Prevailing Wage for Training and Development Specialists
Prevailing wage for Training and Development Specialists (SOC 13-1151) is set by the DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level Job Training Specialists to senior Corporate Trainers and Learning and Development Consultants. The floor varies significantly by city, so a sponsored role in San Jose pays far more than one in a lower-cost metro.
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Entry-level specialists with limited practical experience, typically recent graduates or those new to designing or delivering training programs. Work is closely supervised, with straightforward assignments and little expectation of independent curriculum development or needs analysis.
Qualified specialists with some independent experience conducting or designing training programs. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Training and Development Specialists, covering professionals who manage routine training cycles without requiring constant oversight.
Experienced specialists who lead complex training initiatives, evaluate program effectiveness, and may mentor junior staff. They apply specialized knowledge to organizational development challenges and operate with considerable autonomy across multiple training functions or business units.
Fully competent senior specialists who set training strategy, oversee large-scale development programs, and influence organizational performance at a leadership level. These professionals typically hold significant institutional expertise and may direct teams or manage enterprise-wide learning functions.
Prevailing Wage for Training and Development Specialists 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 Training and Development Specialists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Training and Development Specialists
Watch the L2-versus-L3 boundary closely
Employers filing for Corporate Trainers or Learning and Development Specialists frequently split at L2 versus L3 based on whether the role includes formal program evaluation or instructional design ownership. If your offer letter assigns both delivery and design responsibilities, confirm the employer is filing at L3, not L2.
Flag worksite location before signing
DOL ties the prevailing wage to the actual training worksite on the LCA, not the employer's headquarters. A Learning and Development Consultant hired by a Seattle firm but based in a Puerto Rico facility would face a wage floor well below the Seattle rate.
Separate base salary from variable pay
Signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement budgets, and performance incentives do not count toward prevailing wage compliance. For Corporate Trainer roles where variable pay is common, verify the base salary alone clears the floor for your city and level.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which employers have previously sponsored Training and Development Specialists and Learning and Development Consultants on H-1B and other visa types, so you can focus applications on companies with a real track record rather than guessing.
Jobs for Training and Development Specialists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-1151.00 alongside Training and Development Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Computer Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Computer Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Computer Training Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Corporate Trainer Prevailing Wage
Corporate Trainer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Corporate Trainer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Job Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Job Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Job Training Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Leadership Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Leadership Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Leadership Development Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Learning and Development Consultant Prevailing Wage
Learning and Development Consultant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Learning and Development Consultant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Learning and Development Specialist (L and D Specialist) Prevailing Wage
Learning and Development Specialist (L and D Specialist) Prevailing Wage
Learning and Development Specialist (L and D Specialist) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Management Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Management Development Specialist Prevailing Wage
Management Development Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Trainer Prevailing Wage
Trainer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Trainer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Training and Development Consultant Prevailing Wage
Training and Development Consultant Prevailing Wage
Training and Development Consultant is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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.
Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Training Specialist Prevailing Wage
Training Specialist positions fall under SOC 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists). 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 Training and Development Specialists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For SOC 13-1151, it calculates four wage levels by applying fixed percentile thresholds to the regional wage distribution for the occupation. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified professionals performing standard duties independently. Level 3 covers experienced specialists with complex responsibilities and autonomy. Level 4 covers fully competent senior roles with strategic or leadership scope. OFLC guidance ties level selection to actual job duties, not just job title, so review your offer letter and job description carefully against those definitions.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Training and Development Specialist role vary so much by city?
DOL derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 13-1151. Dense employer markets like San Jose and Seattle have higher median wages, which shift all four level thresholds upward. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor follows the work location, not the employer's home state or remote-work arrangement.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage level. USCIS will reject or issue a Request for Evidence on any H-1B petition backed by a non-compliant LCA. For green card PERM applications, a below-floor offer invalidates the labor certification entirely. If the offered salary falls short, the employer must either raise the base wage to the floor or refile at the correct level before sponsorship can proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Training and Development Specialist role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website, selecting SOC code 13-1151 and the metropolitan area that matches your future worksite. The tool returns all four level wages for that location. You can also cross-reference O*NET for occupational details confirming the role fits this SOC. Migrate Mate lists Training and Development Specialist and Corporate Trainer roles at employers with confirmed H-1B sponsorship history, helping you identify which companies are actively filing for this occupation.
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