Prevailing Wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks

Prevailing wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks is set by DOL under SOC 43-4171, covering roles like Front Desk Receptionist, Medical Receptionist, and Clerk Specialist. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels for sponsored positions, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city, making location a key factor for H-1B, E-3, and green card candidates.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$28K
$13.41/hr

Entry-level clerks with limited experience, typically following routine procedures under close supervision. Workers at this level handle standard inquiries with minimal independent judgment. Most candidates entering the U.S. workforce for the first time in this occupation file at Level 1.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$32K
$15.21/hr

Qualified receptionists with practical experience handling varied inquiries with moderate independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Receptionists and Information Clerks, reflecting the typical hire who brings prior front-desk or customer-facing experience and works with general supervision.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$35K
$16.99/hr

Experienced information clerks who handle complex inquiries, train others, or coordinate across departments with limited supervision. These workers apply developed judgment to non-routine situations and are often found in larger organizations or specialized settings like medical offices.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$39K
$18.79/hr

Fully competent receptionists in senior or lead roles, exercising significant independent judgment, mentoring junior staff, or managing office information systems. Level 4 applies to professionals who function with minimal oversight and often carry additional administrative or coordination responsibilities.

Prevailing Wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$19K/yr$40K/yr

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

1
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro
$40K$19.38/hr
2
Seattle, WA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro
$38K$18.48/hr
3
Napa, CA
Napa, CA metro
$38K$18.17/hr
4
Vallejo, CA
Vallejo, CA metro
$37K$17.91/hr
5
San Jose, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro
$37K$17.88/hr
6
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro
$37K$17.83/hr
7
Bremerton, WA
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro
$37K$17.73/hr
8
Salinas, CA
Salinas, CA metro
$37K$17.62/hr
9
Wenatchee, WA
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro
$36K$17.49/hr
10
Mount Vernon, WA
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro
$36K$17.46/hr

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Prevailing Wage Guide for Receptionists and Information Clerks

Know why most LCAs file at Level 2

Employers sponsoring Front Desk Receptionists commonly file at Level 2, reflecting candidates with prior customer-facing experience. Filing at Level 1 for a role requiring demonstrated office skills can trigger a DOL audit, so verify the level matches your actual experience and the job description.

Watch out for California metro wage gaps

San Francisco and San Jose carry prevailing wages for this occupation well above the national median. If your offer is in a Bay Area worksite, the applicable wage floor is substantially higher than a national figure, and the LCA must reflect the actual worksite city, not a regional average.

Check how title aliases affect your SOC filing

Titles like Member Services Representative or Information Assistant are sometimes filed under broader administrative SOC codes, which can carry a different wage floor than SOC 43-4171. Confirm your employer's LCA cites the correct SOC code matching your actual receptionist or information clerk duties.

Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for this role

Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Receptionists and Information Clerks, so you can target companies with a proven track record of filing LCAs for this occupation rather than approaching employers who have never sponsored this specific role.

Jobs for Receptionists and Information Clerks are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-4171.00 alongside Receptionists and Information Clerks, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Clerk Specialist Prevailing Wage

Clerk Specialist positions fall under SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Front Desk Receptionist Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Front Desk Receptionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Greeter Prevailing Wage

Greeter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Information Assistant (Info Assistant) Prevailing Wage

Information Assistant (Info Assistant) positions fall under SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Medical Receptionist Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Medical Receptionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) Prevailing Wage

Member Services Representative (Member Services Rep) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Office Assistant Prevailing Wage

Office Assistant positions fall under SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Receptionist Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Receptionist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Registration Clerk Prevailing Wage

Registration Clerk is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Scheduler Prevailing Wage

Scheduler positions fall under SOC 43-4171.00 (Receptionists and Information Clerks). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$28K
$13.41/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$32K
$15.21/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$35K
$16.99/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$39K
$18.79/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Receptionists and Information Clerks?

DOL determines prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 43-4171, DOL calculates four wage levels based on experience and supervision requirements within each geographic survey area. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with OFLC and must offer at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and level.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?

The four levels reflect increasing experience, independence, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified workers with moderate independence, which is the most common filing level for this occupation; Level 3 applies to experienced clerks handling complex tasks with limited supervision; Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead roles. Your level should match both your actual experience and the duties described in the job offer and LCA.

Why does the prevailing wage for the same receptionist role vary so much by city?

DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by BLS, which capture actual employer-reported wages in each metro area. Labor markets differ significantly: Bay Area metros like San Francisco reflect high local wage competition, while Puerto Rico metros reflect much lower local wage norms. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor is always tied to where you physically work, not where the employer is headquartered.

What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?

An employer cannot file a certified LCA with OFLC or submit an H-1B petition to USCIS if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the salary before filing or the sponsorship cannot proceed. Workers already on status who discover a wage deficiency may face compliance exposure, so checking the floor before accepting an offer matters.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Receptionists and Information Clerks position in a specific U.S. city?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 43-4171 wages by metropolitan area and wage level. Select the most recent wage year and enter your worksite metro to see the four level wages DOL has published. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupation details. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have actively sponsored this role in specific cities, so you can target companies already familiar with the filing requirements.

See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Receptionists and Information Clerks right now.

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