Prevailing Wage for Physicians, Pathologists
Prevailing wage compliance for Physicians, Pathologists (SOC 29-1222) is set by DOL and applies to every sponsored position, whether the role involves anatomic pathology, cytopathology, or neuropathology work. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor for each level shifts significantly depending on the metropolitan worksite listed on the LCA.
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Entry-level pathologists new to independent practice, typically completing their first post-training position with close attending supervision. Limited subspecialty responsibility, following established protocols rather than directing diagnostic workflow. Most employers filing at Level 1 are sponsoring residents transitioning into staff roles.
The most common filing level for Physicians, Pathologists. Applies to practitioners with solid independent diagnostic competency, typically two to five years post-fellowship, handling routine and complex cases with moderate oversight. Most community hospital and reference lab sponsorships land here.
Experienced pathologists with demonstrated subspecialty depth, often directing a service line or supervising residents and fellows. DOL expects these candidates to exercise independent judgment on complex diagnostic problems with minimal supervisory input and measurable leadership responsibility.
Senior or chief-level pathologists with full independent authority over a subspecialty or department. Typically involves setting diagnostic standards, managing staff, and representing the section in institutional governance. Academic division chiefs and regional medical directors commonly file at this level.
Prevailing Wage for Physicians, Pathologists 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 Physicians, Pathologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify which subspecialty SOC your offer uses
Dermatopathologists and forensic pathologists are sometimes filed under broader physician SOC codes rather than SOC 29-1222, which can lower the prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists the correct SOC before signing an offer letter.
Treat signing bonuses as separate from base wage compliance
Signing bonuses, relocation allowances, and productivity incentives do not count toward the DOL prevailing wage floor for pathologists. OFLC requires the base salary alone to meet or exceed the certified wage level, regardless of total compensation package value.
Watch academic medical center wage filings closely
Academic hospitals sponsoring hematopathologists or cytopathologists often file at Level 2 even for fellowship-trained candidates with several years of experience. If your responsibilities include fellow supervision or research direction, an L3 filing may better reflect actual scope.
Use Migrate Mate to identify which employers have sponsored pathologists
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which health systems and reference laboratories have actually sponsored Physicians, Pathologists roles before reaching out or negotiating offers.
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Find Jobs for Physicians, PathologistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1222.00 alongside Physicians, Pathologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Anatomic Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Anatomic Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Anatomic Pathologist positions fall under SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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.
Cytopathologist Prevailing Wage
Cytopathologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cytopathologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dermatopathologist Prevailing Wage
Dermatopathologist Prevailing Wage
Dermatopathologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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.
Forensic Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Pathologist positions fall under SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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.
Hematopathologist Prevailing Wage
Hematopathologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hematopathologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Neuropathologist Prevailing Wage
Neuropathologist Prevailing Wage
Neuropathologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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.
Oral Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Oral Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Oral Pathologist positions fall under SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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.
Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Pathologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pathologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Surgical Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Surgical Pathologist Prevailing Wage
Surgical Pathologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1222.00 (Physicians, Pathologists). 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 Physicians, Pathologists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan areas. For SOC 29-1222, OFLC calculates four wage levels by applying percentile breakpoints to the regional wage distribution. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination through OFLC before certifying an LCA for a sponsored pathologist position.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and responsibility: Level 1 is entry with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate oversight, Level 3 is experienced with subspecialty leadership, and Level 4 is fully competent with departmental or service-line authority. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the position description, not your years of training alone. Review the job posting and LCA together to confirm alignment.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same pathologist role vary so much by city?
OFLC uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys to set metro-specific floors. The LCA worksite rule means the wage that applies is the one for the city where you actually practice, not your employer's headquarters. Dense academic medical markets with high physician concentrations can show different floors than smaller regional markets, sometimes by a substantial margin at every level.
What happens if a sponsored offer is below the prevailing wage?
An LCA cannot be certified by DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition without a certified LCA. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the base salary, refile at a lower wage level with a corrected position description, or withdraw the sponsorship.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Physicians, Pathologists position in a specific city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 29-1222 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite metro, select the occupation code, and the tool returns the current DOL wage floor for each level. Cross-reference the result with recent LCA disclosure data to see what wages employers have actually certified for pathologist sponsorships in that market. Migrate Mate can also surface which employers in that market have an active sponsorship history for this role.
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