Coeur Mining Inc. · Lead, South Dakota
Case #I-203-22222-408905
Coeur Mining Inc. filed an E-3 AUSTRALIAN petition for a Senior Director, Principal Geologist position in Lead, South Dakota at $210k per year — 172% above the prevailing wage of $77k. The case was certified in 7 days during the FY FY2022 cycle. This position is for new employment.
| Case Number | I-203-22222-408905 |
| Case Status | Certified |
| Visa Class | E-3 AUSTRALIAN |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2022 |
| Employer | Coeur Mining Inc. |
| Employer Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Job Title | Senior Director, Principal Geologist |
| SOC Code | 19-204200 – Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers |
| Worksite | Lead, South Dakota |
| Annual Wage | $210k |
| Prevailing Wage | $77k |
| Wage Premium | +172.1% |
| Positions | 1 (1 new, 0 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant General Manager | $210k | CERTIFIED | Jun 9, 2025 |
| Chief Financial Officer | $475k | CERTIFIED | May 14, 2024 |
| Senior Manager, Technical Evaluations & Corporate Developmen | $177k | CERTIFIED | Aug 10, 2023 |
| VP Corporate Development & Treasurer | $345k | CERTIFIED | May 10, 2022 |
| Director, Talent Acquisition and Development | $150k | CERTIFIED | Mar 7, 2022 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by Coeur Mining Inc. for the position of Senior Director, Principal Geologist in Lead, South Dakota. The offered annual salary is $210k, compared to the prevailing wage of $77k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +172.1% above the prevailing wage.
The LCA is the first step in the H-1B visa process. Employers must file an LCA with the Department of Labor certifying that they will pay the foreign worker at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment. A certified LCA is required before the employer can file an H-1B petition with USCIS.
Case status: Certified. This means the Department of Labor has certified that the employer meets the wage and working condition requirements.
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a mandatory document that U.S. employers must file with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) before they can petition for a foreign worker under the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa categories. The LCA process was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to protect both foreign and domestic workers by ensuring fair wages and working conditions.
When a U.S. company identifies a foreign national to fill a specialty occupation position, they must first obtain DOL certification through the LCA process before filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this case, Coeur Mining Inc. filed LCA case number I-203-22222-408905 to sponsor a Senior Director, Principal Geologist position at their worksite in Lead, South Dakota. By filing this LCA, the employer attests to four key conditions: (1) paying the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, (2) providing working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers, (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite, and (4) providing notice of the filing to the bargaining representative or posting notice at the worksite.
The DOL establishes four wage levels for each occupation and geographic area, representing the progression from entry-level to fully competent workers:
For this filing, the offered wage of $210k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $77k for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers positions in the Lead, South Dakota area. The positive wage premium of +172.1% indicates the employer is offering above the DOL-determined average for this occupation and location.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The DOL determines prevailing wages using data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers must pay H-1B workers the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in similar positions at the company. This requirement is designed to prevent employers from using H-1B workers to undercut domestic wages.
A "Certified" status means the DOL has reviewed Coeur Mining Inc.'s attestations and determined that the LCA meets all regulatory requirements. The employer has demonstrated that the offered wage of $210k meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for Senior Director, Principal Geologist positions in the Lead, South Dakota area. It is important to understand that LCA certification does not guarantee H-1B visa approval. The next step is for the employer to file Form I-129 with USCIS, which evaluates whether the position qualifies as a specialty occupation and whether the beneficiary has the required qualifications.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Aug 10, 2022 and a decision was rendered on Aug 17, 2022, a processing time of approximately 7 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application was processed within the standard timeframe.
The offered salary of $210k for this Senior Director, Principal Geologist position provides a data point for evaluating compensation trends in E-3 AUSTRALIAN visa sponsorship. When reviewing H-1B salary data, consider that wages vary significantly based on geographic location, employer size, industry sector, and the worker's experience level. This position falls under SOC code 19-204200 (Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers), which standardizes how the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies occupations across industries. Metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle typically command higher salaries due to higher costs of living, while positions in smaller markets may offer lower nominal wages but comparable purchasing power.
The offered annual salary for this Senior Director, Principal Geologist position at Coeur Mining Inc. is $210k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $77k. The offered wage represents a +172.1% premium over the prevailing wage.
This E-3 AUSTRALIAN filing is for a position located in Lead, South Dakota. The employing company, Coeur Mining Inc., is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
This Labor Condition Application is filed under the E-3 AUSTRALIAN visa classification. This visa classification allows employers to hire foreign workers for specialty occupation positions in the United States.
The employer for this filing is Coeur Mining Inc., located in Chicago, Illinois. Coeur Mining Inc. filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-203-22222-408905) for a Senior Director, Principal Geologist position during fiscal year FY 2022. View all Coeur Mining Inc. H-1B filings.
Certified means the U.S. Department of Labor has approved this Labor Condition Application, confirming that Coeur Mining Inc. has attested to meeting all wage and working condition requirements. A certified LCA does not guarantee H-1B visa approval — the employer must still file a separate petition (Form I-129) with USCIS.