Prevailing Wage for Sewers, Hand
The prevailing wage for Sewers, Hand (SOC 51-6051) sets the DOL-mandated pay floor that U.S. employers must meet when sponsoring a Seamstress, Couturier, or Alteration Specialist for an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly by metropolitan area.
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Entry-level hand sewers with no prior U.S. work history in the occupation. Typically performing routine stitching, joining, or finishing tasks under direct supervision, with little independent judgment required and no specialized technique expected.
Qualified hand sewers with some independent task completion and familiarity with standard methods. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Sewers, Hand, covering workers who handle assigned projects with moderate oversight and consistent output.
Experienced hand sewers who work independently across a range of techniques, mentor junior staff, and exercise judgment on non-routine finishing or alteration tasks. Employers filing at this level typically expect demonstrated specialty skills.
Fully competent senior sewers in lead or specialist roles, exercising broad discretion, managing complex custom or couture work, and often setting standards for quality or technique within a workroom or production team.
Prevailing Wage for Sewers, Hand 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 Sewers, Hand and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing in fashion workrooms
Job titles like 'Sample Maker' or 'Garment Technician' sometimes get filed under production-operator SOC codes rather than SOC 51-6051, causing the LCA to reference a lower wage floor. Confirm the SOC on your Labor Condition Application matches the hand-sewing scope of the role.
Factor out bonuses from your wage comparison
Signing bonuses and production incentives are excluded from the DOL wage calculation for Sewers, Hand. Compare your base hourly or annual rate directly against the prevailing wage floor for your level, not total compensation figures the employer may quote.
Prioritize Miami and Atlanta over Dallas when negotiating
Miami and Atlanta post the highest prevailing wage floors for this occupation among covered metros. Dallas sits at the lower end. If you have location flexibility, anchoring negotiations to a higher-floor metro can raise the DOL-mandated minimum before the LCA is filed.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored sewers
Fashion houses and specialty apparel firms rarely advertise past visa sponsorship for sewing roles. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have historical H-1B or green card sponsorship counts for Sewers, Hand, so you can focus outreach on proven sponsors rather than guessing.
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Find Jobs for Sewers, HandPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6051.00 alongside Sewers, Hand, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Alteration Specialist Prevailing Wage
Alteration Specialist Prevailing Wage
Alteration Specialist positions fall under SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). 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.
Couturier Prevailing Wage
Couturier Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Couturier for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Custom Clothier Prevailing Wage
Custom Clothier Prevailing Wage
Custom Clothier is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). 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.
Custom Designer Prevailing Wage
Custom Designer Prevailing Wage
Custom Designer positions fall under SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). 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.
Custom Seamstress Prevailing Wage
Custom Seamstress Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Custom Seamstress for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Seamstress Prevailing Wage
Seamstress Prevailing Wage
Seamstress is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). 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.
Stitcher Prevailing Wage
Stitcher Prevailing Wage
Stitcher positions fall under SOC 51-6051.00 (Sewers, Hand). 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 Sewers, Hand?
DOL derives prevailing wages from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-6051, BLS collects wage data from employers in each metropolitan area, and OFLC uses those regional figures to set the four wage levels published in the OFLC Wage Search tool. Employers must pay at least the level corresponding to the position's experience requirements before USCIS will certify an H-1B or approve a permanent labor certification.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns Level 1 to entry-level positions requiring direct supervision and basic task performance. Level 2 covers qualified workers with some independent work history. Level 3 applies to experienced workers exercising independent judgment across specialized techniques. Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead roles. The correct level depends on the duties, supervision required, and experience described in the job offer, not the job title alone. Review the position description carefully against DOL's level definitions before accepting.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much between cities?
OFLC sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, which reflects local labor market conditions. Miami and New York have denser concentrations of fashion, custom apparel, and theatrical costume employers, pushing area wages higher. Dallas and Tampa reflect smaller local demand and lower regional pay norms. The worksite address on the Labor Condition Application determines which metro's wage floor applies, so a remote or multi-site arrangement requires careful worksite classification before the LCA is submitted.
What happens if an employer offers less than the prevailing wage for a sponsored sewing role?
An offer below the DOL prevailing wage disqualifies the Labor Condition Application. OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls short of the applicable level floor, and USCIS will deny an H-1B petition filed on a deficient LCA. For PERM-based green card cases, the same floor must be met throughout the process. The employer must increase the offered wage to at least the prevailing wage level before filing, or the sponsorship cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Sewers, Hand position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 51-6051 by metropolitan area. Select the correct OES survey year, enter the worksite metro, and confirm which of the four levels matches the duties in your offer letter. The O*NET occupation profile provides additional detail on the scope of hand-sewing roles that fall under this SOC. Migrate Mate can also help you identify employers with a verified history of sponsoring this role, so you can narrow your search before comparing offers against the floor.
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