Prevailing Wage for Passenger Attendants
Prevailing wage for Passenger Attendants is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Bus Aides to fully competent Bus Assistants and Bus Monitors with broad operational scope. The floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city, so a sponsored role in San Jose pays far more than the same position in a smaller market.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Passenger Attendants with limited experience, typically no prior formal training in transportation safety or passenger service. Workers follow established procedures under close supervision and handle routine tasks such as basic fare collection or passenger boarding assistance.
Level 2 applies to qualified Passenger Attendants with some field experience who work with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Passenger Attendants, covering roles that require consistent application of safety protocols and independent handling of passenger inquiries.
Level 3 describes experienced Passenger Attendants who operate with considerable independence. Workers at this level typically manage complex passenger situations, handle escalations, and may informally guide newer staff. Employers filing here usually cite a multi-year track record in transportation passenger services.
Level 4 covers fully competent Passenger Attendants in senior or lead-scope roles, such as those overseeing safety compliance across a route or terminal. Workers are expected to exercise broad judgment, require minimal supervision, and may hold responsibility for training or quality review.
Prevailing Wage for Passenger Attendants 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 Passenger Attendants and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches across transit roles
Bus Monitors and Fare Enforcement Officers are common alternate titles for this occupation, but some employers file them under different SOC codes. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 53-6061 and the Passenger Attendants prevailing wage floor before accepting a sponsored offer.
Compare metros before committing to a location
The prevailing wage for this occupation varies sharply by city. San Jose and Washington, DC set floors well above the national median, while markets like Myrtle Beach sit near the bottom. The worksite address on your LCA determines which floor applies, not your employer's headquarters.
Expect most transit employers to file at Level 2
Public transit agencies and private bus operators most commonly sponsor Passenger Attendants at Level 2, reflecting moderate supervision and routine safety responsibilities. If your offer letter describes lead or training duties, confirm your wage level matches Level 3 or Level 4 expectations.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with Passenger Attendants history
Transit and transportation employers vary widely in H-1B sponsorship activity. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring this occupation, so you can focus your search on companies that have actually filed for Passenger Attendants roles before.
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Find Jobs for Passenger AttendantsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-6061.00 alongside Passenger Attendants, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bus Aide Prevailing Wage
Bus Aide Prevailing Wage
Bus Aide positions fall under SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). 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.
Bus Assistant Prevailing Wage
Bus Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Bus Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Bus Attendant Prevailing Wage
Bus Attendant Prevailing Wage
Bus Attendant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). 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.
Bus Monitor Prevailing Wage
Bus Monitor Prevailing Wage
Bus Monitor positions fall under SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). 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.
Fare Enforcement Officer Prevailing Wage
Fare Enforcement Officer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fare Enforcement Officer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Transportation Aide Prevailing Wage
Transportation Aide Prevailing Wage
Transportation Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-6061.00 (Passenger Attendants). 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 Passenger Attendants?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Passenger Attendants under SOC 53-6061, DOL calculates four wage levels based on regional employer surveys. Employers sponsoring a worker must file a Labor Condition Application through OFLC certifying they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 describes qualified workers handling routine duties with moderate oversight. Level 3 applies to experienced workers operating independently. Level 4 covers senior or lead-scope roles. Your level is determined by the duties and supervision described in your job offer, not your title. Review your employer's LCA filing through OFLC to confirm which level was used.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Passenger Attendants role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. High-cost metros with dense transit systems and strong union presence, such as San Jose and San Francisco, produce higher survey medians than smaller or lower-cost markets. Critically, the LCA must list the actual worksite address, not corporate headquarters, so the city where you physically work determines your wage floor under OFLC rules.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer sponsoring a worker under H-1B, E-3, or PERM cannot offer a wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor. If the offered wage is below the level certified on the LCA, USCIS may deny the petition. For green card cases, OFLC can reject or audit the PERM application. The prevailing wage is a legal floor, not a negotiating reference point, and the employer bears compliance responsibility.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Passenger Attendants in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 53-6061 by metropolitan area. Enter the occupation code and your worksite city to retrieve the four wage levels for that location. You can cross-reference employer-specific LCA filings through the OFLC disclosure data portal to see what wage level a particular company used for past Passenger Attendants filings. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have a sponsorship history for this occupation, helping you target companies with verified filing activity.
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