Prevailing Wage for Sewing Machine Operators
Prevailing wages for Sewing Machine Operators under SOC 51-6031 are set by the DOL and vary significantly depending on where the work is performed. Whether your offer letter lists your title as Machine Operator, Seamer, or Sample Maker, the same four experience levels apply, each carrying a different wage floor tied to the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level operators with limited experience who work under close supervision on routine sewing tasks. DOL defines this tier as workers still developing baseline production skills, typically with less than two years in the occupation.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators who perform standard sewing tasks with moderate independence. This is the most common filing level for Sewing Machine Operators, reflecting the majority of production floor roles where workers follow established procedures with minimal supervision.
Level 3 is for experienced operators who handle varied or specialized sewing assignments, often including quality checks, minor troubleshooting, or training newer workers. These workers exercise independent judgment and bring several years of demonstrated production experience to the role.
Level 4 reflects fully competent operators at the senior or lead scope, such as prototype sewers or sample makers who set production standards, interpret technical specifications independently, and may oversee others without formal supervisory authority.
Prevailing Wage for Sewing Machine Operators 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 Sewing Machine Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title aliasing on your LCA
Titles like Seamstress or Line Closer are sometimes filed under general production SOC codes rather than SOC 51-6031, which can set a different wage floor. Confirm your employer's LCA lists the correct SOC before signing your offer letter.
Factor out piece-rate arrangements before comparing
Some apparel and upholstery employers compensate operators partly through piece-rate bonuses. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base wages only, so a high blended rate that includes variable piece-rate pay can obscure a below-floor base salary.
Compare wages against your specific Wisconsin or California worksite
The gap between the national median and top metros like Appleton or San Jose is substantial across all four levels. If your employer operates multiple facilities, the LCA must list the actual worksite city, not headquarters, which can affect your floor meaningfully.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with a filing history
Apparel and textile manufacturers rarely advertise visa sponsorship prominently. Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Sewing Machine Operators, so you can focus your search on companies that have navigated this SOC before rather than starting from scratch.
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Find Jobs for Sewing Machine OperatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6031.00 alongside Sewing Machine Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Line Closer Prevailing Wage
Line Closer Prevailing Wage
Line Closer positions fall under SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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 Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Prototype Sewer Prevailing Wage
Prototype Sewer Prevailing Wage
Prototype Sewer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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.
Sample Maker Prevailing Wage
Sample Maker Prevailing Wage
Sample Maker positions fall under SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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.
Seamer Prevailing Wage
Seamer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Seamer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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.
Sew On Operator Prevailing Wage
Sew On Operator Prevailing Wage
Sew On Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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.
Sewer Prevailing Wage
Sewer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sewer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Zipper Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Zipper Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Zipper Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6031.00 (Sewing Machine Operators). 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 Sewing Machine Operators?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-6031, the agency converts hourly OES percentile benchmarks into four annual wage levels tied to experience. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored position must offer at least the wage level that matches the worker's qualifications at the certified worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels correspond to experience and independence: Level 1 is entry-level under close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate independence, Level 3 is experienced with specialized tasks or training responsibilities, and Level 4 is fully competent at a senior or lead scope. OFLC defines each level by the complexity of duties and degree of supervision. Review the actual job description and match it to the DOL level definitions, not just your years in the field.
Why does the same Sewing Machine Operators role pay so differently from city to city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so each metropolitan statistical area produces its own wage percentiles reflecting local labor market conditions. An LCA must list the actual worksite, and the prevailing wage is pulled from that area's survey data, not a national average. High-cost manufacturing hubs in California or Wisconsin carry higher floors than Puerto Rico metros where the local survey reflects significantly lower regional pay for this occupation.
What happens if a sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage for Sewing Machine Operators?
An employer cannot legally certify an LCA at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and experience level. USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance during petition adjudication and enforcement audits. If the offered wage falls short, the employer must either increase it before filing or the LCA will not be certified, blocking the visa petition from proceeding.
How do I verify the prevailing wage for Sewing Machine Operators in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current DOL prevailing wage by SOC code, wage level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 51-6031 along with the city or metro where you would actually be working. The result shows the four level wages currently in effect. Cross-reference this against your offer letter to confirm the base salary meets the correct floor before your employer files the LCA. Migrate Mate can also show you which employers have historically sponsored this occupation across different locations.
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