Prevailing Wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Prevailing wage for Boring Machine Operator roles is set by DOL using regional labor surveys, so the floor a Cabinet Maker or Lathe Operator must meet depends on where the work is performed. DOL publishes four experience levels for this occupation, and the gap between entry-level and fully competent rates can be substantial depending on the metro.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Boring Machine Operators with limited hands-on experience, typically working under direct supervision on routine setups and standard production tasks. Workers at this level follow established procedures and have minimal independent decision-making responsibility.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It applies to qualified operators with solid production experience who can set up machines, adjust tolerances, and work with moderate supervision across a range of woodworking equipment including CNC units.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who troubleshoot equipment issues, train junior staff, and handle complex setups across multiple machine types. These workers exercise independent judgment and are trusted with tight-tolerance or high-value production runs.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior operators or lead machine setters who oversee production lines, optimize CNC programming parameters, and serve as the primary technical authority for woodworking machinery setup and quality standards on the floor.
Prevailing Wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing 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 Boring Machine Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for CNC title aliasing on your LCA
Job postings for CNC woodworking operators are sometimes filed under manufacturing or computer-controlled machining SOC codes instead of SOC 51-7042, which means the prevailing wage benchmark used may not match this occupation's floor. Confirm your LCA lists the correct SOC before signing an offer.
Account for the wide metro wage spread
The L1 floor in Manchester, NH runs nearly double what employers in Longview, TX must pay at the same level. If your offer is near the national median, verify it clears the worksite city's specific floor, not just the national figure.
Verify your level reflects machine scope not just tenure
DOL level determinations for this occupation hinge on the range of machines operated and degree of supervision, not years on the job alone. An operator running CNC shapers and planers independently typically qualifies at L3 even with fewer years than a press-only operator.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with sponsorship history
Woodworking and cabinet manufacturing employers who have sponsored Boring Machine Operator roles before are identifiable on Migrate Mate by their historical visa sponsorship counts, helping you target companies already familiar with the LCA and H-1B process for this occupation.
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Find Jobs for Boring Machine OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-7042.00 alongside Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Boring Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Boring Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Boring Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Cabinet Maker Prevailing Wage
Cabinet Maker Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cabinet Maker for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Knot Saw Operator Prevailing Wage
Knot Saw Operator Prevailing Wage
Knot Saw Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Lathe Operator Prevailing Wage
Lathe Operator Prevailing Wage
Lathe Operator positions fall under SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Molder Operator Prevailing Wage
Molder Operator Prevailing Wage
Molder Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Router Operator Prevailing Wage
Router Operator Prevailing Wage
Router Operator positions fall under SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Sander Prevailing Wage
Sander Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Sander for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Sander Operator Prevailing Wage
Sander Operator Prevailing Wage
Sander Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-7042.00 (Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing). 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Boring Machine Operator positions?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for this occupation using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from those surveys. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location before sponsoring a worker.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my role?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 reflects qualified operators handling standard production independently. Level 3 covers experienced workers who troubleshoot and train others. Level 4 is for fully competent senior or lead operators. DOL assigns the level based on job duties, required experience, and degree of supervisory oversight listed in the LCA, not solely on years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Boring Machine Operator role vary so much by city?
OFLC bases wages on regional OES surveys, so each metro area reflects its own local labor market conditions. The LCA rule requires employers to use the prevailing wage for the actual worksite location, not the company's headquarters. Dense manufacturing markets with higher costs of living and stronger union representation tend to produce higher survey wages, which is why metros like San Francisco or Manchester show substantially higher floors than rural Southern markets.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored Boring Machine Operator position?
OFLC will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage level for the worksite. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve an H-1B petition. If an employer files with a wage that later proves noncompliant, the petition is at risk of denial or revocation. Workers should independently verify the applicable floor before the LCA is submitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Boring Machine Operator role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, entering SOC code 51-7042 and the worksite metro area. The tool returns all four wage levels for that location. Cross-check with O*NET for the occupation's job zone and title variants, since some postings use alternate titles like Cabinet Maker or Molder Operator. Migrate Mate can also help you identify employers with a documented history of sponsoring this occupation in specific locations.
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