Prevailing Wage for Web Developers
Prevailing wage for Web Developers is set by DOL under SOC 15-1254, covering professionals hired under titles such as Web Architect, Technology Applications Engineer, and Web Design Specialist. DOL publishes four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level web developers with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Candidates at this level generally have a bachelor's degree and no more than one to two years of relevant professional experience.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Web Developers. It covers qualified professionals who work independently on standard development tasks, apply established methods, and hold two to four years of hands-on experience in web development or a closely related field.
Level 3 applies to experienced developers who handle complex projects, may guide junior staff, and exercise independent judgment regularly. Candidates typically have five or more years of progressive experience and demonstrate proficiency across the full development lifecycle.
Level 4 reflects fully competent senior or lead developers with advanced expertise, often setting technical direction or architectural standards for an organization. This level applies to those who function as recognized authorities and typically have seven or more years of specialized experience.
Prevailing Wage for Web Developers 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 Web Developers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title maps to SOC 15-1254
Titles like Webmaster, Web Architect, and Technology Applications Engineer all map to SOC 15-1254, but employers sometimes file LCAs under software developer or IT generalist codes, which carry different wage floors. Confirm your offer letter title matches the SOC on the certified LCA before accepting.
Exclude signing bonuses from your floor comparison
DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base salary alone for web developer roles. Signing bonuses, project completion bonuses, and RSU grants do not count toward meeting the wage floor, so compare only your annualized base salary against the certified LCA wage.
Watch wage gaps between agency and in-house roles
Web developers placed through staffing agencies often see LCAs filed at the client worksite city, not the agency's headquarters. A San Jose client worksite triggers a significantly higher prevailing wage floor than a filing anchored to a lower-cost agency location.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors of Web Developer roles
Migrate Mate lists jobs from employers with documented H-1B and green card sponsorship histories, so you can see which companies have sponsored web developer and webmaster positions before, and filter by location and visa type to focus your search.
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Find Jobs for Web DevelopersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 15-1254.00 alongside Web Developers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Technology Applications Engineer Prevailing Wage
Technology Applications Engineer Prevailing Wage
Technology Applications Engineer positions fall under SOC 15-1254.00 (Web Developers). 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.
Web Architect Prevailing Wage
Web Architect Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Web Architect for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 15-1254.00 (Web Developers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Web Design Specialist Prevailing Wage
Web Design Specialist Prevailing Wage
Web Design Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 15-1254.00 (Web Developers). 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.
Webmaster Prevailing Wage
Webmaster Prevailing Wage
Webmaster positions fall under SOC 15-1254.00 (Web Developers). 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 Web Developers?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 15-1254, the OFLC calculates four wage levels from the regional wage distribution: Level 1 at the 17th percentile, Level 2 at the 34th percentile, Level 3 at the 50th percentile, and Level 4 at the 67th percentile. Employers must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the applicable level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect experience and responsibility, not just years on the job. Level 1 covers entry-level developers under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified professionals working independently; Level 3 covers experienced developers handling complex work; Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead roles. Your employer assigns the level on the LCA based on the actual duties of your position. If the duties described are more senior than the level filed, DOL can find a wage violation on audit.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Web Developer role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor reflects local labor market conditions. San Jose and San Francisco show substantially higher floors than Fayetteville or Rapid City because of concentrated employer demand and higher regional pay. For sponsored positions, the wage on the LCA must match the worksite city, not the employer's headquarters. If you work remotely from a different metro, that metro's prevailing wage applies.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition backed by an underpaid LCA, and OFLC can audit and debar employers who file inaccurate certifications. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must raise the base salary before filing. Accepting a below-floor offer in a sponsored role does not create legal status and could expose the employer to back-pay liability.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Web Developers in a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 15-1254 in any metropolitan area covered by DOL. Enter the occupation code and select your worksite metro to see all four wage levels. You can cross-reference the O*NET profile for SOC 15-1254 to confirm the role description matches your duties. For finding employers who have sponsored web developer positions, Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by company and lets you filter by location and visa type.
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