Prevailing Wage for Political Scientists
Prevailing wage for Political Scientists is set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, divided into four experience levels. The floor differs significantly by city, so a job offer that clears the threshold in one metro may fall short in another. Sponsored candidates on H-1B, E-3, or green card petitions should verify both the level and the worksite location before accepting.
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Entry-level Political Scientists with limited professional experience and a bachelor's or master's degree in political science or a related field. Work is performed under close supervision with assignments of defined scope and limited independent judgment.
Qualified Political Scientists with a graduate degree or several years of research or policy experience. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, covering professionals who work with moderate supervision and handle standard analytical assignments independently.
Experienced Political Scientists who lead research projects, mentor junior staff, or manage complex policy analyses with limited oversight. Candidates typically hold advanced degrees and have a track record of published work or substantial policy impact.
Fully competent Political Scientists in senior or principal roles who set research agendas, direct teams, or represent their organization in high-level policy forums. These professionals operate with full autonomy and are recognized authorities in a subfield.
Prevailing Wage for Political Scientists 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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Confirm your level matches your actual duties
Federal agencies and think tanks often hire Political Scientists at Level 3 or Level 4 but post titles like 'Research Associate' that read as entry-level. If your day-to-day involves independent analysis or project leadership, the LCA wage level should reflect that, not the job title.
Watch for Washington DC concentration effects
Political Scientists are unusually concentrated in the Washington DC metro, where prevailing wages run significantly above the national median at every level. If your employer files an LCA listing a DC worksite, the applicable floor is the DC rate, which can exceed other metros by a wide margin.
Exclude signing bonuses when checking the floor
DOL prevailing wage compliance for Political Scientists is tested against the base salary on the LCA, not total compensation. Signing bonuses, performance bonuses, and research stipends do not count toward meeting the wage floor for sponsored positions.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with a track record
Political Scientists roles rarely appear on general job boards with sponsorship history visible. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored this occupation before, letting you prioritize think tanks, federal contractors, and universities with a demonstrated H-1B or green card filing pattern.
Jobs for Political Scientists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Political ScientistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-3094.00 alongside Political Scientists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Citizen Participation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Citizen Participation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Citizen Participation Specialist positions fall under SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Government Affairs Researcher Prevailing Wage
Government Affairs Researcher Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Government Affairs Researcher for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Government Affairs Specialist Prevailing Wage
Government Affairs Specialist Prevailing Wage
Government Affairs Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Health Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
Health Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
Health Policy Analyst positions fall under SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Legislative Affairs Specialist Prevailing Wage
Legislative Affairs Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Legislative Affairs Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Legislative Analyst Prevailing Wage
Legislative Analyst Prevailing Wage
Legislative Analyst is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Legislative Liaison Prevailing Wage
Legislative Liaison Prevailing Wage
Legislative Liaison positions fall under SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Legislative Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
Legislative Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Legislative Policy Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Local Governance Specialist Prevailing Wage
Local Governance Specialist Prevailing Wage
Local Governance Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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.
Medical Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
Medical Policy Analyst Prevailing Wage
Medical Policy Analyst positions fall under SOC 19-3094.00 (Political Scientists). 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 the DOL set the prevailing wage for Political Scientists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for Political Scientists under SOC code 19-3094. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes four wage levels derived from the regional wage distribution for this occupation. Employers must pay at least the level that matches the position's experience and supervisory requirements before USCIS will approve an H-1B or permanent resident petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level roles with close supervision, Level 2 to qualified professionals working with moderate independence, Level 3 to experienced researchers or analysts leading projects, and Level 4 to senior leaders with full autonomy. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the LCA, not by your title. Review the position description your employer filed with OFLC to confirm the level matches your responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?
DOL bases prevailing wages on regional OES survey data, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions in the area where the work is actually performed. Political Scientists in Washington DC face a much higher floor than those in Atlanta or Manchester because the survey captures what DC-area employers actually pay. The LCA must list the worksite address, and the applicable wage is the rate for that specific metropolitan statistical area, not the national median.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered salary falls below the DOL prevailing wage listed on the LCA, USCIS can deny the H-1B petition and OFLC can decertify a PERM application. The employer is legally required to pay at least the prevailing wage for the duration of the sponsored worker's authorized period of employment. An offer below the floor is not corrected by bonuses or equity; the base salary must meet or exceed it.
How can I verify the prevailing wage for Political Scientists in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current four-level wage schedule for SOC 19-3094 in any metropolitan area. Select the area that matches the worksite on your potential LCA, not your residence. You can also cross-reference the O*NET profile for this occupation and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers with a history of sponsoring Political Scientists roles so you can compare offers from known sponsors.
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