Prevailing Wage for Physicists
Prevailing wage requirements for Physicists under SOC 19-2012 are set by DOL using regional wage surveys, creating four experience-based levels that determine the minimum a sponsored employer must pay. Whether you work as a Health Physicist, Medical Physicist, or Research Physicist, the floor varies significantly by city, so verifying the worksite location matters as much as the level.
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Entry-level positions with limited experience, typically recent doctoral graduates or candidates with a master's degree entering a research role with close supervision. Work involves routine assignments with established methods and limited independent judgment.
The most common filing level for Physicists. Qualified professionals with a few years of post-degree research experience who work with moderate supervision, apply established techniques independently, and contribute to ongoing research programs without directing them.
Experienced researchers who design and lead independent investigations, publish original findings, and may mentor junior staff. Filing at this level reflects a demonstrated record of contributions to a specialized area of physics or applied research.
Senior or principal-level roles requiring comprehensive expertise. These professionals direct research programs, hold leadership responsibility across projects, and are recognized for broad contributions to the field. Full autonomy with minimal oversight is expected.
Prevailing Wage for Physicists 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 Physicists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Physicists
Watch for title aliasing in national lab filings
Employers at national laboratories and research universities sometimes file LCAs under adjacent SOC codes like Natural Sciences Managers or Geoscientists. If your offer letter says Research Scientist or Research Consultant, confirm the actual SOC code on the certified LCA before comparing it to the Physicists floor.
Account for the low-paying metro gap
Entry-level wages in metros like Champaign, IL and Lansing, MI can sit well below the national median for Level 1. If your worksite is at a university-adjacent employer in a college town, the prevailing wage floor may be lower than offers from industry employers in coastal markets.
Exclude equity and signing bonuses from your wage comparison
DOL's prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only. RSUs, signing bonuses, and research stipends do not count toward meeting the floor. Physics roles at tech and semiconductor firms often include substantial equity, so the base figure in your offer letter is what determines compliance.
Find employers that have sponsored Physicists before
Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts by role, so you can see which companies have actually sponsored Physicists rather than just posted for them. This is especially useful for filtering between national labs, academic medical centers, and private-sector research employers.
Jobs for Physicists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for PhysicistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-2012.00 alongside Physicists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Biophysics Scientist Prevailing Wage
Biophysics Scientist Prevailing Wage
Biophysics Scientist positions fall under SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). 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.
Health Physicist Prevailing Wage
Health Physicist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Health Physicist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Medical Physicist Prevailing Wage
Medical Physicist Prevailing Wage
Medical Physicist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). 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.
Research Consultant Prevailing Wage
Research Consultant Prevailing Wage
Research Consultant positions fall under SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). 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.
Research Physicist Prevailing Wage
Research Physicist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Physicist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). 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.
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist positions fall under SOC 19-2012.00 (Physicists). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Physicists?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Physicists from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC maps each SOC code to four wage levels using percentile thresholds from that survey data. The resulting figures are updated on a published schedule and apply to any LCA an employer certifies for this occupation.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level or closely supervised roles; Level 2 applies to qualified professionals working independently on established tasks; Level 3 reflects experienced researchers with independent scope; Level 4 applies to fully competent senior professionals with broad authority. The level on your LCA should match the actual duties and supervision described in your job offer, not just the title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Physicists role vary so much by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so the wage floor reflects local labor market conditions in each metropolitan statistical area. An LCA must list the actual worksite location, and OFLC applies the wage for that metro. Dense research and technology markets carry higher wage floors than university towns or lower-cost regions, which explains the wide spread between top and bottom metros for this occupation.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage. If the offer falls short, USCIS can deny or revoke the H-1B petition. DOL can also investigate and assess back-wage liability. Candidates should compare the base salary in any offer letter against the OFLC-published floor for their experience level and worksite city before signing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Physicists in a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 19-2012 and your worksite metro to retrieve the four-level wage table that applies to your LCA. Cross-check the wage level your employer selected against the duties in your offer letter. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have a history of sponsoring Physicists roles, giving you comparable offers to benchmark against.
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