Prevailing Wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers
Prevailing wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers (SOC 25-3021) sets the DOL-mandated salary floor that U.S. employers must meet when sponsoring an Art Teacher, Dance Instructor, or similar role on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. DOL sets four experience levels, and the floor varies significantly by city.
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Entry-level instructors with limited independent experience, typically following established curricula under close supervision. Common for candidates new to the U.S. market or transitioning into a teaching role for the first time, with minimal specialized training history.
Qualified instructors with moderate independent experience who apply standard methods with some latitude. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Self-Enrichment Teachers, reflecting roles where the instructor designs classes but works within a set program framework.
Experienced teachers who exercise significant independent judgment, develop original curricula, and may informally guide newer instructors. Typical for senior Dance Teachers, Flight Instructors, or Art Teachers with a well-established track record and specialized technique.
Fully competent senior instructors or program leads with full autonomy over curriculum, student outcomes, and departmental direction. These professionals often set instructional standards for an organization and may manage a team of other Driving Instructors or subject teachers.
Prevailing Wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers 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 worksite city before comparing wages
For Self-Enrichment Teachers, prevailing wage is tied to the LCA worksite, not the employer's headquarters. A Dance Instructor teaching at a studio in Lake Charles faces a very different wage floor than one in Laredo, so confirm the physical teaching location before evaluating any offer.
Watch for below-floor offers from community arts programs
Nonprofit arts organizations and community recreation centers frequently list Art Teacher and Dance Teacher roles at hourly rates that annualize well below the L2 prevailing wage. Verify annualized compensation against the DOL floor before accepting, since sponsorship requires the full annual figure to comply.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Because Self-Enrichment Teacher sponsorships are relatively uncommon, use Migrate Mate to identify which studios, schools, and enrichment programs have actually sponsored this occupation before, filtering by location and visa type to focus your search on realistic opportunities.
Avoid title aliasing between instructor and teacher SOC codes
Employers sometimes file LCAs under broader education SOC codes rather than SOC 25-3021, which can shift the prevailing wage baseline entirely. Confirm with your employer which SOC code appears on the certified LCA before your petition is filed to ensure the correct floor applies.
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Find Jobs for Self-Enrichment TeachersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-3021.00 alongside Self-Enrichment Teachers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher Prevailing Wage
Art Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Dance Instructor Prevailing Wage
Dance Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dance Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dance Teacher Prevailing Wage
Dance Teacher Prevailing Wage
Dance Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Driving Instructor Prevailing Wage
Driving Instructor Prevailing Wage
Driving Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Flight Instructor Prevailing Wage
Flight Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Flight Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor Prevailing Wage
Instructor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Martial Arts Instructor Prevailing Wage
Martial Arts Instructor Prevailing Wage
Martial Arts Instructor positions fall under SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Music Instructor Prevailing Wage
Music Instructor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Music Instructor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Piano Teacher Prevailing Wage
Piano Teacher Prevailing Wage
Piano Teacher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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.
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher Prevailing Wage
Teacher positions fall under SOC 25-3021.00 (Self-Enrichment Teachers). 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 Self-Enrichment Teachers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For Self-Enrichment Teachers, OFLC calculates four wage levels by applying percentile bands to the regional wage distribution for SOC 25-3021. Employers sponsoring a visa petition must pay at least the level that matches the position's duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect increasing independence and skill. Level 1 covers entry-level instructors under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified instructors applying standard methods with some autonomy; Level 3 covers experienced practitioners with independent judgment; and Level 4 covers senior or program-lead roles. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not your personal years of experience alone. USCIS and OFLC both review the match between the job offer and the selected level.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Self-Enrichment Teacher role vary so much by city?
DOL's wage floors are built from regional OES surveys, so they reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. A metropolitan area with a higher concentration of well-funded arts institutions or higher general cost of labor will produce a higher survey-derived median. Critically, the LCA rule requires the employer to use the prevailing wage for the actual worksite city, so even a national organization must apply local rates for each physical teaching location.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA unless the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the worksite area and wage level. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and without a certified LCA, no H-1B or E-3 petition can proceed. If a shortfall is discovered after filing, DOL can require back wages and bar the employer from future sponsorships.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up SOC 25-3021 wages by metropolitan area and experience level. Cross-reference with published OFLC disclosure data for recent LCA filings in your target city. You can also check O*NET for occupation details. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Self-Enrichment Teachers by location, helping you focus on companies already familiar with the wage requirements.
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