Where H1B Workers Actually End Up
DOL LCA disclosure data tells us exactly where H1B workers are employed. From 239,000+ recent certified filings:
| State | LCA Filings | Notable Employers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 42,918 | Google, Apple, Meta, many startups |
| Texas | 37,180 | Dell, AT&T, Infosys, TCS client sites |
| New York | 18,857 | Financial services, consulting, healthcare |
| Washington | 15,361 | Amazon, Microsoft |
| New Jersey | 11,690 | Pharma (Johnson & Johnson, Merck) |
| Illinois | 9,597 | United, Boeing, consulting hubs |
| North Carolina | 9,583 | Research Triangle, pharma, finance |
| Georgia | 9,137 | Tech corridor, Delta, consulting |
California: Biggest Paychecks, Biggest Bills
Why people go: Silicon Valley and LA tech hubs pay the highest H1B salaries in the country. Strong worker protections (AB5, wage theft laws). Large immigrant community with established immigration attorney networks. Companies routinely sponsor EB green cards.Why people leave: Bay Area median rent is $3,000+ a month. State income tax goes up to 13.3%. The job market is brutally competitive.Best for: Software engineers aiming for $180,000 to $280,000+ total comp at FAANG and growth-stage companies who can stomach the cost of living.Washington: Amazon Country
Why it works: No state income tax. That alone shifts the math. Amazon (10,000+ H1B approvals in FY2025) and Microsoft are both headquartered here. Cost of living is lower than the Bay Area, though Seattle isn't cheap anymore either.Best for: Engineers targeting Amazon or Microsoft with strong equity packages who want to maximize take-home pay.Texas: Volume and Contradictions
Why people go: No state income tax. Growing Austin tech scene (Tesla, Oracle HQ, Dell). Significantly lower cost of living than coastal states.The catch: A huge share of Texas H1B filings come from IT consulting firms placing workers at client sites in Dallas and Houston. Wages on those placements often sit at prevailing wage minimums (Level 1 or 2). If you're moving to Texas, verify the specific employer and role. "Texas H1B" means very different things depending on who's sponsoring you.Best for: Consulting hires who care about cost of living, and direct tech hires in Austin.New York: Finance and Everything Else
Why people go: Financial services H1B roles (banks, hedge funds, fintech) with strong compensation. Diverse immigrant communities. Good immigration attorneys.Why people hesitate: Cost of living is high. State and city income taxes combined can hit ~14%. That cuts deep into a $150K salary.Best for: Finance, consulting, and media professionals who want to be in a major international city and can handle the tax burden.North Carolina: The Quiet Standout
Research Triangle Park (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill):
- Duke, UNC, and NC State are major cap-exempt H1B employers
- Pharma and biotech presence (GSK, Biogen, Novartis)
- Relatively low cost of living
- Growing tech sector
Explore State-Level Data on VisaTrack
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- Compare salaries across states with Salary Explorer
Data from DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data FY2024–FY2025.