Five US states have emerged as the primary destinations for foreign workers seeking H-1B visa sponsorship in 2026. California, Texas, New York, Washington, and Illinois collectively hold nearly 68% of all certified H-1B positions nationwide.

State-wise H-1B Certifications and Salaries

  • California leads with 53,940 certified positions, accounting for 33% of the national total. Its tech, semiconductor, and electric vehicle sectors drive this dominance.
  • Texas follows with 20,628 certified positions (12.6%).
  • Washington offers the highest average H-1B salary at KSh 24.6 million (USD 189,747) annually, with Amazon as a key employer.
  • New York has 11,452 certified positions (7.0%), with financial institutions like JPMorgan contributing to an average salary of KSh 20.9 million (USD 161,817).
  • Illinois accounts for 11,250 certified positions (6.9%).

Sector Demand and Salary Insights

The technology sector dominates H-1B sponsorship, with software developers making up 34% of certified positions nationally. Electronics engineers and healthcare professionals such as occupational and physical therapists also feature prominently.

Top H-1B sponsors include Amazon with 113,113 filings, followed by Cognizant, Microsoft, Qualcomm Technologies, and Google.

For workers on the EB-3 employment-based green card track, average salaries are lower, around KSh 10.2 million (USD 78,591) annually. Registered nurses in Texas under EB-3 may receive bonuses up to KSh 1.9 million (USD 15,000).

Seasonal workers on H-2B and H-2A visas earn hourly wages between KSh 1,813 and KSh 4,015 (USD 14 to USD 31), with some receiving housing and transport benefits.

Visa Application Landscape

The H-1B visa program caps annual approvals at 65,000, plus 20,000 for US master’s degree holders. Recent cycles saw about 780,000 applicants competing for these spots. A wage-weighted lottery introduced in 2026 favors higher-paying job applicants.

Processing times vary, with H-1B petitions taking three to six months and EB-3 green cards ranging from one to three years depending on priority.