Prevailing Wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Prevailing wages for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, SOC 51-2061, are set by DOL and apply directly to H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorships. Whether your offer is for a Calibration Specialist, Clockmaker, or Horologist role, the floor varies by city and by one of four DOL experience levels.

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Level 1Entry
National median
$27K
$12.89/hr

Entry-level filers with limited experience performing basic assembly or adjustment tasks under close supervision, typically with no specialized training in timing mechanisms. Employers file Level 1 when the position requires minimal independent judgment and the worker is still developing occupational competence.

Level 2Qualified
National median
$35K
$16.62/hr

Qualified workers with practical experience assembling or calibrating timing devices with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, covering technicians who handle a range of device types but have not yet reached a senior or specialist scope.

Level 3Experienced
National median
$42K
$20.36/hr

Experienced professionals who perform complex precision assembly or adjustment tasks independently, often with expertise in specific device categories such as digital timers or electromechanical components. These workers may informally guide junior assemblers and require minimal supervisory oversight.

Level 4Fully Competent
National median
$50K
$24.09/hr

Fully competent senior-level workers with comprehensive expertise in timing device systems, responsible for the most difficult calibration work, quality standards, and possibly training or leading other assemblers. Employers file Level 4 for recognized specialists whose scope exceeds routine production.

Prevailing Wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters by OES area

Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.

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$26K/yr$27K/yr

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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Prevailing Wage Guide for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Confirm your SOC code before signing

Titles like Watch Technician and Calibrator sometimes get filed under broader manufacturing or instrument repair SOC codes, which carry different prevailing wage floors. Verify your LCA cites SOC 51-2061 specifically before accepting a sponsored offer.

Watch how bonus pay is treated

For precision assembly roles like this one, employers may structure pay with production bonuses or tool allowances. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against the base wage only, so one-time signing bonuses or non-guaranteed incentives cannot be counted toward meeting the floor.

Factor in worksite location, not employer headquarters

The prevailing wage on your LCA must reflect the actual worksite city where assembly or calibration work is performed. A timing device manufacturer headquartered in a low-cost metro but with a facility elsewhere must certify wages at the worksite location.

Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with filing history

Because sponsorship for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters is concentrated among a narrow set of precision manufacturing employers, Migrate Mate lets you filter by companies that have previously sponsored this role and see their historical visa filing counts before applying.

Jobs for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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Prevailing Wage by Reported Job Title

DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-2061.00 alongside Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.

Calibration Specialist Prevailing Wage

Calibration Specialist positions fall under SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Calibrator Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Calibrator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Clockmaker Prevailing Wage

Clockmaker is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Horologist Prevailing Wage

Horologist positions fall under SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Time Stamp Assembler Prevailing Wage

When a U.S. employer sponsors a Time Stamp Assembler for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Watch Technician Prevailing Wage

Watch Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Watchmaker Prevailing Wage

Watchmaker positions fall under SOC 51-2061.00 (Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters). 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.

Level 1
Entry
$27K
$12.89/hr
Level 2
Qualified
$35K
$16.62/hr
Level 3
Experienced
$42K
$20.36/hr
Level 4
Fully Competent
$50K
$24.09/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters?

DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-2061, DOL derives four wage levels by applying fixed percentile thresholds to regional wage distributions. Employers sponsoring a worker under H-1B, E-3, or PERM must pay at least the prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite location, as certified on the LCA filed with OFLC.

What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?

DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and task complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level assembly under close oversight. Level 2 applies to qualified workers handling a range of timing devices with moderate supervision. Level 3 reflects experienced technicians working independently. Level 4 covers fully competent specialists leading complex calibration work. Your employer selects the level that matches the actual job duties described in the petition, and USCIS reviews whether that selection is defensible.

Why does prevailing wage for the same role vary so much by city?

DOL's wage floors are derived from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, which capture local labor market rates. A Calibration Specialist position in a high-cost manufacturing hub will reflect higher local wages than the same role in a rural or lower-density market. The worksite address on the LCA determines which regional rate applies, not the employer's corporate address. OFLC publishes wage data by metropolitan statistical area, so even neighboring cities can produce meaningfully different floors.

What happens if a sponsored offer is below the prevailing wage?

An offer below the DOL prevailing wage for the certified level and worksite will cause the LCA to fail OFLC review, blocking the H-1B or E-3 petition from proceeding. If a discrepancy is discovered after approval, DOL can require back wages and bar the employer from future sponsorships. Workers should independently verify that the wage on the LCA matches or exceeds the published prevailing wage before the petition is filed.

How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?

Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 51-2061 by metropolitan area or state. Select the applicable wage level and confirm the worksite city matches what your employer intends to certify on the LCA. You can also cross-reference the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational wage tables for regional context. Migrate Mate lets you filter open roles by location so you can compare what employers are offering against the prevailing wage floor for that market.

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