Expected salaries: Top US states hiring foreign workers with visa sponsorship

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- California, Texas, New York, Washington, and Illinois account for nearly 68% of all certified H-1B positions in the US in 2026

- Washington state leads the country in average H-1B salary at KSh 24.6 million (USD 189,747) annually, ahead of California and New York

- The technology sector dominates H-1B sponsorship, with software developers filling 34% of all certified positions nationally

Five US states have emerged as the dominant destinations for foreign workers seeking visa sponsorship in 2026.

California, Texas, New York, Washington, and Illinois together account for nearly 68% of all certified H-1B positions nationwide, according to an analysis of more than five million H-1B filings by the H1B Data Hub.

California leads all states by a substantial margin, with 110,646 labour condition applications filed in 2026 and 53,940 certified positions, representing 33% of the national total.

The state's dominance is driven by its concentration of technology companies, semiconductor manufacturers, and electric vehicle firms. Texas ranks second with 20,628 certified positions (12.6%), followed by Washington at 12,759 (7.8%), New York at 11,452 (7.0%), and Illinois at 11,250 (6.9%).

Salaries Foreign Workers Can Expect

Washington state offers the highest average H-1B salary in the country at KSh 24.6 million (USD 189,747) per year, with Amazon among its top employers. California follows at KSh 21.9 million (USD 169,004), where Nvidia pays an average of KSh 29.3 million (USD 226,005), Apple KSh 27.7 million (USD 213,841), and Meta KSh 27.0 million (USD 208,421).

New York averages KSh 20.9 million (USD 161,817) annually, largely anchored by financial institutions such as JPMorgan.

For workers pursuing the EB-3 employment-based green card pathway, salaries are more modest. The national average for EB-3 sponsored roles stands at KSh 10.2 million (USD 78,591) annually, with most positions paying between KSh 9.7 million and KSh 10.5 million (USD 75,000 to USD 81,500).

In Texas, full-time EB-3 positions average KSh 8.9 million (USD 68,973). Registered nurses sponsored through EB-3 can qualify for bonuses of up to KSh 1.9 million (USD 15,000).

Seasonal workers under the H-2B and H-2A visa programmes earn hourly wages ranging from KSh 1,942 to KSh 4,015 (USD 15 to USD 31), with housing sometimes included.

Agricultural H-2A workers receive free housing and transport alongside hourly pay of between KSh 1,813 and KSh 2,590 (USD 14 to USD 20).

Sectors Actively Sponsoring Foreign Workers

Technology accounts for the largest share of H-1B demand. Software developers alone represent 34% of all certified positions, totalling 55,517 roles nationally.

Electronics engineers follow with 19,506 positions. Healthcare roles are also prominent, with occupational therapists (9,757 positions) and physical therapists (6,583 positions) among the most in-demand occupations outside technology.

Amazon leads all H-1B sponsors with 113,113 filings, followed by Cognizant at 93,085, Microsoft at 63,252, Qualcomm Technologies at 25,555 certified positions, and Google at 6,006 Labour Condition Applications.

Prospective applicants should note the H-1B programme carries an annual cap of 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for holders of US master's degrees. Roughly 780,000 applications competed for those 85,000 spots in the most recent cycle.

A wage-weighted lottery system introduced in February 2026 now gives candidates applying for higher-paying roles a statistically better chance of selection.

Processing times range from three to six months for H-1B petitions, while EB-3 green cards can take between one and three years depending on priority dates.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.