Prevailing Wage for Ship Engineers
Prevailing wage for Ship Engineers is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys across more than 20 metropolitan areas. Whether a petition covers a Ferry Engineer, Barge Engineer, or Harbor Engineer, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level engineers with limited maritime experience who work under close supervision, typically following established procedures for operating and monitoring shipboard machinery with minimal independent judgment required.
Level 2 applies to qualified engineers with demonstrated hands-on experience managing engine room operations with moderate supervision. Most H-1B and green card LCA filings for this occupation land at Level 2, reflecting journeyman-level maritime competency.
Level 3 covers experienced engineers who handle complex mechanical and electrical systems with significant autonomy, often coordinating maintenance schedules and guiding junior crew members in engine room operations.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior engineers or port engineers who lead crews, set operational policy, and bring specialized expertise to large or complex vessels requiring independent decision-making across all engineering systems.
Prevailing Wage for Ship Engineers 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 Ship Engineers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for port engineer title mismatches
Jobs posted as Port Engineer or Harbor Engineer sometimes get filed under shoreside management SOC codes rather than SOC 53-5031, landing below the Ship Engineers prevailing wage floor. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 53-5031 before signing an offer.
Account for the New Orleans wage gap
New Orleans files more offshore and river vessel petitions than most markets, and its L4 prevailing wage significantly exceeds the national median. If your offer is near the national floor, compare it against the New Orleans area wage, not just the national figure.
Find employers with Ship Engineers sponsorship history on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which maritime and port employers have previously sponsored Ship Engineers for H-1B or green card, so you can prioritize outreach to companies with a documented track record rather than guessing at willingness to sponsor.
Exclude signing bonuses from your wage calculation
DOL requires the prevailing wage to be met through the regular base rate. One-time signing bonuses cannot be counted toward satisfying the wage floor on an LCA, a common miscalculation in maritime employer offers that include relocation incentives.
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Find Jobs for Ship EngineersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-5031.00 alongside Ship Engineers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Barge Engineer Prevailing Wage
Barge Engineer Prevailing Wage
Barge Engineer positions fall under SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). 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.
Engineer Prevailing Wage
Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ferry Engineer Prevailing Wage
Ferry Engineer Prevailing Wage
Ferry Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). 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.
Harbor Engineer Prevailing Wage
Harbor Engineer Prevailing Wage
Harbor Engineer positions fall under SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). 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.
Port Engineer Prevailing Wage
Port Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Port Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Towboat Engineer Prevailing Wage
Towboat Engineer Prevailing Wage
Towboat Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). 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.
Tug Boat Engineer Prevailing Wage
Tug Boat Engineer Prevailing Wage
Tug Boat Engineer positions fall under SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). 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.
Vessel Engineer Prevailing Wage
Vessel Engineer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Vessel Engineer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Ship Engineers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan survey areas. For SOC 53-5031, OFLC calculates four wage levels based on experience tiers within each geographic area. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify which one applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate autonomy, Level 3 is experienced with significant independence, and Level 4 is fully competent or senior. DOL bases the assignment on the complexity of duties, supervisory requirements, and years of relevant maritime experience described in the job offer, not solely on your credentials.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Ship Engineers role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives area wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which reflect local labor market conditions. Dense port markets like San Francisco and Boston show higher survey wages than smaller inland or southern ports. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, so the wage floor is locked to where the vessel or facility is based, not the employer's headquarters.
What happens if an employer's offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition if the certified LCA shows a wage rate below the prevailing wage for the worksite area and experience level. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the salary before LCA certification or file at the correct lower level if the duties genuinely correspond to that tier. Filing at an incorrect level to reduce wage obligations is a DOL compliance violation.
How do I find and verify the Ship Engineers prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 53-5031 and select the metropolitan area matching your worksite. The tool returns all four level wages for that area. You can also review O*NET for occupational context. To identify which employers have actively sponsored this role in specific port cities, Migrate Mate filters by occupation and location using historical sponsorship data.
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