Prevailing Wage for Sailors and Marine Oilers
Sailors and Marine Oilers (SOC 53-5011), including those working as an Able Seaman or Bosun, must receive at least the DOL prevailing wage when sponsored for an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. port city the worksite is located in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level crew members with limited seagoing experience, typically performing routine deck duties under close supervision. Workers at this stage are building foundational skills and generally have not yet obtained advanced government-issued maritime certifications.
Level 2 applies to qualified seamen with enough experience to work independently on standard deck and watch duties. This is the most common filing level for Sailors and Marine Oilers, covering roles like Able Seaman with a valid USCG merchant mariner credential.
Level 3 reflects experienced mariners who handle complex tasks, supervise junior crew, and often hold tankerman certification or specialized endorsements. Workers at this level typically lead watch rotations and take on additional rigging or cargo-gear responsibilities.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior mariners, such as Bosuns or senior Able Seamen, who oversee deck departments, train crew, and hold multiple government-issued endorsements. These workers operate with minimal supervision and broad shipboard authority.
Prevailing Wage for Sailors and Marine Oilers 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 maritime certifications match the filing level
USCG merchant mariner credentials and tankerman endorsements directly affect which wage level an employer files. A worker holding advanced certifications filed at Level 1 may be underpaid relative to the DOL floor for their actual qualification tier.
Watch for low prevailing wages in Gulf Coast ports
Inland waterway and Gulf Coast markets like Lake Charles show significantly lower prevailing wages than Pacific Northwest ports. If you have an offer in a low-wage region, compare it to Portland or Bremerton rates to understand how much geography is affecting your floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with maritime hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Sailors and Marine Oilers for visas. Filtering by this occupation lets you see which vessel operators and maritime companies have an actual H-1B or green card filing track record for deck crew roles.
Check whether overtime is excluded from the prevailing wage base
Many maritime employment contracts include substantial overtime pay, but DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base hourly or annual wage, not total compensation. Confirm your base rate alone meets the floor before factoring in overtime.
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Find Jobs for Sailors and Marine OilersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-5011.00 alongside Sailors and Marine Oilers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman) Prevailing Wage
Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman) Prevailing Wage
Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman) positions fall under SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman) Prevailing Wage
Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Able Seaman Prevailing Wage
Able Seaman Prevailing Wage
Able Seaman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Boat Crew Deck Hand Prevailing Wage
Boat Crew Deck Hand Prevailing Wage
Boat Crew Deck Hand positions fall under SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Bosun Prevailing Wage
Bosun Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Bosun for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Deck Hand Prevailing Wage
Deck Hand Prevailing Wage
Deck Hand is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Deckhand Prevailing Wage
Deckhand Prevailing Wage
Deckhand positions fall under SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Deckhand Engineer Prevailing Wage
Deckhand Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Deckhand Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Oiler Prevailing Wage
Oiler Prevailing Wage
Oiler is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Tankerman Prevailing Wage
Tankerman Prevailing Wage
Tankerman positions fall under SOC 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Sailors and Marine Oilers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 53-5011, DOL calculates four wage levels by applying fixed percentage adjustments to the regional median. Employers sponsoring a mariner on an H-1B or PERM application must pay at least the level that matches the worker's experience and duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 covers independent qualified seamen and is the most common filing level; Level 3 applies to experienced crew who supervise others or hold specialized endorsements; Level 4 covers senior mariners like Bosuns with broad departmental authority. Match your level to the actual duties and certifications in your job offer, not just your job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
DOL bases wage floors on regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the difference. A port city with high union density and concentrated maritime employers, like Bremerton or Portland, surveys higher wages than a smaller inland waterway market. Under the worksite-on-LCA rule, the prevailing wage is tied to where the vessel is based or where the worker primarily reports, not the employer's headquarters.
What happens if an employer offers below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA filed with a wage below the DOL prevailing wage will not survive OFLC review. If USCIS later audits the petition, a below-floor wage can result in denial or revocation. For PERM green card cases, DOL can reject the application outright. Employers are legally required to pay the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to similarly situated workers.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 53-5011 by metropolitan area. Select the correct OES wage source, enter the worksite metro, and review all four wage levels. You can also check OFLC's LCA disclosure data to see what wage levels previous employers filed for this occupation in your target city. USCIS and DOL both rely on this data during petition review.
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