Prevailing Wage for Social and Human Service Assistants
Prevailing wage rates for Social and Human Service Assistants (SOC 21-1093) are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Whether your offer is for an Advocate, Addictions Counselor Assistant, or Social Services Assistant role, DOL publishes four wage levels tied to experience. The floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level candidates with limited experience who perform tasks under close supervision and follow established procedures. Typically recent graduates or those new to the social services field with minimal independent case or client responsibility.
Workers with one to three years of experience handling a moderate range of client situations with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Social and Human Service Assistants, reflecting typical qualified hires in community and social service settings.
Experienced practitioners who manage complex caseloads, apply specialized knowledge in areas such as substance abuse support or rehabilitation, and require limited supervision. Often hold relevant certifications or a few years of focused program experience.
Senior or lead-level professionals who guide program development, mentor junior staff, and handle the most complex client or case scenarios. Fully competent workers at this level may take on coordination responsibilities across service areas.
Prevailing Wage for Social and Human Service Assistants 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 Social and Human Service Assistants and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Social and Human Service Assistants
Watch for title aliasing into lower-wage SOCs
Roles titled Clinical Assistant or Residential Care Assistant are sometimes filed under home health or medical assistant SOC codes, which carry different prevailing wage floors. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 21-1093 before accepting a sponsored offer.
Factor out non-wage compensation before comparing
Nonprofit and government employers of Social Services Aides often offer strong benefit packages but lower base pay. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only cash wages, so signing bonuses and benefits do not offset a base salary below the floor.
Check sponsor history for social service employers on Migrate Mate
Community health organizations and county agencies sponsor far fewer H-1B or green card cases than hospitals or tech firms. Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts, so you can identify which agencies have actually sponsored this occupation before applying.
Account for California metro wage gaps before relocating
San Jose, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa post prevailing wages for this occupation well above the national median, while metros in Alabama and Puerto Rico sit at the low end. A worksite change mid-sponsorship requires a new LCA reflecting the new city's floor.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 21-1093.00 alongside Social and Human Service Assistants, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Addictions Counselor Assistant Prevailing Wage
Addictions Counselor Assistant Prevailing Wage
Addictions Counselor Assistant positions fall under SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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.
Advocate Prevailing Wage
Advocate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Advocate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Clinical Assistant Prevailing Wage
Clinical Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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.
Residential Care Assistant Prevailing Wage
Residential Care Assistant Prevailing Wage
Residential Care Assistant positions fall under SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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.
Social Services Aide Prevailing Wage
Social Services Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Social Services Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Social Services Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Services Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Services Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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.
Social Work Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Work Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Work Assistant positions fall under SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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.
Social Work Associate Prevailing Wage
Social Work Associate Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Social Work Associate for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Social Worker Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Worker Assistant Prevailing Wage
Social Worker Assistant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-1093.00 (Social and Human Service Assistants). 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 Social and Human Service Assistants?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages for each SOC code, including 21-1093. Employers accessing the OFLC Wage Search retrieve the wage that applies to their specific worksite location. The resulting figure must appear on the certified LCA before any H-1B or PERM filing can proceed.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified work with routine independence, Level 3 as experienced work requiring specialized knowledge, and Level 4 as fully competent senior or lead-level work. Your employer selects the level that matches your actual duties and supervision. If your offer letter describes independent caseload management or program coordination, Level 3 or 4 may be appropriate. USCIS and OFLC both audit level assignments during petition and audit review.
Why does the same Social and Human Service Assistants role pay so differently from city to city?
DOL's OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage percentiles for SOC 21-1093. A denser labor market with higher costs of living, such as San Jose or San Francisco, yields higher survey results than a smaller or lower-cost market. Under DOL rules, the LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor that applies is always tied to where the work is physically performed, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer for a sponsored position is below the prevailing wage?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor for the listed SOC code and worksite. If the offered salary is under the applicable level, OFLC will not certify the LCA, blocking the H-1B petition or PERM application from moving forward. Employers must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or withdraw the sponsorship. USCIS also reviews LCA wage levels during adjudication.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 21-1093 wages by metropolitan area. Enter the occupation code and select the worksite metro to see all four level wages. Migrate Mate lets you search sponsored Social and Human Service Assistants listings filtered by location and shows which employers have sponsored the occupation historically, giving you a practical starting point before you cross-reference the OFLC Wage Search for the specific prevailing wage floor.
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