Prevailing Wage for Physicians, All Other
Prevailing wage for Physicians, All Other (SOC 29-1229) is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across hundreds of U.S. metro areas. Four experience-based wage levels apply, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the position is located.
See all jobs for Physicians, All OtherLook up your work address
Level 1 covers entry-level physicians completing residency or early post-training roles with limited independent scope. These positions typically involve structured supervision, narrowly defined patient populations, and minimal administrative or specialty leadership responsibility.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It applies to physicians with several years of post-training experience who practice independently, carry a full patient panel, and meet standard productivity expectations without significant supervisory duties.
Level 3 applies to experienced physicians who lead clinical programs, supervise residents or mid-level providers, or hold specialty expertise that commands above-median market compensation. These roles typically require demonstrated outcomes and may carry committee or quality-improvement responsibilities.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent physicians in senior clinical or administrative roles, such as department chiefs, medical directors, or nationally recognized specialists. These positions set institutional policy, direct multi-provider teams, and require the highest level of independent clinical judgment.
Prevailing Wage for Physicians, All Other 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
See all jobs for Physicians, All Other
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Physicians, All Other and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Physicians, All Other
Verify your filing level matches your clinical scope
Health systems often post physician roles with broad titles. If your offer covers supervisory or department leadership duties, confirm the employer files at Level 3 or Level 4. Filing at Level 2 for a role with active resident oversight understates the prevailing wage floor.
Exclude signing bonuses from wage compliance math
Many physician offers include substantial signing bonuses and relocation allowances. DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base salary only. Signing bonuses, retention payments, and malpractice coverage offsets cannot be counted toward meeting the required annual wage floor.
Check rural critical-shortage markets separately
Rural and critical-shortage physician markets sometimes carry lower OES-based prevailing wages than major metros, which can affect negotiating leverage. Comparing the OFLC Wage Search floor against regional physician compensation benchmarks helps identify offers that clear compliance but sit below market.
Use Migrate Mate to find physician sponsor history
Hospital systems and multispecialty groups vary widely in their H-1B filing history for physicians. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored this occupation before, so you can focus applications on organizations with a documented track record of physician sponsorship.
Jobs for Physicians, All Other are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Physicians, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Physicians, All Other?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For this occupation, BLS surveys employer-reported wages across hundreds of metro areas and assigns four percentile-based levels. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the level that matches the role's scope and the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 applies to entry or closely supervised roles; Level 2 to independent practitioners with standard duties; Level 3 to physicians with specialty expertise or supervisory scope; Level 4 to medical directors and department chiefs. Your level should match the actual duties in the LCA and job description, not just the title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same physician role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional OES surveys, so wages reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and that location determines which metro's wage floor applies. Cities with higher physician demand, cost of living, or concentrated health system competition tend to show higher prevailing wages than rural or lower-density markets.
What happens if a physician job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or related petition without a certified LCA. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the base salary, reclassify the position to a lower wage level if the duties support it, or the sponsorship cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Physicians, All Other in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-1229 by metro area. Select the worksite city and the wage year to see all four level floors. Cross-reference with BLS data for independent confirmation. Migrate Mate can also show you which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, helping you identify organizations that are actively filing LCAs in specific markets.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Physicians, All Other right now.
Search Jobs for Physicians, All Other