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Medical specialists, not tech professionals, are drawing the highest salaries under the H-1B visa programme in the United States, according to a study by US-based immigration law firm Manifest Law. The report, based on data from the US Department of Labor, shows that specialty physicians dominate the top end of the foreign worker wage scale as the US faces an ageing population and a shortage of healthcare staff.
The H-1B visa is often linked to the technology sector, particularly Silicon Valley. However, the study found that doctors account for most of the highest-paid H-1B roles, even as the programme remains a focus of political debate around immigration.
Also Read: Is the worst over for India's $200 billion-plus exporting powerhouse?
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
“Among all occupations with at least 100 certified H-1B applications, specialty physicians receive the highest average wages. Five medical occupations — cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, surgeons, and neurologists — report median H-1B wages exceeding $300,000, with some crossing $400,000,” the report said.
In comparison, the highest-paid non-medical roles such as lawyers, computer systems managers and finance managers usually earn between $100,000 and $200,000.
Also read: Bill to scrap H-1B visa programme introduced in US Congress
Indian doctors feature strongly
The study also highlighted the growing presence of Indian-origin doctors among the top earners.
“While Indians are most commonly associated with software engineering and IT services in the US, Indian-origin doctors are increasingly shaping the upper end of the H-1B wage spectrum, especially in the specialised medical field,” said Haley Davidson of Manifest Law.
Among large metropolitan areas, San Jose and San Francisco report median H-1B wages of $184,772 and $173,638, respectively. Seattle follows with a median of $158,691.
Also read: Amazon allows H-1B visa holders stuck in India to work remotely until March
Smaller cities offer higher pay
As per the report, some smaller metropolitan areas pay even more than major tech hubs, driven largely by healthcare demand.
“Surprisingly, several small metropolitan areas with populations under 3.5 lakh significantly outpace major tech hubs,” the report stated. Cities such as Parkersburg and Beckley in West Virginia, Jacksonville in North Carolina, and Lake Havasu City in Arizona report median H-1B wages above $315,000.
“Where it is more rural, the pay is higher. Alaska pays the highest salaries in my field; it’s purely based on supply and demand,” said Dr Bharath Naravetla, a neurologist practising in Michigan.
“There is exceptionally strong demand for interventional radiology across the US,” he said to TOI, adding that private practice salaries can go up to $900,000 a year. However, he noted that the H-1B visa can limit job mobility in the early years.
“The visa restricts job mobility and location flexibility,” Reddy added.
“We have to clear the US Medical Licensing Examination, which is tougher than the Indian medical exams,” said Dr Ameen B R to TOI, a general physician from Hyderabad preparing for US training.
According to the report, demand for foreign-trained specialists is expected to continue. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the US could face a shortage of up to 86,000 specialist physicians by 2036.
“Foreign-trained specialists will continue to play a critical role in maintaining healthcare capacity,” Davidson said, especially in underserved and rural areas.
(With TOI inputs)
The H-1B visa is often linked to the technology sector, particularly Silicon Valley. However, the study found that doctors account for most of the highest-paid H-1B roles, even as the programme remains a focus of political debate around immigration.
Also Read: Is the worst over for India's $200 billion-plus exporting powerhouse?
Medical specialists lead H-1B pay scale
According to the report, medical roles make up 11 of the 15 highest-paid H-1B occupations. Several specialties report median wages above $300,000. These include cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, surgeons and neurologists.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
“Among all occupations with at least 100 certified H-1B applications, specialty physicians receive the highest average wages. Five medical occupations — cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, surgeons, and neurologists — report median H-1B wages exceeding $300,000, with some crossing $400,000,” the report said.
In comparison, the highest-paid non-medical roles such as lawyers, computer systems managers and finance managers usually earn between $100,000 and $200,000.
Also read: Bill to scrap H-1B visa programme introduced in US Congress
Indian doctors feature strongly
The study also highlighted the growing presence of Indian-origin doctors among the top earners.“While Indians are most commonly associated with software engineering and IT services in the US, Indian-origin doctors are increasingly shaping the upper end of the H-1B wage spectrum, especially in the specialised medical field,” said Haley Davidson of Manifest Law.
Geography plays a key role
H-1B wages vary widely by location. The report found that the US West Coast records salaries well above the national median H-1B wage of $123,828. California, Washington state and Oregon lead on this measure.Among large metropolitan areas, San Jose and San Francisco report median H-1B wages of $184,772 and $173,638, respectively. Seattle follows with a median of $158,691.
Also read: Amazon allows H-1B visa holders stuck in India to work remotely until March
Smaller cities offer higher pay
As per the report, some smaller metropolitan areas pay even more than major tech hubs, driven largely by healthcare demand.“Surprisingly, several small metropolitan areas with populations under 3.5 lakh significantly outpace major tech hubs,” the report stated. Cities such as Parkersburg and Beckley in West Virginia, Jacksonville in North Carolina, and Lake Havasu City in Arizona report median H-1B wages above $315,000.
“Where it is more rural, the pay is higher. Alaska pays the highest salaries in my field; it’s purely based on supply and demand,” said Dr Bharath Naravetla, a neurologist practising in Michigan.
Experience and visa limits
According to a Times of India report, doctors said experience and specialty strongly influence earnings. Dr Suresh Reddy, an interventional radiologist in Chicago, said top pay is usually reached five to 10 years after training.“There is exceptionally strong demand for interventional radiology across the US,” he said to TOI, adding that private practice salaries can go up to $900,000 a year. However, he noted that the H-1B visa can limit job mobility in the early years.
“The visa restricts job mobility and location flexibility,” Reddy added.
Long and costly path to practice
Despite high pay, the route to practising medicine in the US remains long and expensive. Doctors must clear multiple stages of the US Medical Licensing Examination and navigate a competitive residency process.“We have to clear the US Medical Licensing Examination, which is tougher than the Indian medical exams,” said Dr Ameen B R to TOI, a general physician from Hyderabad preparing for US training.
According to the report, demand for foreign-trained specialists is expected to continue. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the US could face a shortage of up to 86,000 specialist physicians by 2036.
“Foreign-trained specialists will continue to play a critical role in maintaining healthcare capacity,” Davidson said, especially in underserved and rural areas.
(With TOI inputs)
