Prevailing Wage for Shampooers
Prevailing wage for Shampooers (SOC 39-5093) is set annually by the Department of Labor using regional wage surveys. Whether you're applying as a Hair Assistant, Shampoo Technician, or Shampoo Assistant, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the required floor varies significantly depending on the city where the work is performed.
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Level 1 covers entry-level shampooers with limited or no prior professional experience in a salon or spa setting. Workers at this level perform routine tasks under close supervision and are still developing familiarity with products and client service protocols.
Level 2 applies to qualified shampooers with some independent experience shampooing and rinsing clients. This is the most common filing level for Shampooers, reflecting roles where workers handle a standard client flow with moderate oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced shampooers who work largely independently, may assist with additional salon tasks, and demonstrate consistent technique and client communication skills developed over several years in a professional setting.
Level 4 applies to fully competent shampooers who may lead assistants, train new staff, or take on expanded responsibilities within a salon team. Filings at this level are uncommon and typically reflect senior or lead assistant roles.
Prevailing Wage for Shampooers 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 Shampooers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which salon title triggers SOC 39-5093
Employers sometimes list this role as Stylist Assistant or Hair Assistant. If the LCA files under a cosmetologist or barber SOC instead, the prevailing wage floor changes entirely. Verify that your offer letter title maps to SOC 39-5093 before the LCA is certified.
Watch for tip income excluded from prevailing wage
Salon employers sometimes structure compensation to include tip income toward the prevailing wage floor. DOL requires the cash wage component alone to meet the floor. Gratuities and service charges do not count toward satisfying the LCA wage obligation for Shampooers.
Compare your offer against low-paying metro floors
Cities like Oklahoma City and New Orleans set wage floors well below the national median for this occupation. If your worksite is in one of these markets, the L1 floor is materially lower, and an offer that looks thin nationally may actually clear the local prevailing wage.
Use Migrate Mate to find salons with sponsorship history
Shampooers positions with visa sponsorship are rare. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, letting you target salons and spa groups that have filed LCAs for Hair Assistants or Shampoo Technicians before.
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Find Jobs for ShampooersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-5093.00 alongside Shampooers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Hair Assistant Prevailing Wage
Hair Assistant Prevailing Wage
Hair Assistant positions fall under SOC 39-5093.00 (Shampooers). 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.
Shampoo Assistant Prevailing Wage
Shampoo Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Shampoo Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-5093.00 (Shampooers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Shampoo Person Prevailing Wage
Shampoo Person Prevailing Wage
Shampoo Person is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-5093.00 (Shampooers). 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.
Shampoo Technician Prevailing Wage
Shampoo Technician Prevailing Wage
Shampoo Technician positions fall under SOC 39-5093.00 (Shampooers). 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.
Stylist Assistant Prevailing Wage
Stylist Assistant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Stylist Assistant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-5093.00 (Shampooers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Shampooers?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage for Shampooers using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages are surveyed by metropolitan area and mapped to SOC 39-5093. OFLC then publishes four wage levels derived from that survey data, which employers must meet or exceed on a certified LCA before filing a visa petition.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with routine independent work, Level 3 is experienced with significant autonomy, and Level 4 is fully competent with potential lead responsibilities. The level on your LCA should match your actual job duties and experience. If your employer files at Level 1 for a role requiring two or more years of experience, that filing may not accurately reflect the position.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Shampooers role vary so much by city?
DOL uses regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 39-5093. A certified LCA must list the actual worksite city, and the prevailing wage attached to that LCA is drawn from that city's survey results. Markets like Los Angeles set floors significantly higher than markets like New Orleans because local survey wages reflect local labor costs. The worksite on the LCA controls which metro rate applies.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and experience level. If the offered salary falls short, DOL will not certify the LCA, and USCIS will not approve the visa petition without a certified LCA. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or the sponsorship cannot proceed. A below-floor offer does not disqualify you permanently, but the employer must correct it before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Shampooers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 39-5093 by metropolitan area and wage level. Enter the worksite city and the occupation code to see the four level wages DOL has published for that location. You can also review O*NET for the occupation profile. Migrate Mate shows employers that have sponsored Shampooers roles in the past, which can help you identify markets where active sponsorship is more common.
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