DOL OFLC Updates Prevailing Wage Data for Northern Mariana Islands 2026

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has published updated prevailing wage data specifically for the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a U.S. territory in the Pacific. These wage updates are a routine but important part of the labor certification process that underpins many employment-based green card applications, including EB-3. Prevailing wage determinations are a critical component of the PERM labor certification process. Employers sponsoring foreign workers for permanent residence must pay at least the prevailing wage for the offered position and location. Updated wage data ensures that sponsors in the CNMI are using current, accurate wage levels when filing PERM applications or labor condition applications (LCAs). For EB-3 applicants or employers operating in the CNMI, this update may affect pending or upcoming PERM filings. Employers should review the new wage data and ensure their offered compensation meets or exceeds the updated prevailing wage levels before submitting new labor certification applications. While the CNMI has a unique immigration status compared to the continental U.S., this OFLC update reflects the DOL's ongoing maintenance of wage data across all U.S. territories. Employers and immigration attorneys handling CNMI-based sponsorships should consult the OFLC Foreign Labor Certification Data Center to access the newly published wage tables.