Prevailing Wage for Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Prevailing wage for Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SOC 29-1218) is set by DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located. Whether your offer letter says OB/GYN, OBGYN, or simply OB, the sponsored salary must meet or exceed the DOL benchmark for your level and city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level physicians completing residency or fellowship transitions with limited independent practice. DOL expects minimal autonomous caseload, close supervision, and a narrowly defined scope. Most new graduates entering their first attending position fall here.
Level 2 applies to qualified OB/GYNs with solid independent practice and standard caseload management. DOL treats this as the baseline for a working attending physician, and it is the most common filing level employers use for sponsored Obstetricians and Gynecologists positions.
Level 3 covers experienced physicians managing complex cases, supervising residents, or holding a subspecialty focus such as maternal-fetal medicine. DOL expects demonstrated judgment beyond routine practice and the ability to guide less experienced staff.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior physicians in leadership, program direction, or highly specialized practice. DOL expects top-tier expertise, significant institutional influence, and a scope that shapes departmental standards or clinical protocols.
Prevailing Wage for Obstetricians and Gynecologists 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 Obstetricians and Gynecologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title maps to SOC 29-1218
Hospital systems sometimes file LCAs under general physician SOC codes rather than the OB/GYN-specific code. If your offer uses a title like 'Staff Physician' or 'Attending MD', confirm the employer's LCA cites SOC 29-1218 so the correct OB/GYN wage floor applies.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage floor check
Hospitals frequently offer large signing bonuses to recruit OB/GYNs. DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base salary only. Signing bonuses, relocation allowances, and malpractice coverage do not count toward meeting the wage floor on the LCA.
Watch for $0 wage data in smaller metros
Many OES survey areas report no wage data for OB/GYNs due to small sample sizes, as seen in markets like Binghamton and Boulder. When your worksite metro has no published OES wage, the employer must use an alternate DOL-approved wage source, which can differ significantly from national medians.
Find OB/GYN sponsors with actual filing history
Hospital networks vary widely in their willingness to sponsor international physicians. Migrate Mate lets you filter OB/GYN listings by employer sponsorship history, so you can focus on health systems that have successfully filed for this occupation before rather than starting from scratch.
Jobs for Obstetricians and Gynecologists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1218.00 alongside Obstetricians and Gynecologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
GYN (Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
GYN (Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
GYN (Gynecologist) positions fall under SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
MD (Medical Doctor) Prevailing Wage
MD (Medical Doctor) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a MD (Medical Doctor) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
OB (Obstetrician) Prevailing Wage
OB (Obstetrician) Prevailing Wage
OB (Obstetrician) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
OB/GYN (Obstetrician Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
OB/GYN (Obstetrician Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
OB/GYN (Obstetrician Gynecologist) positions fall under SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
OBGYN (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
OBGYN (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a OBGYN (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
OBGYN MD (Obstetrics Gynecology Medical Doctor) Prevailing Wage
OBGYN MD (Obstetrics Gynecology Medical Doctor) Prevailing Wage
OBGYN MD (Obstetrics Gynecology Medical Doctor) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
OBGYN Physician (Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician) Prevailing Wage
OBGYN Physician (Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician) Prevailing Wage
OBGYN Physician (Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician) positions fall under SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
Physician Prevailing Wage
Physician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Physician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Physician GYN (Physician Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
Physician GYN (Physician Gynecologist) Prevailing Wage
Physician GYN (Physician Gynecologist) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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.
Physician OB (Physician Obstetrician) Prevailing Wage
Physician OB (Physician Obstetrician) Prevailing Wage
Physician OB (Physician Obstetrician) positions fall under SOC 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists). 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 Obstetricians and Gynecologists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to set prevailing wages by occupation and geographic area. For Obstetricians and Gynecologists, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that data. Employers file a Labor Condition Application certifying the offered salary meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is a qualified attending with independent practice; Level 3 is an experienced physician managing complex cases or supervising others; Level 4 is a senior or program-leading physician. Your level is determined by the job duties described in the LCA and H-1B petition, not solely by years of experience. Review the position description carefully before assuming your level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same OB/GYN role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES survey data, so local labor market conditions drive each metro's figures. A high-cost market with many well-resourced hospital systems will show higher surveyed wages than a smaller metro. Under the worksite-on-LCA rule, compliance is assessed at the actual work location, not where the employer is headquartered. If you rotate between facilities across metro areas, each worksite may carry its own wage requirement.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify the LCA if the offered salary falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored visa petition where the underlying LCA is non-compliant. If a discrepancy is found after approval, the employer faces back-wage liability and potential DOL enforcement action. Candidates should request a copy of the certified LCA to confirm the filed wage level matches the offered salary.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an OB/GYN position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current four-level wage table for SOC 29-1218 in your target metro. Select the correct OES area that corresponds to your worksite city, not the nearest large city. Note that some smaller metros report no OB/GYN data, in which case OFLC instructs employers to use a statewide or national figure. Cross-check the result against the wage listed on the employer's certified LCA.
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