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IZA Discussion Paper No. 18940
September 2026
Which H-1B Workers Earn the Highest Wages? Distinctions by Visa Status at the Time of Petition

H-1B status grants highly-educated foreign nationals the right to work in specialized occupations in the United States. Recent policy proposals include altering the method for allocating H-1B status, raising payments associated with entry into the country, and changing the limit on new issuances available. To help inform policy, this paper uses the universe of cap-bound H-1Bs awarded in fiscal year 2024 to examine how wages vary across different groups. Workers on F-1 student status accounted for 45% of new issuances, while another 43% went to individuals living abroad without any contemporary US immigration status. This former group earned 10% higher wages than the latter, or 6% more after accounting for observable differences between groups. Indian-born workers without current status seeking new employment at H-1B dependent firms earn the lowest wages. Policies favoring one of these groups over another -- whether intended or not -- will affect the average wage paid to H-1B recipients.

Kommunikation
Mark Fallak
mark.fallak@liser.lu
+352 585-855-526
World of Labour
Olga Nottmeyer
olga.nottmeyer-ext@liser.lu
+352 585-855-501
Netzwerkkoordination
Christina Gathmann
christina.gathmann@liser.lu

Das IZA@LISER-Netzwerk ist eine weltweite Gemeinschaft für exzellente Forschung in der Arbeitsmarktökonomie und angrenzenden Fachgebieten. Nach dem Wechsel von Bonn wird das Netzwerk nun am Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) koordiniert.

Über das IZA@LISER Network
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