Prevailing Wage for Nurse Practitioners
Prevailing wage for Nurse Practitioners is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, covering roles from Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) to ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) and Adult Nurse Practitioner. DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city, making location central to any H-1B, E-3, or green card sponsorship offer.
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Entry-level NPs with limited post-licensure experience, typically under two years in an advanced practice setting. Usually newer APRN graduates performing routine assessments under close supervision with a defined patient population and limited clinical autonomy.
Qualified NPs with two or more years of independent practice. This is the most common filing level for Nurse Practitioners, reflecting the profession's expectation of autonomous patient management across primary or specialty care settings.
Experienced NPs with a strong track record of independent practice, complex case management, or specialty focus such as acute care, oncology, or cardiology. May mentor junior staff and take on expanded clinical responsibilities beyond a standard patient panel.
Fully competent NPs in senior or lead clinical roles, including system-level practice oversight, program development, or advanced specialty practice. Employers filing at Level 4 typically expect demonstrated leadership, measurable patient outcomes, or regional clinical authority.
Prevailing Wage for Nurse Practitioners 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 Nurse Practitioners and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your worksite city on the LCA
NP wages vary more sharply by metro than most clinical roles. A San Jose hospital and a Johnson City rural health clinic may offer the same title but face wage floors that differ by tens of thousands of dollars. The LCA must list the actual worksite, not the employer's headquarters.
Watch how signing bonuses affect base wage compliance
Many NP offers include a signing bonus or loan-repayment incentive. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against recurring base salary only. A signing bonus cannot bridge a gap between the offered base and the required floor for your level and worksite city.
Check whether your title maps to the right SOC
APRN Specialist and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner titles sometimes get classified under Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) rather than Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171). An incorrect SOC lowers the prevailing wage floor on the LCA and can create compliance problems on an H-1B or green card petition.
Find employers who have sponsored NPs before
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B and green card sponsorship records for Nurse Practitioners, so you can focus your search on health systems, federally qualified health centers, and specialty groups with a real sponsorship track record rather than starting from scratch.
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Find Jobs for Nurse PractitionersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1171.00 alongside Nurse Practitioners, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) Prevailing Wage
ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) Prevailing Wage
ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) positions fall under SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
Adult Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Adult Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Adult Nurse Practitioner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Prevailing Wage
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Prevailing Wage
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist) Prevailing Wage
ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist) Prevailing Wage
ARNP Specialist (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Specialist) positions fall under SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Prevailing Wage
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Family Practice Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner positions fall under SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Prevailing Wage
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Nurse Practitioner (NP) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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.
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner Prevailing Wage
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner positions fall under SOC 29-1171.00 (Nurse Practitioners). 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 Nurse Practitioners?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, organized by SOC code 29-1171. The OFLC Wage Search database translates that survey data into four wage levels for each metropolitan area and non-metro region. Employers file a Labor Condition Application citing the applicable level and worksite, certifying the offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL floor.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels correspond to a practitioner's experience and autonomy. Level 1 covers entry-level NPs with limited post-licensure practice. Level 2 reflects qualified independent practice and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced NPs with specialty depth or supervisory duties. Level 4 applies to senior or program-lead roles. The employer determines the level based on the actual job duties, not just the years on your resume.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same NP role vary so much by city?
DOL conducts regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys that capture local labor market conditions. Dense healthcare markets like San Francisco and San Jose carry significantly higher wage floors than rural Tennessee metros because local employer competition and cost of living drive up survey wages. Immigration rules require the LCA to list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor is tied to where you will physically practice, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or employment-based green card petition where the offered wage falls below the certified LCA wage. OFLC will not certify an LCA unless the employer attests the wage meets the floor for the worksite and level. If the base salary is below the floor, the employer must increase it before filing. A signing bonus or benefits package does not substitute for a compliant recurring salary.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-1171 by metropolitan area or state non-metro region. Select the applicable wage level based on the role's described duties and experience requirements. OFLC updates the wage tables annually, so confirm you are viewing the current survey year. To identify which employers have an active sponsorship history for Nurse Practitioners, Migrate Mate filters verified sponsor listings by location, visa type, and role so you can cross-reference offers against employers with real filing records.
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