Who Dominates the H-1B Visa Program? Top Companies Revealed
The H-1B visa program remains a cornerstone of hiring high-skilled international workers, particularly in the tech sector. Recent data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) highlights the companies with the most approved H-1B beneficiaries in 2024, showcasing the heavy reliance on this program by major corporations.
Big Tech Leads the Way
More than half of all approved H-1B visas in 2024 were secured by a small group of companies, predominantly in the tech industry. For the fifth consecutive year, Amazon topped the list, primarily hiring engineers and other tech-focused roles.
This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows the top companies by number of approved H-1B beneficiaries, based on data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Big tech companies often leverage their extensive legal resources to navigate the competitive H-1B lottery system, which is frequently oversubscribed. Many of these firms apply for more visas than they require to improve their chances of securing the talent they need.
Outsourcing Firms Among Top Users
Following Amazon, India-based Infosys ranked as the second-largest employer of H-1B visa beneficiaries. Like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), another major Indian IT outsourcing company, Infosys relies heavily on the program to staff roles in North America, its largest market. In 2024, North America accounted for over 50% of TCS’s revenue.
Salary Disparities Reflect Different Strategies
Tech companies and outsourcing firms utilize the H-1B program differently, which is evident in salary trends. For example:
- Microsoft offered a median salary of $160,000 for its H-1B workers in 2024, reflecting its focus on senior, high-paying roles.
- Tata Consultancy Services, by contrast, had a median H-1B salary of $82,000, highlighting its focus on less-senior positions.
The H-1B Program’s Central Role
As these numbers show, the H-1B visa program remains a critical tool for both U.S.-based tech giants and international outsourcing firms, enabling them to meet their workforce needs and maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly global economy.
