H-1B Visa Data Shows How Much Immigrant Workers Earn Compared to Americans

Immigrant workers are often earning more than their American counterparts, new analysis of H-1B visas has shown, complicating an ongoing debate around whether the visa undercuts U.S. wages.

The findings from global HR firm Deel suggested companies are not primarily using the visa program to cut costs but to secure specialized talent in high-demand fields such as software engineering and artificial intelligence, where domestic supply remains limited.

The data, focused on immigrants using Deel’s platform, adds to a divided body of research on the program. Some economic analyses have found that when adjusted for factors such as job type and location, H‑1B workers may earn less than comparable U.S. workers-something lawmakers and advocates looking for visa reform have repeatedly referred to.

H1-B Visa Holder Wages vs. U.S. Worker Wages

Deel's analysis, released on June 2, showed a consistent trend across major global markets: visa holders tend to out‑earn local workers in similar jobs.

In the U.S., H‑1B workers on Deel’s platform earn a median salary of $140,000, compared to about $130,000 for American workers in equivalent roles.

Immigrant workers are also significantly younger, on average about five years below their U.S. peers, suggesting that they are entering high-paying roles earlier in their careers.

At the highest end of the labor market, the gap can be even more pronounced. At top venture-backed U.S. startups, foreign workers earn a median salary of $260,000, which is around $100,000 more than American colleagues. This is driven largely by a concentration in AI and highly technical roles.

“We can see there that there’s a huge gap in the median pay for non-U.S. citizens for these top funded startups,” Lauren Thomas, an economist at Deel, told Newsweek. “That’s because so many of them are in very specific, very high-paying roles that really are much harder to fill with American talent, because they’re just such specific roles.”

However, this contrasts with other research Newsweek has previously covered that found H‑1B workers could earn around 16 percent less than U.S. workers after adjusting for key factors, illustrating how wage comparisons can vary depending on methodology.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s not easy to bring in an immigrant worker,” Thomas said. “The U.S. in particular has a very selective immigration system, and so… what I will say is that you would expect that such a selective system would have selective results like these.”

Comparing to High-Skilled Visas Globally

The analysis looked at high-skilled workers moving around the world, not just to the U.S., and the data showed that overall companies are hiring foreign workers not to save money but to bring in the talent they want, often paying a premium for it.

In the U.K., while wages are generally lower than the U.S., Skilled Worker visa holders were earning an average of £96,000 compared to £87,000 for British citizens. A similar pattern was seen in the United Arab Emirates.

Deel also highlighted that immigrants tend to work in engineering and tech roles, while jobs requiring local knowledge, such as sales and creative roles, are often filled by citizens of the respective countries.

Kevin Lynn, executive director of the Institute for Sound Public Policy and founder of U.S. Tech Workers, which has advocated for H-1B reforms, told Newsweek that he felt the analysis was not reliable.

“USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] data and the Economic Policy Institute analyses have long shown that many H-1B jobs are certified at lower wage levels within their occupations, fueling concerns about wage suppression,” Lynn said. “It also overlooks the highly publicized instances of Americans being asked to train their H-1B replacements, Disney, Southern California Edison, AGI, etc., before being laid off.

“Highlighting a narrow group of top earners doesn't resolve the broader concerns about displacement, labor costs and the lack of investment in America's own talent pipeline.”

Judge Rules $100K H-1B Visa Fee Unlawful

The wage debate comes as a federal court has struck down a controversial $100,000 fee imposed on H‑1B visa applications by the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that the fee functioned as a tax that the administration was not authorized to impose without congressional approval.

The policy, introduced in 2025, dramatically increased the cost of hiring foreign workers and was framed as an effort to protect American jobs. Critics argued that it risked deterring high-skilled talent and harming industries reliant on international workers.

The ruling is expected to have immediate implications for employers, many of whom had warned that the fee would limit recruitment and reduce competitiveness.

Who Is Eligible for H-1B Visa?

The H‑1B visa is designed for foreign professionals working in "specialty occupations," typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a highly skilled field.

Common roles include software developers, engineers, healthcare professionals and financial analysts. Employers must sponsor applicants and demonstrate that the role requires specialized knowledge and cannot easily be filled domestically.

The program is highly competitive. Each year, 85,000 new visas are available, though total approvals are higher when renewals are included.

How Long Can You Stay in US on H-1B?

H‑1B visas are typically granted for an initial period of up to three years. They can then be extended, usually for another three years, bringing the total standard stay to six years.

For some workers pursuing permanent residency, additional extensions may be possible, allowing them to remain in the U.S. beyond the six-year limit while their applications are processed.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 2:38 PM.