that matches your worksite address. Select the wage year that corresponds to when the LCA will be filed, choose the correct level based on your role's duties, and confirm the figure with your employer before the LCA is submitted. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored Natural Sciences Managers positions historically, helping you identify which companies are actively filing in specific metro areas.
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