Prevailing Wage for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other (SOC 53-4099) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Four experience levels define the floor, and the required minimum shifts significantly depending on which city appears on the Labor Condition Application. Sponsored candidates on H-1B, E-3, or green card tracks need to confirm their offer clears the correct level for their worksite.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Level 1 applies to entry-level rail workers with limited experience who perform routine tasks under close supervision. Employers typically file at this level for roles requiring minimal independent judgment and no specialized operational history in rail environments.
Level 2 covers qualified workers with some independent responsibility and a foundational track record in rail operations. This is the most common filing level for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other, reflecting typical mid-career sponsorship candidates with demonstrated operational competence.
Level 3 applies to experienced workers who regularly exercise independent judgment, handle complex rail tasks with minimal supervision, and may guide less experienced colleagues. Employers file here when the role demands a seasoned operational background specific to rail transportation.
Level 4 covers fully competent workers in senior or lead capacities who set operational standards, troubleshoot complex system issues, and may oversee crews or specialized rail equipment. Employers filing at this level are sponsoring for high-responsibility positions within rail transportation departments.
Prevailing Wage for Rail Transportation 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
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other
Verify which metro appears on your LCA
Rail transportation roles often involve multi-site operations across yards, depots, and maintenance facilities. The worksite city listed on the Labor Condition Application, not your employer's headquarters, determines which prevailing wage floor applies. Houston's floor sits well below Los Angeles for this SOC.
Watch for Houston filings with lower wage floors
Rail Transportation Workers, All Other in Houston face a prevailing wage floor significantly below national medians at all four levels. If your offer is in the Houston metro, confirm the L2 floor directly using the OFLC Wage Search before accepting, since the gap versus other major rail markets is substantial.
Confirm your level matches actual job duties
Rail transportation employers sometimes file Level 1 for roles that involve independent yard operations, specialized equipment handling, or dispatch responsibilities. If your duties align with Level 2 or Level 3 in practice, a Level 1 filing may underpay you relative to the correct DOL floor for this occupation.
Use Migrate Mate to find rail sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Rail Transportation Workers, All Other for H-1B or other visa categories. Filtering by this role lets you target companies with an active sponsorship track record in rail operations rather than employers new to the LCA process for this SOC.
Jobs for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 53-4099. OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from the distribution of actual wages paid to workers in this occupation within a given geographic area. Employers sponsoring a worker must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines the four levels by experience and supervisory scope. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified workers with some independent responsibility. Level 3 covers experienced workers exercising regular independent judgment. Level 4 applies to fully competent senior or lead roles. Your level should match the actual duties in the job description. If the duties require independent operation but the filing uses Level 1, the offer may not meet the correct floor.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role vary so much from city to city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive each metro's figures. For Rail Transportation Workers, All Other, the gap between the highest-paying metro and the lowest is pronounced because rail employer density, union agreements, and cost of labor differ sharply across regions. The worksite address on the Labor Condition Application controls which metro wage applies, regardless of where the employer's main office is located.
What happens if an employer offers a wage below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the applicable level and location. USCIS will reject an H-1B petition if the underlying LCA does not satisfy wage requirements. For green card PERM cases, DOL audits wage compliance directly. If a discrepancy is discovered after approval, the employer may face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorships.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 53-4099 and the relevant metropolitan area. Select the area matching your job offer's worksite, not the employer's headquarters. OFLC updates wage data periodically, so always check the effective date of the figures. Migrate Mate also lets you filter Rail Transportation Workers, All Other listings by location to see which employers in a specific metro have sponsored this role previously, giving you a practical cross-reference for your search.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Rail Transportation Workers, All Other right now.
Search Jobs for this role