Updated May 2026 · Derived from BLS OEWS 2025
Optometrist Prevailing Wage in Little Rock, AR (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 Optometrist (SOC 29-1041) in Little Rock, AR, Arkansas for 2026 is $77,280 at Level 1 (entry), $96,853 at Level 2 (qualified), $114,360 at Level 3 (experienced), and $134,607 at Level 4 (fully competent). These figures are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 wage percentile data, the same source the DOL uses for H-1B, PERM, E-3, and H-1B1 wage determinations.
Prevailing wages for Optometrist in Little Rock, AR, AR are the DOL OFLC wage thresholds used in H-1B Labor Condition Applications and PERM labor certifications. The four standard levels approximate experience tiers: Level 1 (entry, $68,770), Level 2 (qualified, $87,006), Level 3 (experienced, $114,360), Level 4 (fully competent, $144,135). Employers filing H-1B LCAs must attest to paying at least the prevailing wage for the role and geography. The DOL prevailing-wage system effectively sets a floor on H-1B compensation; employers paying above the prevailing wage signal a willingness to compete for talent on absolute pay rather than visa leverage.
BLS OEWS data anchors the prevailing-wage calculation, but the formal DOL prevailing wage is published separately at flag.dol.gov. The numbers here are BLS OEWS percentiles approximated to DOL's four wage levels; for binding LCA filings, the DOL FLAG database is the authoritative source.
📋 2026 DOL proposal would raise these floors
Under a Department of Labor proposed rule published March 27, 2026 (comment period closed May 26, 2026, not yet effective), each prevailing-wage level would move up a percentile band — Level 1 from the 17th to the 34th percentile, Level 2 34th→52nd, Level 3 50th→70th, Level 4 67th→88th. For Optometrist in Little Rock, AR, that would lift the Level 1 (entry) floor from $77,280 to roughly $96,853 (about +25%). The "Proposed (2026)" column below shows the estimated figure at every level.
Wage Levels Table
| Level | Description | Current %ile | Current Wage | Proposed %ile (2026)* | Proposed Wage* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry — basic understanding, close supervision | 17th | $77,280 | 34th | $96,853 |
| Level 2 | Qualified — moderately complex tasks, limited judgment | 34th | $96,853 | 52nd | $116,742 |
| Level 3 | Experienced — non-routine tasks, limited supervision (median) | 50th (median) | $114,360 | 70th | $138,180 |
| Level 4 | Fully competent — complex assignments, minimal direction | 67th | $134,607 | 88th | $169,940 |
* Proposed figures reflect the DOL NPRM published March 27, 2026 (DOL NPRM, 91 FR (FR doc 2026-06017)). The rule is not yet effective; the current-wage column remains the applicable floor for filings today.
Underlying BLS Percentile Wages (Little Rock, AR)
| Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,770 |
| 25th | $87,006 |
| 50th (Median) | $114,360 |
| 75th | $144,135 |
| 90th | $173,910 |
| Mean | $117,270 |
| Total Employment (Little Rock, AR MSA) | 70 |
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 29-1041 in this MSA, derived from the same OEWS 2025 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.
Related to Optometrist in Little Rock, AR
$114,360 median (BLS percentiles)
National BLS breakdown
COL index 88.2
SOC 29-1215
SOC 29-1021
SOC 29-1051
Frequently Asked Questions
Level 1 (entry) prevailing wage for Optometrist in Little Rock, AR is $77,280 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 Optometrist in Little Rock, AR is $96,853 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 Optometrist in Little Rock, AR is $114,360 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 Optometrist in Little Rock, AR is $134,607 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.
Possibly. A DOL proposed rule published March 27, 2026 (comment period closed May 26, 2026) would raise every floor by shifting the percentile bands — Level 1 from the 17th to the 34th percentile, Level 2 to the 52nd, Level 3 to the 70th, and Level 4 to the 88th. For Optometrist in Little Rock, AR that would lift the Level 1 (entry) floor from $77,280 to roughly $96,853, and Level 4 from $134,607 to roughly $169,940. The rule is NOT yet effective — filings today still use the current 17/34/50/67 levels — but employers and counsel planning H-1B or PERM cases should model both.
Prevailing wage levels on this page are derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 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.
Current Level 1/2/4 wages are linearly interpolated from BLS OEWS published percentiles (p10/p25/p50/p75/p90) using the effective DOL percentile mapping (Level 1 = 17th, Level 2 = 34th, Level 3 = 50th median, Level 4 = 67th). 'Proposed (2026)' figures apply the same interpolation to the higher percentiles in the DOL NPRM published March 27, 2026 (Level 1 = 34th, Level 2 = 52nd, Level 3 = 70th, Level 4 = 88th); that rule is not yet effective.