Prevailing Wage for Therapists, All Other
The prevailing wage for Therapists, All Other (SOC 29-1129) is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data and applies to H-1B, E-3, and PERM green card sponsorship. DOL defines four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city listed on the LCA.
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Entry-level filers typically have a bachelor's or master's degree and little to no post-degree clinical experience. Level 1 applies when work is routine and closely supervised, with limited independent judgment expected in the therapeutic setting.
Level 2 covers practitioners with moderate post-licensure experience who apply established therapeutic methods with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Therapists, All Other, reflecting the licensed but not yet senior clinician profile.
Level 3 applies to experienced clinicians who exercise independent judgment, may carry complex caseloads, and sometimes guide less experienced staff. Employers typically file at this level for roles requiring advanced specialization or supervisory components.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent senior practitioners in lead or highly specialized roles, such as program directors or clinical supervisors. These filers set practice standards and are expected to operate with full autonomy.
Prevailing Wage for Therapists, 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 licensure stage before accepting
Many therapy employers file at Level 1 for candidates who lack full independent licensure, even if the posted title sounds senior. Verify which DOL level your petition uses before signing, since the floor at Level 1 can be substantially below Level 2 in the same metro.
Watch out for low-wage metros in rural settings
Therapists, All Other positions at community mental health agencies and rural health clinics often land in metros where the prevailing wage floor sits well below the national median. Nashville and Salisbury show some of the lowest floors for this occupation, which can affect long-term green card wage compliance.
Separate your signing bonus from base salary
DOL prevailing wage compliance for sponsored therapists is measured against base wage, not total compensation. Signing bonuses and productivity incentives cannot be counted toward meeting the wage floor on your LCA, so confirm base salary alone clears the applicable level.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Therapy sponsorship is concentrated among hospital systems, behavioral health networks, and telehealth platforms. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have sponsored Therapists, All Other in the past, letting you focus your search on organizations with a real track record rather than those claiming openness to sponsorship.
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Find Jobs for Therapists, All OtherFrequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Therapists, All Other?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for this occupation using Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. The OFLC publishes four wage levels for each metro area based on those surveys. Employers sponsoring a therapist on H-1B or PERM must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location, as certified on the Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 reflects a qualified practitioner applying standard methods with moderate independence, and is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced clinicians with complex caseloads or limited supervisory duties. Level 4 applies to fully competent senior or lead practitioners. Your level is determined by the specific duties in your job description, not your title alone. Ask your employer which level they intend to file at before accepting an offer.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same therapist role vary so much by city?
DOL derives prevailing wages from regional BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions. The worksite address listed on the LCA determines which metro's wage floor applies, not where the employer is headquartered. Dense employer markets with higher costs of living, such as the New York metro area, produce higher survey wages, while smaller metros with fewer survey respondents can produce floors well below the national median.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA. For PERM green card cases, OFLC will reject the application. If your offer is below the floor, your employer must either raise the salary, reassess the wage level classification, or the sponsorship cannot proceed legally.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages for SOC 29-1129 by metro area. Select the occupation code, choose your worksite city, and the tool returns the four level wages. You can also ask your prospective employer to share the wage determination from their certified LCA. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers who have actively sponsored therapist roles, so you can focus on organizations already familiar with the LCA wage requirements.
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