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Americas Β· United States

Work in United States

The world's highest salaries in tech and healthcare. Multiple visa routes exist, but all require employer sponsorship and careful planning.

● HardH-1B VisaPR in 2-15+ years
9,996 Live Jobs
Browse United States Jobs

Every listing verified to sponsor international workers.

See All Jobs β†’
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9,996
Live jobs available
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64,220 USD
Average salary / year
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4.3%
Unemployment rate
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Hard
Visa difficulty
Overview

Why United States?

The US offers the highest salaries in the world for technology, healthcare, finance, and engineering professionals. A senior software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area earns $180,000–$300,000 gross per year. Nurses in California and New York earn $90,000–$130,000. These figures are unmatched globally. However, the US work visa system is now the most restrictive and expensive among WorkBeyond's 12 priority countries. The H-1B visa β€” the primary route for skilled workers β€” carries a $100,000 employer fee since September 2025, a competitive weighted lottery, and an annual cap of 85,000 visas. This is not an easy path.

New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Chicago are the main hiring hubs. Tech dominates the West Coast. Finance centres on New York. Healthcare hiring is nationwide but strongest in California, Texas, and the Northeast. English is the sole working language everywhere. The US has no national healthcare system β€” your employer-provided health insurance is a critical part of your compensation package.

Capital
Washington D.C
Currency
USD
Official language
English
English at work
Universal
Fastest PR pathway
2-15+ years
Spouse work rights
H-1B spouses (H-4) β€” restricted; work authorisation requires separate EAD approval and is subject to policy changes
Healthcare
Employer-provided (no universal system β€” coverage tied to your job)
Annual leave
No federal minimum (typically 10–20 days by employer policy)
Income tax (avg)
~22–37% federal + 0–13% state (varies by state β€” no state income tax in Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, and others)
Key Highlights

What to know before you move

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Highest salaries in the world
US tech and healthcare salaries are 2–3Γ— higher than the UK, Germany, or Canada. A mid-level software engineer earns $120,000–$180,000 gross before benefits.
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H-1B is a lottery, not a guarantee
The H-1B has an annual cap of 85,000 visas and a weighted selection process favouring higher-paid roles. Your employer registers you in March; selections happen in late March/April.
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Visa costs vary by route
The H-1B carries a $100,000 employer fee since September 2025. O-1 petitions cost $5,000–$15,000. This gap has concentrated H-1B sponsorship among large companies.
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No universal healthcare
Health insurance is tied to your employer. A family plan costs $15,000–$25,000 per year β€” your employer typically covers 70–80%. Always check the benefits package before accepting.
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No guaranteed annual leave
The US has no federal minimum for paid leave. Most employers offer 10–15 days for new hires, rising to 20+ with seniority. A significant difference from the UK or Germany.
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Green card waits can exceed 10 years
Permanent Residence involves per-country quotas. Indian nationals face 10–50+ year waits. Chinese nationals face 5–10+ years. Other nationalities typically wait 2–5 years.
Hot Jobs

Live visa-sponsored roles in United States

Every listing below is verified to sponsor international workers. New roles are added daily β€” create a free account to get instant alerts when matching jobs go live.

Job Market

Top industries hiring internationally

Technology and healthcare dominate US international hiring. The $100,000 H-1B employer fee has concentrated sponsorship among large companies with high-revenue-per-employee models β€” primarily big tech, major hospital systems, consulting firms, and financial institutions. Smaller employers and startups have largely exited H-1B sponsorship since September 2025.

Information TechnologyInformation Technology
5,187 jobs
Healthcare & PharmaceuticalHealthcare & Pharmaceutical
3,298 jobs
Automobile & TransportationAutomobile & Transportation
572 jobs
Science & TechnologyScience & Technology
546 jobs
Professional ServicesProfessional Services
265 jobs
Entertainment & Game DevelopmentEntertainment & Game Development
52 jobs
Job postings β€” last 6 months
↑ 0% growth
Visa Routes

Popular visa programs for the United States

US work visas are employer-driven β€” all require a job offer and employer sponsorship. The H-1B is the most common route, but it is capped and competitive. If you have an extraordinary ability, the O-1 offers a path without a lottery. Healthcare workers can bypass the H-1B entirely through direct green card sponsorship. Use the Workbeyond Visa Explorer to match your profile to the right route.

The Process

Steps to move to the United States with a job

Skilled professionals move to the United States through several visa routes every year, across technology, healthcare, finance, and engineering. The timeline varies by route β€” from 3–6 months for an O-1 petition to 12–18+ months for the H-1B lottery path. Check the visa guide for your specific route for detailed timelines, costs, and requirements

Important:Β These steps must happen in order. You cannot apply for a US work visa without a job offer from a US employer willing to sponsor you β€” and willing to pay the $100,000 H-1B fee. The job and the employer commitment come first, every time.

1
Find a visa-sponsored job
Search Workbeyond for visa-sponsored roles in the US. Every employer listed on Workbeyond has a track record of sponsoring work visas with some explicitly confirming sponsorship, so you skip the work of identifying sponsors yourself. These roles are highly competitive, so tailor your CV and cover letter to each specific role.
2
Accept your offer and confirm your visa route
Once you accept an offer, your employer's immigration attorney determines the best visa route for your profile. H-1B applicants enter an annual lottery (March each year) and may not be selected. O-1 applicants file directly with no cap or lottery. EB-3 healthcare workers begin the PERM labour certification process for a direct green card. Your timeline, costs, and next steps depend entirely on which route applies. See the visa guide for your specific route.
3
Your employer files the petition
Your employer files a petition with USCIS on your behalf β€” Form I-129 for H-1B or O-1, or a PERM labour certification for EB-3. Each route has different documentation, fee structures, and processing timelines. Standard processing takes 2–6 months depending on the route. Premium processing (15 business days) is available for most petition types for an additional fee. Full details are in the visa guide for your route.
4
Attend your visa interview
Once USCIS approves the petition, you apply for a visa stamp at a US embassy or consulate in your country. Bring your approval notice, passport, degree certificates, and supporting documents. Wait times for embassy appointments vary by country β€” from 1 week to 3+ months. The consular officer may request additional administrative processing, which can add 2–8 weeks.
5
Arrive and set up your life
Once your visa is stamped, travel to the US before your authorised start date. On arrival, US Customs and Border Protection admits you in your visa classification. In your first two weeks, get your Social Security Number, set up a US bank account, enrol in your employer's health insurance plan (you typically have 30 days from your start date), and find housing. Budget for a security deposit (typically 1–2 months' rent), first and last month's rent, and living expenses before your first paycheck lands.
Cost of Living

What does life cost in the United States?

The US has extreme cost-of-living variation. San Francisco, New York, and Boston are among the most expensive cities in the world β€” rent alone can consume 40–50% of take-home pay. Austin, Dallas, Raleigh, Denver, and Phoenix offer strong tech and healthcare job markets at 30–50% lower housing costs. Choose your city carefully.

On the $63,200 average gross salary, your take-home varies significantly by state. In Texas (no state income tax), take-home pay is roughly $50,000 per year. In California (13% top state rate), take-home pay on the same salary drops to roughly $45,000. At H-1B salary levels ($80,000–$150,000+), the differences are even larger.

ExpenseMonthly cost
Rent β€” 1-bed apartment (city centre) $1,500–$3,500 (San Francisco/NYC $2,800–$4,500)
Groceries $350–$550
Public transport monthly pass $80–$130 (most cities are car-dependent; car costs $400–$700/month including insurance and fuel)
Health insurance employee share $200–$500
Dining out β€” mid-range meal $20–$40 (tipping 18–20% is expected)
Income tax on average salary ~$10,000–$16,000/year (federal + state combined, varies by state)