Prevailing Wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The prevailing wage for a Cellar Worker in the U.S. varies significantly depending on location and experience level. DOL sets four wage levels, from entry-level operators to fully competent leads, using regional survey data. Whether your offer is for a Brewer, Blender, or Machine Tender role, the floor differs by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level operators with limited experience who work under close supervision following established procedures. Typical candidates are new to machine operation, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and handle routine tasks with minimal independent judgment.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It covers qualified operators with one to three years of hands-on experience who work independently on standard equipment and require only general supervision for non-routine situations.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who handle complex or non-routine processing tasks, troubleshoot equipment issues independently, and may informally guide less experienced coworkers. Candidates typically have several years of progressive experience across multiple process types or equipment configurations.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior operators or lead technicians who oversee production processes, set operating parameters, train staff, and serve as the primary technical authority for the processing line or production shift.
Prevailing Wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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 Cellar Worker and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how beverage and dairy employers classify titles
Brewers and cellar workers are sometimes filed under a different SOC by employers in beverage production or dairy processing, which can place the offer below the correct prevailing wage floor. Confirm your job duties map to SOC 51-9012 before accepting an offer.
Account for the wine country wage gap
Napa and Santa Rosa metros consistently post the highest prevailing wages for this occupation, driven by concentrated wine industry demand. If your offer is in California wine country, the applicable wage floor is substantially above the national median.
Verify your worksite city not your employer headquarters
The LCA must list the actual processing plant or facility location. Breweries, distilleries, and food processors often have corporate offices in one city and production sites in another, and the prevailing wage is tied to where you physically operate the equipment.
Search Migrate Mate for employers with sponsorship history
Food and beverage manufacturers vary widely in H-1B and green card sponsorship activity. Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Cellar Worker and Brewer roles in the past, so you can focus your search on companies with a real track record.
Jobs for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Cellar WorkerPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9012.00 alongside Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Blender Prevailing Wage
Blender Prevailing Wage
Blender positions fall under SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Brewer Prevailing Wage
Brewer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Brewer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cellar Worker Prevailing Wage
Cellar Worker Prevailing Wage
Cellar Worker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Digester Cook Prevailing Wage
Digester Cook Prevailing Wage
Digester Cook positions fall under SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Machine Tender Prevailing Wage
Machine Tender Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Tender for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Paper Machine Tender Prevailing Wage
Paper Machine Tender Prevailing Wage
Paper Machine Tender is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Plant Operator Prevailing Wage
Plant Operator positions fall under SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Pulper Operator Prevailing Wage
Pulper Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pulper Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Winemaker Prevailing Wage
Winemaker Prevailing Wage
Winemaker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9012.00 (Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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 a Cellar Worker?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For each area, DOL establishes four wage levels based on the distribution of reported wages for SOC 51-9012. The OFLC Wage Search tool publishes these figures and updates them annually as new survey data becomes available.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level, Level 2 is qualified with independent work capability, Level 3 is experienced with complex duties, and Level 4 is fully competent in a lead or senior role. Your level is determined by your actual job duties, years of relevant experience, and the degree of supervision involved, not your job title. The employer selects and defends the level when filing the LCA with OFLC.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Cellar Worker role vary so much from city to city?
DOL conducts regional OES surveys that capture local wage conditions, so a market like Napa with dense wine and beverage production pays a significantly higher floor than a lower-cost metro. The LCA rule requires employers to apply the prevailing wage for the worksite location, not the company's headquarters. When you work at a production facility in a high-cost area, that area's survey data sets your floor.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with OFLC if the offered wage falls below the prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. If the offer is below the floor, the LCA will not clear DOL review, and USCIS cannot approve the visa petition. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet or exceed the prevailing wage or withdraw the sponsorship application.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Cellar Worker at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 51-9012 in any metro area. Select the occupation code, choose your worksite area, and the tool returns all four wage levels. You can also cross-reference the O*NET occupation profile for job duty descriptions that confirm the correct SOC code applies to your role.
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