The United States is known worldwide as a land of opportunity. If you have in-demand skills and experience, you may be able to obtain an employment-based visa to live and work legally in America.
Every year, thousands of skilled foreign nationals start new careers and lives in the US through employer sponsorship.
In this guide, we will explore some of the most rewarding and in-demand jobs open to international applicants, along with details on qualifications, compensation, and how to apply.
Consider this your starting point for evaluating if pursuing permanent residency in America through employment makes sense for your individual career goals and circumstances.
Jobs in High Demand: Software Developers and Engineers
There is immense demand in the US for skilled software developers and engineers. Tech giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and more are constantly recruiting top international talent. Some key opportunities in this field include:
Software Engineers
- Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, 2+ years’ experience
- H-1B annual salary: $100,000+ depending on experience and location
- Job duties: Design, develop, test and analyse software programs according to business requirements
- Sponsorship likelihood: Very high among major tech companies
Web Developers
- Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree, practical portfolio, strong coding skills in languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript
- H-1B annual salary: $80,000+
- Job duties: Build and optimize responsive websites plus web applications
- Sponsorship likelihood: Good for talented applicants with relevant work experience
Tech companies use the H-1B visa program most of all. They want the best talent globally, and being sponsored is an achievable goal if you have a computer science background plus a little experience already under your belt.
Relocation to major cities like Seattle, San Francisco or Austin could lead to opportunities at top employers.
Healthcare Professions in Demand
America faces worker shortages across the healthcare industry as the population ages. Foreign-born medical professionals are helping fill critical roles:
Physicians
- Minimum requirements: MD or equivalent degree from accredited medical school, license to practice in the U.S.
- H-1B annual salary: $200,000+ at hospitals, $130,000+ in private practice
- Job duties: Diagnose and treat patients as licensed doctors
- Sponsorship likelihood: Highest for specialties like radiology, anesthesiology, and psychiatry
Nurses
- Minimum requirements: RN license, 2+ years nursing experience preferred
- H-1B annual salary: $75,000+ starting but often much higher in specialty areas
- Job duties: Direct patient care across various clinical settings from intensive care to hospitals
- Sponsorship likelihood: Very good in busy urban medical centers nationwide
Physician and nurse jobs have steady growth due to our aging population needing care. Specialists are particularly needed. Hospitals actively recruit from abroad to fill shortages in their own communities. Seek work in major metropolitan areas for sponsorship opportunities.
Business Professionals Favored by Employers
On the business side, certain managerial and technical roles see continual visa sponsorship:
Accountants and Auditors
- Minimum requirements: CPA license, Bachelor’s degree
- H-1B annual salary: $80,000+ at accounting firms, $65,000+ for internal company roles
- Job duties: Financial reporting, cost analysis, compliance, and advisory services
- Sponsorship likelihood: Good for CPAs with 2+ years’ experience in public firms
Financial Managers
- Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree in finance/business, 3+ years’ experience
- H-1B annual salary: $110,000+ at banks and fintech companies
- Job duties: Direct investment analysis, compliance, risk management, and more
- Sponsorship likelihood: Strong potential at banks, hedge funds and VC firms nationwide
These careers fit perfectly with America’s large financial industry. Firms value international experience and will train talented individuals for manager-level oversight. Research opportunities in major financial hubs across the country.
Exploring Other In-Demand Occupations
While technology, healthcare and business are steady visa sponsors, there are additional fields worth exploring:
- Engineers: Chemical, mechanical, petroleum and civil engineers are consistently needed.
- Educators: Special education teachers, bilingual teachers for dual-language programs.
- Academia: Post-doctoral researchers, college professors commanding larger salaries.
- Skilled Trades: Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders for shipbuilding/oil work.
- Hospitality: Hotel managers, executives and specialists with hospitality degrees.
- Construction: Project managers, architects with experience overseeing large-scale developments.
Always research occupations designated as experiencing shortage by the US Department of Labor.
Target those, and seek relevant training if minimum qualifications are a Bachelor’s degree or licensure/experience in specialized skills. Sponsorship likelihood increases.
Bonus for employers:
How to do a Job Posting on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for employers to advertise open job positions and source quality candidates. With over 750 million users globally, your listing can be seen by a sizable pool of qualified and active professionals already on the website.
Here are the basic steps to create an effective job posting directly on LinkedIn:
- Log in to your company LinkedIn page or personal account with admin rights. Go to “Jobs” and select “Post a job”.
- Write a compelling job title – this is the first thing applicants will see so make it attention-grabbing. Include the role, level, and any relevant keywords.
- Craft an enticing job description. Highlight 2-3 core responsibilities, qualifications required, preferred skills. Use benefits to attract (salary, remote options, etc). Keep it 2-3 paragraphs.
- Choose applicable industries and functional areas the role fits under for better discovery. Select accurate locations if position can be remote or local.
- Upload logos or images related to your company to make the posting visually appealing. A photo of your office space adds personality.
- Select which users can see and apply to the role. Targeting “LinkedIn members” yields most reach but can be refined to alumni networks or specific schools.
- Optionally offer applicants to “Apply on Company Website” and include the link. Or rely on LinkedIn’s built-in application form.
- Post the job and boost budget if desired. Consider $25-100/day depending on role seniority. Boosting improves visibility and speed of hires.
- Engage candidates actively. Respond promptly to all inquires and applications over messaging. Share your company culture and growth opportunities to entice top talent.
- Analyze metrics like applications, profile views. Refine postings over time based on applicant demographics and skills most relevant. Regular posting keeps your opportunities top of mind.
Leveraging LinkedIn’s wide user base and built-in tools streamlines your hiring process. With strategic boosting and engagement, it’s an excellent platform for advancing your sourcing goals. Measure performance to continuously improve outcomes.
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