Prevailing Wage for Occupational Therapists
Prevailing wage for Occupational Therapists is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys and applies to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship. Whether your offer is for an Early Intervention Occupational Therapist role or a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) position, DOL assigns four experience levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level OTs with limited post-licensure experience, typically under two years. Roles involve structured caseloads with close clinical supervision. Employers filing at Level 1 must demonstrate the position involves routine tasks rather than independent clinical judgment.
Qualified OTs with two or more years of practice working independently on standard caseloads. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Occupational Therapists because most sponsored roles require full licensure and autonomous practice without direct supervision.
Experienced OTs who supervise other therapists, lead specialty programs such as hand therapy or pediatric early intervention, or carry complex caseloads requiring advanced clinical reasoning. Employers must document supervisory duties or specialized scope to justify Level 3 filings.
Fully competent OTs in senior, lead, or program-director roles. These positions set clinical protocols, manage departmental operations, or hold recognized specialty certifications like CHT. Level 4 filings require clear documentation of leadership scope beyond direct patient care.
Prevailing Wage for Occupational Therapists 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 Occupational Therapists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your specialty certification affects your level
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential or NBCOT specialty certification typically supports a Level 3 or Level 4 filing. Accepting a Level 2 offer without flagging your certification status can leave significant wage floor protection on the table.
Watch for productivity bonuses excluded from the wage floor
Many OT employers structure pay with productivity or caseload bonuses. DOL counts only guaranteed base wages toward prevailing wage compliance. Bonuses, signing payments amortized over a tenure period, and shift differentials do not satisfy the floor.
Compare offers across hospital systems and home health agencies
Home health and contract staffing agencies frequently file at lower wage levels than hospital systems for identical OT titles. California metros such as San Jose and San Francisco show the widest gap between agency and in-house employer wage filings for this occupation.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with OT sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Occupational Therapist roles and filters listings by visa type. This helps you prioritize hospital networks and rehabilitation groups with verified H-1B or green card filing experience over first-time sponsors.
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Find Jobs for Occupational TherapistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1122.00 alongside Occupational Therapists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Assistive Technology Trainer Prevailing Wage
Assistive Technology Trainer Prevailing Wage
Assistive Technology Trainer positions fall under SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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.
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Prevailing Wage
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Early Intervention Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
Early Intervention Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
Early Intervention Occupational Therapist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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.
Home Health Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
Home Health Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
Home Health Occupational Therapist positions fall under SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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.
Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant Prevailing Wage
Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Occupational Therapist (OT) Prevailing Wage
Occupational Therapist (OT) Prevailing Wage
Occupational Therapist (OT) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT) Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT) positions fall under SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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.
Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) Prevailing Wage
Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) Prevailing Wage
Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1122.00 (Occupational Therapists). 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 set the prevailing wage for Occupational Therapists?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, BLS surveys employer-reported wages for SOC 29-1122 and DOL converts those survey results into four wage levels. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC before filing an LCA for any sponsored OT position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry positions under close supervision, Level 2 covers fully independent practice, Level 3 covers supervisory or specialty roles, and Level 4 covers senior or program-leadership positions. Your level is determined by the job duties on the LCA, not your personal experience. Review the posted job description carefully because employers sometimes file at a lower level than the actual scope of work requires.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same OT role vary so much between cities?
DOL sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a national average. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, which means a traveling therapist or home health OT working in San Jose faces a much higher floor than the same title in Jefferson City, Missouri. Dense employer markets with high costs of living produce the highest survey results.
What happens if an employer offers me a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage. USCIS will deny an H-1B petition that relies on a non-compliant LCA, and OFLC can investigate and debar employers who file false wage attestations. If your offer is below the floor for your level and worksite, the employer must either increase the offered salary or the sponsorship cannot proceed legally.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an OT role in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-1122 wages by metro area and experience level. Enter the worksite city or county, select the correct SOC code, and the tool returns the current four-level wage table. For broader employer research, Migrate Mate lets you filter OT listings by location and visa type so you can cross-reference posted salaries against the OFLC floor for that market before applying.
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