Prevailing Wage for Social Workers, All Other
Prevailing wage for Social Workers, All Other (SOC 21-1029) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Four experience levels establish the minimum an H-1B, E-3, or green card sponsor must pay. The floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located, so city matters as much as the offer itself.
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Entry-level social workers with limited post-degree experience, typically recent graduates working under close supervision on routine casework or community referrals. Employers filing at Level 1 are expected to provide significant on-the-job guidance and structured oversight.
Qualified social workers with a few years of independent experience handling moderately complex cases. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, covering practitioners who exercise judgment but do not hold lead or supervisory responsibilities.
Experienced practitioners handling complex, high-acuity cases with broad autonomy. Workers at this level often develop program protocols, mentor junior staff, or specialize in areas such as clinical assessment, child welfare investigation, or crisis intervention.
Senior or lead social workers with demonstrated expertise and recognized authority over program direction, policy development, or clinical supervision. Employers filing here are expected to justify the highest prevailing wage tier through scope and organizational responsibility.
Prevailing Wage for Social Workers, All Other 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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Know where government agencies file for this role
Public-sector employers, including county health departments and state child welfare agencies, frequently file social worker petitions at Level 2 or Level 3 because civil service classifications map closely to DOL experience tiers. Confirm which civil service grade corresponds to the sponsored position before accepting an offer.
Watch for title aliasing into the wrong SOC
Titles like Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Program Coordinator sometimes get filed under mental health counselor or community health worker SOC codes, each with a different prevailing wage floor. Verify that your employer's LCA cites SOC 21-1029 if your work falls under the Social Workers, All Other definition.
Factor out non-wage compensation before comparing
Nonprofit and government social work employers often supplement base pay with loan forgiveness eligibility or pension benefits, but DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary alone. Signing bonuses and one-time payments do not count toward meeting the floor on sponsored petitions.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Social work sponsorships are concentrated among hospital systems, integrated behavioral health networks, and large government contractors. Migrate Mate shows which of these employers have actually sponsored social worker roles before, letting you target companies with a real track record rather than guessing at willingness.
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Find Jobs for Social Workers, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Social Workers, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate four wage levels for each SOC code in each metropolitan area. For SOC 21-1029, OFLC publishes these figures annually. Employers must request a prevailing wage determination from OFLC or use the published OFLC Wage Search values when filing an LCA for H-1B or PERM green card sponsorship.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 applies to entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified practitioners working independently on routine cases and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects experienced workers handling complex cases with significant autonomy. Level 4 is reserved for senior staff with program leadership or clinical supervision responsibilities. The level on the LCA must honestly reflect the actual job duties and experience required, not just the title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same social worker role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so the wage floor reflects what employers in that specific labor market actually pay. A densely populated metro with high demand for licensed practitioners and higher living costs will produce a higher survey median than a rural or lower-cost area. Critically, the worksite address listed on the LCA controls which area wage applies, not where the company is headquartered, so remote work arrangements require careful location classification.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the prevailing wage floor for the applicable level and worksite. If the offer falls short, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and without a certified LCA there is no valid H-1B or PERM petition. USCIS will also scrutinize whether the offered wage on an approved petition was actually paid. Candidates should request the LCA wage level and prevailing wage figure before signing an offer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Social Workers, All Other location?
The most direct method is the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current DOL wage by SOC code, experience level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 21-1029 and your worksite city to see all four levels. You can also ask your prospective employer to share the certified LCA, which must list the prevailing wage determination used. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored social worker roles in specific cities, giving you a starting point for your search.
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