Updated May 2026 · Derived from BLS OEWS 2024
Civil Engineer Prevailing Wage in Washington, DC (2026)
DOL Levels 1–4 derived from BLS OEWS percentile data. For H-1B, PERM, E-3, H-1B1 reference.
The Department of Labor prevailing wage for Civil Engineer (SOC 17-2051) in Washington, DC, Washington, DC for 2026 is $73,985 at Level 1 (entry), $88,754 at Level 2 (qualified), $100,370 at Level 3 (experienced), and $120,151 at Level 4 (fully competent). These figures are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 wage percentile data, the same source the DOL uses for H-1B, PERM, E-3, and H-1B1 wage determinations.
Wage Levels Table
| Level | Description | BLS Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry — basic understanding, close supervision | 17th percentile | $73,985 |
| Level 2 | Qualified — moderately complex tasks, limited judgment | 34th percentile | $88,754 |
| Level 3 | Experienced — non-routine tasks, limited supervision (median) | 50th percentile (median) | $100,370 |
| Level 4 | Fully competent — complex assignments, minimal direction | 67th percentile | $120,151 |
Underlying BLS Percentile Wages (Washington, DC)
| Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,780 |
| 25th | $82,220 |
| 50th (Median) | $100,370 |
| 75th | $129,460 |
| 90th | $162,060 |
| Mean | $108,530 |
| Total Employment (Washington, DC MSA) | 8,280 |
How DOL Prevailing Wage Levels Work
The U.S. Department of Labor uses four prevailing wage levels for foreign labor certification programs (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, PERM, H-2B). Each level corresponds to a specific percentile of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS wage distribution for the relevant occupation and metropolitan area.
- Level 1 (entry): Workers with basic understanding of duties; close supervision; detailed instructions. ≈ 17th percentile.
- Level 2 (qualified): Good understanding of duties; moderately complex tasks; limited judgment required. ≈ 34th percentile.
- Level 3 (experienced): Sound understanding of duties; non-routine tasks; limited supervision. = 50th percentile (median).
- Level 4 (fully competent): Mastery of duties; complex assignments; minimal direction. ≈ 67th percentile.
Employers determine the appropriate level based on the position requirements (education, experience, special skills, supervision). The wage offered to the foreign worker must equal or exceed the applicable prevailing wage level — otherwise the LCA or PERM application will be denied.
Using This Page in Practice
Job seekers / H-1B / E-3 / H-1B1 candidates: Use these figures to assess whether a sponsor's offer meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for your level. The most common Level 2 / Level 3 mismatch (offered wage below the appropriate level) is a red flag; immigration attorneys typically catch this in LCA review.
Employers / HR: These figures approximate what the DOL FLC Data Center will return for SOC 17-2051 in this MSA, derived from the same OEWS 2024 dataset. For official LCA filing, always pull the wage directly from flag.dol.gov — DOL refreshes the data file at slightly different intervals than this site.
Immigration attorneys: Use this page as a quick sanity-check on client offers before pulling the official LCA wage; it can also be a useful client-facing reference when explaining how level determinations work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Level 1 (entry) prevailing wage for Civil Engineer in Washington, DC is $73,985 per year as of 2026. Level 1 is set at the 17th percentile of BLS OEWS wage data — the standard threshold for workers with basic understanding of duties, requiring close supervision and detailed instructions.
Level 2 (qualified) prevailing wage for Civil Engineer in Washington, DC is $88,754 per year. Level 2 corresponds to the 34th percentile of BLS OEWS wage data — workers with good understanding of duties, performing moderately complex tasks with limited judgment.
Level 3 (experienced) prevailing wage for Civil Engineer in Washington, DC is $100,370 per year. Level 3 is the 50th percentile (median) of BLS OEWS wage data — workers with sound understanding of duties, applying knowledge to non-routine tasks with limited supervision.
Level 4 (fully competent) prevailing wage for Civil Engineer in Washington, DC is $120,151 per year. Level 4 corresponds to the 67th percentile of BLS OEWS wage data — workers with mastery of duties, planning and conducting complex assignments with minimal direction.
Prevailing wage levels on this page are derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 wage percentile data — the same source the DOL Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) Data Center uses for H-1B and PERM wage determinations. Level 1 ≈ 17th percentile, Level 2 ≈ 34th, Level 3 = 50th (median), Level 4 ≈ 67th. We interpolate between BLS-published p10/p25/p50/p75 because OEWS does not directly publish 17/34/67 percentile wages. For official wage determinations, attorneys and employers must use the DOL FLC Data Center directly.
No. The figures on this page are educational estimates derived from public BLS OEWS data using the standard DOL percentile mapping. For official prevailing wage determinations used in H-1B LCAs (Labor Condition Applications), PERM applications, or other immigration filings, employers and immigration attorneys must consult the DOL Foreign Labor Certification Data Center at flag.dol.gov or obtain a National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) determination. SalaryTruth is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Level 1/2/4 wages are linearly interpolated from BLS OEWS published percentiles (p10/p25/p50/p75) using the standard DOL percentile mapping (Level 1 = 17th, Level 2 = 34th, Level 3 = 50th, Level 4 = 67th). Level 3 equals the published median directly.