Prevailing Wage for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Prevailing wage for an Automated Cutting Machine Operator is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer covers a CNC Cutting Operator or a Fabric Cutter role, DOL assigns four experience levels, each carrying a distinct wage threshold.
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Entry-level candidates with limited hands-on experience operating cutting equipment and minimal independent judgment. Typically recent hires learning machine settings under direct supervision, with no expectation of training others or handling complex pattern specifications.
Qualified operators with practical experience running cutting machines with routine independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation, reflecting workers who handle standard production runs and troubleshoot minor machine issues without close oversight.
Experienced operators who manage varied or complex cutting tasks, interpret technical specifications independently, and may coordinate with quality or production teams. They exercise judgment on non-routine material types and fabric behaviors without requiring supervisory guidance.
Fully competent senior operators or lead-level workers setting up equipment for others, establishing cutting parameters for new materials, and serving as the primary technical resource on the floor. May have formal or informal supervisory responsibilities over junior operators.
Prevailing Wage for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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.
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Verify your filing level matches machine scope
Employers in textile and apparel manufacturing frequently file at Level 1 for operators who run CNC Cutting Operator roles with computer-controlled equipment, even when those workers exercise independent judgment on material tension and blade settings. If your role involves autonomous setup decisions, Level 2 may be the correct floor.
Compare wages across textile-dense metros
Prevailing wages for this occupation vary sharply by region. Apparel-manufacturing hubs like Hickory, NC and Greenville, SC pay notably higher than border metros like El Paso, TX. If you receive offers from multiple locations, compare the worksite-specific L2 floor before evaluating the offer salary.
Watch for bonus exclusions in textile production pay
Some textile employers structure part of operator compensation as production bonuses or shift-differential pay. DOL's prevailing wage compliance calculation uses base wage only, so confirm your guaranteed base salary clears the floor before factoring in any variable production incentives.
Use Migrate Mate to find proven sponsors
Sponsored positions for Automated Cutting Machine Operators are concentrated in a narrow set of textile manufacturers. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring this occupation, so you can focus applications on companies that have actually filed for this role before.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6062.00 alongside Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Automated Cutting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Automated Cutting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Automated Cutting Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator) Prevailing Wage
CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter Prevailing Wage
Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
Cutter Operator Prevailing Wage
Cutter Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Die Cut Operator Prevailing Wage
Die Cut Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Die Cut Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter Prevailing Wage
Fabric Cutter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Laser Operator Prevailing Wage
Laser Operator Prevailing Wage
Laser Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Spread Cutter Prevailing Wage
Spread Cutter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Spread Cutter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Spreader Prevailing Wage
Spreader Prevailing Wage
Spreader is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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.
Textile Slitting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Textile Slitting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Textile Slitting Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6062.00 (Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). 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 an Automated Cutting Machine Operator?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages by occupation and geography. For each SOC code, including this one, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from the regional wage distribution. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the wage corresponding to the level that matches the offered position's actual duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 covers entry-level workers under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified operators working with routine independence, which is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced workers handling complex or varied tasks. Level 4 is for fully competent lead-level operators. The level assigned must match the actual duties in the offered position, not just the employer's preferred cost.
Why does the prevailing wage for this role differ so much from city to city?
OFLC calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions rather than a single national rate. The LCA rule requires employers to use the prevailing wage for the worksite location listed on the application, not company headquarters. Markets with large textile manufacturing concentrations, like Hickory, NC or Greenville, SC, produce different survey baselines than low-wage regions, which is why the same Cutter Operator role can have a meaningfully different floor across metros.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully certify an LCA at a wage below the DOL prevailing wage for the occupation, level, and worksite. If USCIS or DOL identifies a shortfall, the petition can be denied or, if already approved, the employer may face back-wage liability. For H-1B and similar visa categories, the offered wage must equal or exceed the prevailing wage at the time of filing and throughout the employment period.
How do I look up the prevailing wage for an Automated Cutting Machine Operator at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on DOL's website. Select the relevant SOC code (51-6062), choose the state and metro area matching your worksite, and the tool returns the four wage levels for that location. You can also reference BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for broader regional context. For sponsored job listings filtered by employer sponsorship history for this occupation, Migrate Mate lets you search by role and location.
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