Prevailing Wage for Teaching Assistants, All Other
The prevailing wage for Teaching Assistants, All Other (SOC 25-9049) is set by the Department of Labor using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. DOL assigns four experience levels, each with its own wage floor, and the applicable rate depends on the worksite city listed on the Labor Condition Application.
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Level 1 covers entry-level teaching assistants with limited classroom experience, typically performing routine support tasks under direct supervision. Employers file at this level for candidates new to the role who require ongoing guidance and have not yet developed independent instructional practices.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for teaching assistants, covering candidates with some classroom experience who work with moderate supervision. Workers at this level handle standard instructional support duties and have a working knowledge of classroom procedures and student needs.
Level 3 applies to experienced teaching assistants who exercise independent judgment and may informally mentor newer staff. These workers bring several years of hands-on classroom support experience and can manage instructional tasks with minimal direct supervision.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent teaching assistants functioning at a senior or lead capacity. Workers at this level may coordinate support staff, develop instructional materials independently, or take on responsibilities that extend well beyond standard classroom assistance roles.
Prevailing Wage for Teaching Assistants, 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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Confirm your level matches classroom supervision scope
Teaching assistant positions range from closely supervised aide roles to near-independent instructional support. Employers often file at Level 1 even when the actual duties involve moderate autonomy, which can push the wage floor below what the work genuinely requires.
Watch for low-wage metros when evaluating offers
Prevailing wages for this occupation vary sharply by region. Metros in Mississippi and Alabama set floors well below the national median, so an offer that clears the local prevailing wage may still fall short of what comparable positions pay in higher-cost education markets.
Search Migrate Mate for employers sponsoring this role
Teaching assistant sponsorships are concentrated among universities, school districts, and research institutions. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a verified sponsorship history for this occupation, helping you focus applications on institutions that have actually filed for this role before.
Check whether your title maps to the right SOC code
Titles such as instructional aide, classroom assistant, or paraprofessional educator are sometimes filed under related SOC codes with different wage floors. Confirm your employer's LCA lists SOC 25-9049 so the correct Teaching Assistants, All Other prevailing wage applies to your position.
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Find Jobs for Teaching Assistants, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Teaching Assistants, All Other?
DOL derives prevailing wages for this occupation from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OFLC processes these surveys into four wage levels for each metropolitan area. Employers sponsoring a foreign worker must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable OFLC-published floor for SOC 25-9049 at the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 reflects entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified workers with some experience and moderate oversight, which is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced workers operating independently. Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with the broadest scope. Review the actual duties listed in the job description and compare them against OFLC's level definitions to identify the correct tier.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role differ so much from city to city?
OFLC derives wage floors from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive each metro's figures. The employer must use the prevailing wage for the specific worksite listed on the LCA, not a national average. Markets with strong public university systems or high-cost-of-living areas, such as Seattle or San Jose, produce significantly higher floors than lower-wage education markets in the Southeast.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify the LCA if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS and DOL treat the prevailing wage floor as a minimum compliance requirement. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must raise it before filing. Accepting a role with a below-floor offer in a sponsored position exposes the employer to LCA compliance violations and jeopardizes the petition.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and metropolitan area. Search for SOC 25-9049 and select the relevant worksite metro to see all four wage levels. You can also cross-reference BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for the same area. Migrate Mate lets you filter listings by location and see which employers have sponsored teaching assistant roles, giving you a starting point for comparing offers against local wage floors.
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