Prevailing Wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Prevailing wages for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers are set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so the floor a Brazer or MIG Welder must clear depends on where the work is performed. DOL defines four experience levels, and the gap between an entry-level Fabrication Welder and a fully competent Maintenance Welder can be significant.
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Entry-level welders and solderers with limited hands-on experience, typically under two years. Work is closely supervised, tasks are routine and well-defined, and the worker is still building core process skills such as basic MIG or torch technique.
The most common filing level for sponsored welders. Workers have two or more years of experience handling standard joins, materials, and equipment setups with moderate supervision. Most employer LCA filings for this occupation fall at Level 2.
Experienced professionals who perform complex or specialized welds, troubleshoot quality issues, and work largely without direct supervision. May guide junior welders on technique and interpret engineering drawings or weld procedure specifications independently.
Fully competent lead or senior welders with broad process expertise, including multi-process certification or specialty materials experience. Responsible for setting weld procedures, approving quality, and mentoring others. Top-tier employers in high-cost metros typically file at this level.
Prevailing Wage for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Verify your process certifications match the filed level
Employers sponsoring welders often file at Level 2, but if your offer requires AWS or ASME certification for pressure vessels or structural work, the role may warrant Level 3. A level mismatch between your certifications and the filed LCA can create problems at adjudication.
Watch out for shift differentials excluded from the wage base
Welding and fabrication jobs frequently include hazard pay, night-shift premiums, or tool allowances. DOL counts only regular wages toward prevailing wage compliance; shift differentials and non-discretionary bonuses paid irregularly do not count, so your base hourly rate must clear the floor alone.
Prioritize metro areas with high fabrication and energy sector density
Metros near petrochemical facilities, such as Baton Rouge, or shipyards and aerospace plants pay significantly above the national median. If you have flexibility on location, targeting these high-concentration industrial metros can place your offer well above the prevailing wage floor.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with welder sponsorship history
Migrate Mate shows which companies have previously sponsored welders and similar fabrication roles on H-1B or green card filings. Focusing on employers with documented sponsorship history in manufacturing and industrial sectors reduces the risk of pursuing offers from companies unfamiliar with the LCA process.
Jobs for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-4121.00 alongside Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Assembly Line Brazer Prevailing Wage
Assembly Line Brazer Prevailing Wage
Assembly Line Brazer positions fall under SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
Brazer Prevailing Wage
Brazer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Brazer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Fabrication Welder Prevailing Wage
Fabrication Welder Prevailing Wage
Fabrication Welder is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
Maintenance Welder Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Welder Prevailing Wage
Maintenance Welder positions fall under SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder) Prevailing Wage
MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a MIG Welder (Metal Inert Gas Welder) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Solderer Prevailing Wage
Solderer Prevailing Wage
Solderer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder) Prevailing Wage
TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder) Prevailing Wage
TIG Welder (Tungsten Inert Gas Welder) positions fall under SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
Welder Prevailing Wage
Welder Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Welder for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Welder Fitter Prevailing Wage
Welder Fitter Prevailing Wage
Welder Fitter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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.
Wirer Prevailing Wage
Wirer Prevailing Wage
Wirer positions fall under SOC 51-4121.00 (Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers). 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 welders and related occupations?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for welders using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For each area, DOL ranks reported wages and assigns four levels based on percentile thresholds. The OFLC Wage Search tool publishes these figures, and employers must certify on the LCA that they will pay at or above the applicable level for the specific worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and supervision. Level 1 covers entry-level workers with limited experience under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified workers handling routine tasks with moderate oversight, which is the most common filing level for welding occupations. Level 3 applies to experienced workers performing complex work independently. Level 4 covers fully competent senior or lead professionals. Your employer selects the level on the LCA based on the actual job duties, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same welding role vary so much by city?
DOL bases wages on regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the floor. A market with heavy petrochemical, shipbuilding, or aerospace demand, such as Baton Rouge or Honolulu, produces higher survey wages than a market with lower industrial activity. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the wage floor is set by where the work physically happens, not where the employer is headquartered. OFLC enforces this worksite-on-LCA rule strictly.
What happens if a job offer is below the DOL prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA or file an H-1B or PERM petition if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage. USCIS and DOL both review wage compliance during adjudication. If a petition is filed with a non-compliant wage, it can be denied or trigger a Request for Evidence. Workers already employed may face back-pay liability for the employer if a Department of Labor investigation finds a violation after certification.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a welder role at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up wages by SOC code 51-4121 and the metropolitan area where the job will be performed. Enter the worksite city or metro, select the occupation, and the tool returns all four wage levels. You can also check O*NET for occupational detail that helps confirm the correct SOC. If the employer has submitted a Prevailing Wage Determination request to OFLC for PERM purposes, that determination will also reflect the official floor for that specific location and position.
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