Prevailing Wage for Telephone Operators
Prevailing wage compliance for Telephone Operators, including roles filed as Directory Assistance Operator and Live Source Operator, starts with the DOL's Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. metro the worksite sits in.
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Entry-level operators with limited experience, typically working under close supervision with scripted call flows and minimal independent judgment. DOL defines this tier as fewer than two years in the occupation, performing routine, repetitive tasks.
Operators with practical experience handling diverse call types, billing disputes, and special request queues with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Telephone Operators, reflecting the structured but varied nature of day-to-day work.
Experienced operators who work largely independently, handle escalations, and may assist with training newer staff. DOL places this tier at operators who apply broader judgment and resolve non-routine situations without regular supervisory direction.
Senior or lead operators with full competence across all call types, emergency protocols, and accessibility support functions. These individuals set quality benchmarks, handle the most complex routing and billing scenarios, and may coordinate small operator teams.
Prevailing Wage for Telephone Operators 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 Telephone Operators and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Check which SOC code your title uses
Job postings for PBX Operator or Information Specialist sometimes get filed under a clerical SOC rather than 43-2021. If the LCA references a different occupation code, the prevailing wage floor on your offer letter may not match the Telephone Operators schedule at all.
Account for Boston and Worcester wage compression
Massachusetts metros show unusually narrow gaps between Level 1 and Level 4 for this occupation. If your offer is in Boston or Worcester, a Level 3 title may carry a floor close to what entry-level earns elsewhere, so cross-check the specific metro before accepting.
Confirm base salary covers the floor without call bonuses
Performance bonuses tied to call volume or quality scores are excluded from the prevailing wage calculation. DOL counts only the guaranteed base wage, so verify your base salary alone clears the applicable level floor before factoring in any variable pay components.
Find employers who have sponsored Telephone Operators before
Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, letting you see which companies have actually filed H-1B or other visa petitions for this occupation rather than relying on a job posting's generic statement about visa support.
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Find Jobs for Telephone OperatorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-2021.00 alongside Telephone Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op) Prevailing Wage
411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op) Prevailing Wage
411 Directory Assistance Operator (411 Directory Assistance Op) positions fall under SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op) Prevailing Wage
Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Directory Assistance Operator (Directory Assistance Op) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Information Specialist Prevailing Wage
Information Specialist Prevailing Wage
Information Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Live Source Operator (Live Source Op) Prevailing Wage
Live Source Operator (Live Source Op) Prevailing Wage
Live Source Operator (Live Source Op) positions fall under SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Long Distance Operator (LD Operator) Prevailing Wage
Long Distance Operator (LD Operator) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Long Distance Operator (LD Operator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator) Prevailing Wage
PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator) Prevailing Wage
PBX Operator (Post Box Exchange Operator) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Phone Operator (Telephone Operator) Prevailing Wage
Phone Operator (Telephone Operator) Prevailing Wage
Phone Operator (Telephone Operator) positions fall under SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary) Prevailing Wage
Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Phone Secretary (Telephone Secretary) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
TELECOM Op (Telecommunications Operator) Prevailing Wage
TELECOM Op (Telecommunications Operator) Prevailing Wage
TELECOM Op (Telecommunications Operator) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Toll Operator (Toll Op) Prevailing Wage
Toll Operator (Toll Op) Prevailing Wage
Toll Operator (Toll Op) positions fall under SOC 43-2021.00 (Telephone Operators). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Telephone Operators?
DOL calculates the prevailing wage using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 43-2021, OFLC maps those regional wage percentiles to four experience levels. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored Telephone Operators position must offer at least the applicable level wage for the worksite metropolitan area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 covers entry workers under close supervision; Level 2 applies to operators handling varied call types with moderate oversight; Level 3 covers those working independently with escalation responsibility; Level 4 covers fully competent senior operators. The level on the LCA should match the actual duties and experience your role requires, not simply the title your employer prefers.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Telephone Operators role differ so much city to city?
OFLC bases each metro floor on regional OES survey data, so wage levels reflect local labor market conditions rather than a national average. The LCA rule requires employers to list the actual worksite location, meaning a remote or relocated operator triggers the wage floor for where the work is performed. Los Angeles and New York floors run significantly higher than Pittsburgh or Miami because local survey wages in those labor markets are higher.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Telephone Operators position?
An LCA certified at a wage below the applicable OFLC floor is not legally compliant. USCIS can deny or revoke the underlying H-1B petition if the offered wage doesn't meet the prevailing wage requirement, and DOL can assess back-wage liability against the employer. Candidates should request a copy of the certified LCA and compare the listed wage to the published OFLC prevailing wage before accepting an offer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Telephone Operators in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC code 43-2021 for any covered metropolitan area. Select the wage year your employer's LCA references and confirm both the level and the metro. You can also check the O*NET profile for Telephone Operators to understand how DOL classifies the role before comparing your offer's stated wage level to the published floor. Migrate Mate lists open roles filtered by visa type so you can see where sponsored positions are actively posted.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Telephone Operators right now.
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