Prevailing Wage for Roof Bolters, Mining
The prevailing wage for Roof Bolters, Mining (SOC 47-5043) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether you work under the title Bolt Machine Operator, Bolt Man, or Bolter, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels to this occupation. The floor varies meaningfully by worksite city, so location matters as much as experience level.
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Level 1 covers entry-level roof bolters with limited underground mining experience, typically performing routine bolt installation under close supervision with minimal independent judgment. DOL associates this tier with workers still developing familiarity with machinery operation and safety protocols specific to underground environments.
Level 2 applies to qualified roof bolters who work with general supervision and apply established bolting patterns independently. This is the most common filing level for Roof Bolters, Mining, reflecting the occupation's reliance on experienced but non-supervisory underground mine workers.
Level 3 covers experienced roof bolters who exercise significant autonomy, adapt to varying ground conditions, and may guide less-experienced crew members. DOL ties this tier to workers with a demonstrated record of independent judgment in underground mine settings.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent roof bolters in senior or lead roles, including those who oversee bolting crews, interpret complex mine roof conditions, or serve as subject-matter resources for mine safety compliance and equipment maintenance.
Prevailing Wage for Roof Bolters, Mining 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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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Roof Bolters, Mining and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your bolt operator title matches the LCA
Titles like Miner or Place Change Roof Bolter sometimes get filed under adjacent SOC codes, bypassing the SOC 47-5043 floor entirely. Before signing an offer, verify that the Labor Condition Application names SOC 47-5043 explicitly, not a broader mining or construction classification.
Account for the Wheeling versus Beckley wage gap
Prevailing wages for roof bolters differ notably between the two metros with OES coverage for this occupation. A job offer in Wheeling, OH carries a higher floor than one in Beckley, WV at every level, so worksite location directly affects whether an offer is compliant.
Watch for signing bonus amortization in underground mining offers
Some coal and hard-rock mine employers offer front-loaded signing bonuses that reduce base hourly rates below the prevailing wage floor. DOL counts only the base wage toward LCA compliance, so a bonus-heavy offer may still fall short of the required level.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who sponsor roof bolters
Underground mining sponsorship is rare. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actual H-1B or green card sponsorship history for Roof Bolters, Mining, so you can focus on the small pool of operators who have filed before rather than cold-applying to mines with no track record.
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Find Jobs for Roof Bolters, MiningPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-5043.00 alongside Roof Bolters, Mining, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bolt Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Bolt Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Bolt Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Bolt Man Prevailing Wage
Bolt Man Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Bolt Man for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Bolter Prevailing Wage
Bolter Prevailing Wage
Bolter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Miner Prevailing Wage
Miner Prevailing Wage
Miner positions fall under SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Place Change Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
Place Change Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Place Change Roof Bolter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
Roof Bolter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Roof Bolter Operator Prevailing Wage
Roof Bolter Operator Prevailing Wage
Roof Bolter Operator positions fall under SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Underground Miner Prevailing Wage
Underground Miner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Underground Miner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Underground Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
Underground Roof Bolter Prevailing Wage
Underground Roof Bolter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-5043.00 (Roof Bolters, Mining). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Roof Bolters, Mining?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for Roof Bolters, Mining using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each geographic area, BLS surveys employers and reports wage distributions by occupation. OFLC converts those distributions into four wage levels. Employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the level that matches the offered position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing skill and autonomy: Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with general supervision, Level 3 is experienced with significant independence, and Level 4 is fully competent in a lead or senior capacity. Review the job duties listed on the Labor Condition Application and compare them against OFLC's level definitions. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same roof bolter role differ so much city to city?
OFLC bases each area's wage on regional BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. Underground mining wages in Wheeling, OH reflect that area's employer concentration and local pay norms, while Beckley, WV data reflects different market conditions. The LCA must use the wage for the actual worksite address, not the employer's headquarters, so a multi-site operator can file different wage levels for different locations.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application with a wage below the prevailing wage floor for the worksite area and experience level. If an offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and USCIS will not approve the visa petition. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the position at the appropriate level before filing. Accepting a below-floor offer does not protect you from a denial.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Roof Bolters, Mining at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 47-5043 by worksite state and metropolitan area. Select the survey year that matches your LCA filing period, then check all four wage levels for your location. Because only two metros currently have OES data specific to Roof Bolters, Mining, some locations may use a statewide or national figure. Migrate Mate can also show which employers have sponsored this role historically, helping you identify realistic opportunities before you research the wage floor.
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