Prevailing Wage for Production Workers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Production Workers, All Other (SOC 51-9199) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Four experience levels each carry a different wage floor, and the amounts shift substantially depending on where the worksite is located. Sponsored candidates should confirm which level applies before accepting an offer.
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Level 1 covers entry-level production workers with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures with little independent judgment and generally have no prior production experience in the specific occupation.
Level 2 applies to production workers with moderate experience who perform standard tasks with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Production Workers, All Other, reflecting journey-level work that requires familiarity with equipment and processes but not supervisory responsibility.
Level 3 covers experienced workers who handle a wider range of production tasks with minimal supervision, often troubleshooting equipment issues or training newer colleagues. This level reflects several years of demonstrated competency in the specific production environment.
Level 4 applies to fully competent workers who perform the full range of duties with complete independence, often acting as informal leads or specialists. Employers filing at this level must document that the position requires mastery-level skill, not simply tenure.
Prevailing Wage for Production Workers, 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
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Check whether agency staffing inflates your level
Production Workers placed through staffing agencies are often filed at Level 1 even when the worksite employer would internally classify the same role at Level 2. Confirm which entity files the LCA and what level they assign before accepting the offer.
Watch the gap between Puerto Rico and California wages
The prevailing wage floor for this occupation varies more dramatically by location than many other roles. Worksites in California metros can carry floors more than double those in Puerto Rico metros, so comparing offers across regions requires checking location-specific figures, not national medians.
Verify the SOC code matches your actual duties
Some production roles get filed under equipment-specific SOC codes rather than the general 51-9199 catchall. If your duties are generic assembly or processing work, confirm the employer is not misfiling under a narrower SOC with a lower wage floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Production Workers, All Other filings are concentrated in food processing, manufacturing, and agricultural products. Migrate Mate shows which employers in those industries have sponsored this role before, helping you target companies with a documented track record rather than those filing for the first time.
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Find Jobs for Production Workers, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Production Workers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, the data is divided into four wage levels based on the distribution of wages for the occupation. Employers sponsoring a worker must pay at least the wage floor for the applicable level and worksite location, certified through the OFLC wage determination process.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 is entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 is standard journey-level work, the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced workers with broader responsibilities. Level 4 covers fully independent or lead-level positions. The employer assigns the level based on actual job duties, and USCIS or DOL may scrutinize filings where the level appears inconsistent with the described responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much by city?
DOL calculates separate wage floors for each metropolitan statistical area using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. The surveys capture local labor market conditions, including the concentration of manufacturing and food-processing employers and local wage norms. The LCA must list the actual worksite location, so the wage floor is tied to where the work is physically performed, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA, and OFLC will not approve it, if the offered wage is below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. If a petition is filed with an understated wage or later audited, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment from future sponsorship. Workers should not expect USCIS to approve an H-1B or other sponsored petition tied to a non-compliant LCA.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Production Workers, All Other at a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current prevailing wage by SOC code and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 51-9199 and the metro closest to the job worksite to see all four level wages. For sponsored positions, Migrate Mate lists employers who have filed for this occupation in the past, so you can see which companies are active sponsors before applying.
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