Prevailing Wage for Transportation Inspectors
Prevailing wages for Transportation Inspectors are set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, creating four experience-based levels that apply to H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorships. Whether the role is filed as a Marine Surveyor, Cargo Surveyor, or general Inspector, the wage floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Entry-level inspectors with limited experience performing routine tasks under close supervision, typically following established procedures. Usually holds a relevant degree or equivalent certification with minimal independent judgment expected on the job.
Qualified inspectors with moderate experience working independently on standard assignments. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Transportation Inspectors, reflecting the field's expectation of hands-on proficiency without senior oversight.
Experienced inspectors who exercise independent judgment on complex cases, may guide junior staff, and handle specialized areas such as petroleum inspection or marine cargo survey without routine supervision.
Fully competent senior inspectors in lead or principal roles, setting standards, mentoring teams, and handling the most complex inspection assignments. Employer filings at this level are less frequent and reflect deep domain authority.
Prevailing Wage for Transportation Inspectors 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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Verify your title matches SOC 53-6051
Titles like Marine Surveyor, Petroleum Inspector, and Cargo Surveyor all map to SOC 53-6051, but employers occasionally file under adjacent SOC codes. Confirm your LCA references Transportation Inspectors to avoid a prevailing wage floor mismatch.
Account for metro wage gaps before negotiating
Oklahoma City and Orlando post considerably higher prevailing wage floors than border metros like Laredo or El Paso. Negotiating salary without knowing your specific worksite's OES-derived floor can leave you accepting an offer that barely clears the DOL minimum.
Watch for bonus structures that inflate apparent compensation
DOL requires the prevailing wage to be met through regular wages. Signing bonuses, discretionary performance pay, and per-diem allowances common in field inspection roles typically do not count toward satisfying the wage floor on your LCA.
Find employers who sponsor Transportation Inspectors on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which companies have active sponsorship histories for inspection roles, so you can focus on employers with a verified track record of filing H-1B or green card petitions for Transportation Inspectors rather than cold-applying broadly.
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Find Jobs for Transportation InspectorsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 53-6051.00 alongside Transportation Inspectors, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Cargo Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Cargo Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Cargo Surveyor positions fall under SOC 53-6051.00 (Transportation Inspectors). 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.
Inspector Prevailing Wage
Inspector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Inspector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-6051.00 (Transportation Inspectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Marine Cargo Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Marine Cargo Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Marine Cargo Surveyor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 53-6051.00 (Transportation Inspectors). 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.
Marine Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Marine Surveyor Prevailing Wage
Marine Surveyor positions fall under SOC 53-6051.00 (Transportation Inspectors). 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.
Petroleum Inspector Prevailing Wage
Petroleum Inspector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Petroleum Inspector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 53-6051.00 (Transportation Inspectors). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Transportation Inspectors?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, organized by SOC code and geographic area. For Transportation Inspectors under SOC 53-6051, OFLC converts those wage percentiles into four levels, and 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 applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision; Level 2 reflects qualified independent performance and is the most commonly filed level for this occupation; Level 3 applies to experienced inspectors with complex caseloads; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your level is determined by the job duties described on the LCA, not your title. Review the position description carefully against OFLC level definitions to confirm alignment.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same inspection role differ so much between cities?
OFLC derives wages from regional Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys, so each metro area produces its own set of level floors. The LCA must use the wage for the actual worksite address, not the employer's headquarters. Markets with large port, aviation, or energy infrastructure, such as Seattle or Atlanta, generate denser survey samples and often higher floors than smaller border metros where inspection volumes are lower.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the DOL prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level for the worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition for the role. For PERM-based green card cases, a below-floor offer similarly disqualifies the application. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or file at a level consistent with the actual duties and compensation.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Transportation Inspectors in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 53-6051 by metropolitan area or state. Select the relevant level based on your experience and the job duties listed on the offer. Cross-check against the O*NET occupation profile to confirm the role aligns with this SOC. Migrate Mate also lets you filter Transportation Inspector listings by location so you can compare employer salary ranges against the DOL floor before applying.
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