Prevailing Wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Prevailing wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians (SOC 17-3031) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Whether your title reads Geospatial Analyst, Photogrammetric Technician, or Mapping Technician, the same four experience levels apply, and the floor shifts substantially from one city to the next.
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Entry-level technicians with limited field or lab experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Candidates new to geospatial data collection or map compilation, often with an associate degree or vocational training and no independent project history, file here.
Technicians with a working command of survey instruments, GIS software, or photogrammetric workflows who operate with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Surveying and Mapping Technicians and suits candidates who handle standard assignments independently.
Experienced technicians who manage complex mapping projects, mentor junior staff, or specialize in areas such as aerotriangulation or LiDAR processing. These professionals apply advanced judgment, require minimal supervision, and often coordinate field crews or data quality reviews.
Senior or lead technicians at the top of the occupation, setting standards for spatial data accuracy, directing multi-crew survey operations, or serving as the primary technical authority on large infrastructure or boundary-determination projects. Fully independent scope with organization-wide impact.
Prevailing Wage for Surveying and Mapping Technicians 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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your worksite county before signing
Geospatial and survey technician roles often involve project-based field work across county lines. The LCA must list the primary worksite, and prevailing wages in rural survey corridors can run well below rates in metro hubs like San Jose or San Francisco.
Watch for title aliasing on LCA filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a generic engineering technician title rather than SOC 17-3031. If your offer letter says Geospatial Analyst or Mapping Technician but the LCA cites a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor applied to your petition may not match this occupation.
Expect Level 2 but confirm scope matches
Most H-1B and PERM filings for photogrammetric and mapping roles land at Level 2, the qualified tier. If your day-to-day work includes leading field crews or directing QA for aerial data, a Level 3 filing is more defensible and protects against a DOL audit.
Find sponsors with a surveying tech hiring history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored Surveying and Mapping Technicians in the past, letting you target engineering firms and geospatial agencies with a documented H-1B or green card track record rather than guessing at sponsorship willingness.
Jobs for Surveying and Mapping Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 17-3031.00 alongside Surveying and Mapping Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Aerotriangulation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Aerotriangulation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Aerotriangulation Specialist positions fall under SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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.
Geospatial Analyst Prevailing Wage
Geospatial Analyst Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Geospatial Analyst for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Mapping Editor Prevailing Wage
Mapping Editor Prevailing Wage
Mapping Editor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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.
Mapping Technician Prevailing Wage
Mapping Technician Prevailing Wage
Mapping Technician positions fall under SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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.
Photogrammetric Compilation Specialist Prevailing Wage
Photogrammetric Compilation Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Photogrammetric Compilation Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Photogrammetric Technician Prevailing Wage
Photogrammetric Technician Prevailing Wage
Photogrammetric Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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.
Stereoplotter Operator Prevailing Wage
Stereoplotter Operator Prevailing Wage
Stereoplotter Operator positions fall under SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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.
Survey Technician Prevailing Wage
Survey Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Survey Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tax Map Technician Prevailing Wage
Tax Map Technician Prevailing Wage
Tax Map Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 17-3031.00 (Surveying and Mapping Technicians). 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 Surveying and Mapping Technicians?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for SOC 17-3031 using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC applies a four-level matrix to that survey data, converting percentile thresholds into the Level 1 through Level 4 wage floors employers must certify on a Labor Condition Application. Wages are updated annually and published in the OFLC Wage Search tool.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry positions under close supervision, Level 2 covers qualified technicians working with moderate independence, Level 3 covers experienced professionals managing complex projects, and Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your level should reflect actual job duties, not just title. Review the position description against DOL's level definitions and compare to what employers file for similar roles in OFLC disclosure data.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
OFLC bases wages on regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. A dense engineering and construction market like San Jose produces far higher survey-derived medians than a smaller metro. Under the LCA rules, the wage floor tied to your petition is the one for the county or metropolitan area where you will physically perform the work, not your employer's headquarters.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite and level. If the offer falls short, USCIS will not approve the H-1B petition, and a PERM application will face a DOL audit or denial. The employer must either raise the offered wage to at least the prevailing wage floor or reclassify the role at a lower experience level if the duties genuinely support it.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC code 17-3031, choose the metropolitan area or state that matches your worksite, and select the experience level. Cross-check with recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for comparable roles. Migrate Mate also lets you filter sponsored Surveying and Mapping Technician listings by location so you can benchmark offers against real postings from employers with prior sponsorship history.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Surveying and Mapping Technicians right now.
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