Prevailing Wage for Psychologists, All Other
Prevailing wages for Psychologists, All Other (SOC 19-3039) are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. The DOL defines four experience levels, each with a distinct wage floor, and the applicable rate depends on your worksite city. Candidates pursuing H-1B or green card sponsorship must confirm their offer clears the correct local threshold.
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Level 1 covers entry-level psychologists with limited professional experience, typically recent doctoral graduates working under direct supervision on routine assessments or research tasks with narrowly defined responsibilities and minimal independent judgment expected.
Level 2 applies to qualified psychologists with moderate experience who handle a standard caseload or research portfolio with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Psychologists, All Other, reflecting established competency without senior leadership duties.
Level 3 covers experienced psychologists who exercise considerable independent judgment, may supervise junior staff or interns, and handle complex assessments, specialized populations, or advanced research projects requiring expertise built over several years of practice.
Level 4 applies to fully competent psychologists in senior or lead roles, setting program direction, supervising multidisciplinary teams, consulting at an organizational level, or holding specialized credentials that place them at the top of the professional hierarchy.
Prevailing Wage for Psychologists, 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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Confirm your filing level matches your supervision structure
Psychologists working under a licensed supervisor reviewing their assessments typically qualify as Level 1 or Level 2. If your offer letter describes independent caseload authority or program leadership, insist the employer files at Level 3 or Level 4 to avoid a wage shortfall.
Watch for low-wage metros before accepting relocation offers
Metro wages for this occupation vary sharply. Positions in Charleston, WV carry a prevailing wage floor far below the national median across all four levels, while Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA post substantially higher floors. Compare your specific worksite city before signing.
Exclude bonuses and productivity pay from your wage calculation
Many psychology employers, particularly community mental health agencies and hospital systems, use productivity bonuses tied to billable hours. DOL counts only the guaranteed base wage toward prevailing wage compliance, so bonus-heavy compensation packages may not clear the floor on paper.
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Find Jobs for Psychologists, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Psychologists, All Other?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 19-3039, the agency surveys employer-reported wages across metro areas and national data, then assigns four wage levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with OFLC certifying they will pay at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 as qualified with moderate independence, Level 3 as experienced with considerable judgment, and Level 4 as fully competent in a senior or lead capacity. To identify your level, compare your job duties, degree of supervisory oversight, and years of relevant experience against these definitions. The level on your employer's LCA filing determines the wage floor that must be met.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional OES surveys that capture local employer pay practices, cost-of-labor differences, and the concentration of particular employer types in each metro. The LCA rules require the employer to use the prevailing wage for the actual worksite address listed on the filing, not a national average. Markets with dense hospital systems or research institutions, such as Los Angeles or Raleigh, tend to push regional floors higher than smaller or lower-cost metros.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file a certified LCA or petition with USCIS for a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the relevant level and worksite. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must increase the guaranteed base salary before filing, select a lower wage level that accurately reflects your duties, or the sponsorship cannot proceed. Accepting a role at a below-floor wage does not exempt the employer from compliance obligations.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 19-3039 wages by state and metro area. Select the fiscal year that matches when your employer plans to file the LCA, choose the correct metro or county, and note all four level wages. You can also review the O*NET occupation profile for additional context on duties that map to each level. Cross-check the figure your employer cites against the OFLC Wage Search result for your specific worksite city.
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