Prevailing Wage for Teachers and Instructors, All Other
The prevailing wage for Teachers and Instructors, All Other (SOC 25-3099) is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels. The floor varies significantly by worksite city, so a sponsored position in California can require a substantially higher offer than the same title in the South or Midwest.
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Level 1 covers entry-level instructors with limited teaching experience, typically in roles with structured lesson plans provided and close supervisory oversight. These positions usually require a bachelor's degree but minimal independent curriculum development or program leadership.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored teaching positions. It applies to instructors with some independent classroom responsibility, moderate experience, and the ability to adapt materials, but who are not yet leading programs or mentoring other staff.
Level 3 applies to experienced instructors who independently design curriculum, lead educational programs, or have specialized subject-matter expertise. These professionals typically work with minimal supervision and may coordinate with other instructional staff or administrators.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior instructors or program leads who set instructional direction, mentor junior staff, and may hold institutional or departmental responsibility. This level reflects deep expertise and broad autonomous authority over educational outcomes.
Prevailing Wage for Teachers and Instructors, 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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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Teachers and Instructors, All Other and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for adult education employer wage gaps
SOC 25-3099 covers a wide range of instructional settings. Adult education programs and community-based training providers in low-wage metros like Bowling Green or Victoria often file at Level 1, so confirm which level your specific employer intends before accepting an offer.
Verify your worksite not your employer headquarters
The LCA wage obligation ties to your assigned teaching worksite, not the sponsoring organization's home office. Instructors placed at satellite campuses or partner institutions in a different metro than their employer's headquarters must confirm wages against the worksite city's OES data.
Flag mismatches between your title and your SOC code
Titles like corporate trainer, language coach, or learning specialist are sometimes filed under SOC 25-3099 rather than a narrower education SOC. If your role has a specialized credential requirement, confirm the SOC your employer listed on the LCA matches the actual duties to avoid a prevailing wage shortfall.
Use Migrate Mate to find teaching sponsors with filing history
Some organizations that hire instructors under SOC 25-3099 sponsor infrequently or only in specific metro areas. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored this occupation, so you can focus on institutions with a demonstrated track record before investing time in an application process.
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Find Jobs for this roleFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Teachers and Instructors, All Other?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 25-3099, OFLC calculates four wage levels from that regional data and publishes them through its wage library. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect experience and autonomy. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 reflects independent but non-senior work; Level 3 covers experienced professionals with specialized duties; Level 4 applies to senior or program-leading roles. Review the job description against DOL's level definitions and check the LCA your employer filed with OFLC to confirm which level was used.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions in each metro area. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the wage data for the city where you actually teach, not their headquarters. Markets with dense educational institutions and higher costs of living, like coastal California metros, set significantly higher floors than rural or lower-cost regions.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully certify an LCA or file an H-1B or E-3 petition if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will deny a petition where the LCA wage commitment is not met, and DOL can investigate and assess back pay obligations if a certified wage is not actually paid. If your offer is below the floor, you should ask the employer to adjust the offer before filing proceeds.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 25-3099 wages by metropolitan area or county. Enter the worksite location and select the appropriate experience level to see the exact floor your employer must meet. You can also review publicly available LCA disclosure data through OFLC to see what wages comparable employers have filed for this occupation in your target market. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have actively sponsored this role by location.
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