Prevailing Wage for Patternmakers, Wood
Prevailing wage for Patternmakers, Wood (SOC 51-7032) sets the minimum DOL-mandated pay floor any sponsored Wood Patternmaker or Pattern Engineer must receive. Whether employers file as Mold Maker or Patternmaker, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts meaningfully by city. Knowing your level and worksite protects your offer.
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Entry-level wood patternmakers with limited hands-on experience, typically working under close supervision on straightforward pattern construction tasks. DOL assigns Level 1 to candidates new to the trade who are still developing foundational skills in layout, material selection, and sand mold preparation.
Qualified patternmakers with practical shop experience who work with moderate supervision on standard unit and sectional patterns. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Patternmakers, Wood, covering journeypersons who handle routine castings independently but have not yet taken on complex or lead responsibilities.
Experienced wood patternmakers who independently manage complex pattern construction projects, troubleshoot mold defects, and may guide junior staff. DOL reserves Level 3 for workers whose depth of trade knowledge allows them to handle non-standard castings with minimal oversight and broad discretion.
Fully competent senior patternmakers or pattern engineers who lead shop operations, set quality standards, and handle the most technically demanding custom work. Level 4 reflects top-of-range expertise, often combined with supervisory responsibility across pattern layout, material procurement, and foundry coordination.
Prevailing Wage for Patternmakers, Wood 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 Patternmakers, Wood and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which title your employer files under
Employers sometimes file LCAs under Mold Maker or Pattern Engineer instead of Patternmakers, Wood. Each title maps to SOC 51-7032, but a mislabeled filing can misalign the wage level claimed against what DOL expects for your actual duties.
Watch how production bonuses affect your base
Foundry and woodworking shops often supplement wood patternmaker pay with piece-rate bonuses or shift differentials. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base wages only, so production bonuses and signing bonuses cannot substitute for meeting the stated floor.
Understand why rural foundry towns pay below the national median
Wood patternmaking is concentrated near heavy manufacturing and foundry clusters. DOL's regional OES surveys reflect local labor markets, so a shop in a small Midwest foundry town will show a lower prevailing wage than the national median. Your LCA must list the actual worksite city.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who sponsor this trade
Visa sponsorship for skilled trades is less common than in tech. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B or green card filings for Patternmakers, Wood specifically, letting you target shops with a real track record rather than hoping a new employer navigates the process.
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Find Jobs for Patternmakers, WoodPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-7032.00 alongside Patternmakers, Wood, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Mold Maker Prevailing Wage
Mold Maker Prevailing Wage
Mold Maker positions fall under SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). 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.
Pattern Engineer Prevailing Wage
Pattern Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pattern Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Pattern Maker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). 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.
Patternmaker Prevailing Wage
Patternmaker Prevailing Wage
Patternmaker positions fall under SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). 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.
Wood Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
Wood Pattern Maker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Wood Pattern Maker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Wood Patternmaker Prevailing Wage
Wood Patternmaker Prevailing Wage
Wood Patternmaker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). 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.
Wood Shop Moldmaker Prevailing Wage
Wood Shop Moldmaker Prevailing Wage
Wood Shop Moldmaker positions fall under SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). 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.
Woodshop Worker Prevailing Wage
Woodshop Worker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Woodshop Worker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7032.00 (Patternmakers, Wood). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Patternmakers, Wood?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, broken into four levels based on experience and supervision. For Patternmakers, Wood, OFLC applies these figures when certifying a Labor Condition Application. Employers must pay at least the wage tied to the level they claim on the LCA.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified journeypersons handling standard work independently, and is the most common filing level for this trade. Level 3 applies to experienced specialists managing complex patterns with minimal oversight. Level 4 covers senior leads setting shop standards. Match your level to your actual duties and supervision structure, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL bases prevailing wages on regional OES surveys, which capture local employer pay practices. A wood patternmaker's floor in a dense manufacturing metro reflects that area's going rate, while a rural foundry town shows lower figures. The LCA must list the specific worksite location, so if your employer has multiple shops, the wage floor applies to whichever facility you actually work at.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition if the LCA shows a wage below DOL's prevailing wage for the filed level and worksite. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the offered salary, file at a lower wage level that matches your duties, or obtain a new prevailing wage determination. Accepting a below-floor offer does not make the petition approvable.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Patternmakers, Wood in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-7032 filtered to your target metro or county. That tool reflects the same figures DOL uses to certify LCAs. You can also check the O*NET profile for occupational context. Migrate Mate can show you which employers have historically sponsored this role, helping you identify active hiring locations where sponsored positions have actually been filed.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Patternmakers, Wood right now.
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