Key Points
- Research suggests common H-1B visa occupations include IT, engineering, healthcare, and education, often requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- It seems likely that specific jobs like software engineers, physicians, and university professors are frequently approved.
- The evidence leans toward computer-related roles being the most common, accounting for about 66% of approvals in recent years.
H-1B VISA
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, which are jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a specific field. These occupations span various industries, with some being more commonly approved than others based on demand and qualifications.
Common Occupation Categories
Below is a list of common categories and examples of specific occupations covered under H-1B visas, based on recent data and immigration resources:
- Computer and Information Technology: Software Engineer, Computer Scientist, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Network Engineer
- Engineering and Surveying: Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Biomedical Engineer
- Mathematics and Physical Sciences: Mathematician, Statistician, Physicist, Chemist
- Life Sciences: Biologist, Biochemist, Environmental Scientist
- Social Sciences: Economist, Psychologist, Sociologist
- Medicine and Health: Physician, Surgeon, Nurse, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist
- Education: University Professor, College Teacher, Secondary School Teacher
- Law and Jurisprudence: Attorney, Legal Advisor, Paralegal
- Architecture and Design: Architect, Urban Planner, Interior Designer
- Art and Design: Artist, Graphic Designer
- Management and Consulting: Management Consultant, Business Manager, Project Manager
- Finance and Accounting: Financial Analyst, Accountant, Auditor, Tax Advisor
- Media and Communications: Journalist, Editor, Technical Writer, Public Relations Manager
Unexpected Detail
An interesting finding is that computer-related occupations, such as systems analysts and programmers, account for about 66% of all H-1B approvals, highlighting a significant demand in the tech industry that might not be immediately obvious to those unfamiliar with visa trends.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Common H-1B Visa Occupations
This note provides a detailed examination of the common occupations covered under H-1B visas, drawing from multiple sources including official government reports, immigration resource websites, and statistical data. The analysis aims to offer a thorough understanding for those seeking clarity on eligibility and trends, particularly as of March 25, 2025.
Background and Definition
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa program that enables U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a specialty occupation is defined as one requiring the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States USCIS H-1B Specialty Occupations. This definition encompasses a broad range of professions, but certain occupations are more frequently approved based on industry demand and labor market needs.
Data Sources and Methodology
The analysis relies on several key sources:
- The USCIS “Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers” report for Fiscal Year 2022, published in March 2023, which provides statistical data on approved petitions USCIS FY2022 Report.
- Additional insights from the U.S. Department of Labor and other immigration law firms, ensuring a comprehensive view.
The approach involved cross-referencing these sources to identify common occupational categories and specific job titles, focusing on those with high approval rates and frequent mentions across platforms.
Statistical Overview from USCIS Report
The FY2022 USCIS report analyzed 442,043 approved H-1B petitions from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. Figure 9 from the report highlights major occupational groups with at least 1,000 approved petitions, providing a clear picture of prevalence:
| Occupational Group | Number | Percent | Initial Employment % | Continuing Employment % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer-Related | 291,780 | 66.0 | 25.6 | 74.4 |
| Architecture, Engineering, Surveying | 43,351 | 9.8 | 30.3 | 69.7 |
| Administrative Specializations | 23,022 | 5.2 | 32.8 | 67.2 |
| Education | 10,980 | 2.5 | 48.2 | 51.8 |
| Medicine and Health | 10,229 | 2.3 | 42.6 | 57.4 |
| Life Sciences | 7,918 | 1.8 | 50.4 | 49.6 |
| Mathematics and Physical Sciences | 7,904 | 1.8 | 34.2 | 65.8 |
| Managers and Officials | 5,944 | 1.3 | 30.7 | 69.3 |
| Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, Managerial | 5,189 | 1.2 | 39.8 | 60.2 |
| Art | 2,160 | 0.5 | 42.7 | 57.3 |
| Social Sciences | 1,884 | 0.4 | 37.9 | 62.1 |
| Law and Jurisprudence | 799 | 0.2 | 38.5 | 61.5 |
Notably, computer-related occupations dominate, accounting for 66% of approvals, with systems analysis and programming being the largest detailed group at 54.7% of all beneficiaries. This underscores the tech industry’s significant reliance on H-1B visas.
Common Occupation Categories and Specific Examples
Based on the USCIS data and supplementary lists, the following categories and specific occupations are commonly covered:
- Computer and Information Technology: This category includes roles like Software Engineer, Computer Scientist, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, and Network Engineer. The high demand is evident from the 291,780 approvals, reflecting the tech sector’s need for specialized skills.
- Engineering and Surveying: Common jobs include Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Chemical Engineer, and Biomedical Engineer, with 43,351 approvals, indicating strong representation in infrastructure and technology development.
- Mathematics and Physical Sciences: Occupations such as Mathematician, Statistician, Physicist, and Chemist fall here, with 7,904 approvals, often linked to research and academic roles.
- Life Sciences: Biologist, Biochemist, and Environmental Scientist are typical, with 7,918 approvals, reflecting needs in research and biotechnology.
- Social Sciences: Economists, Psychologists, and Sociologists are included, with 1,884 approvals, though less common, still relevant in academic and policy roles.
- Medicine and Health: Physicians, Surgeons, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Physical Therapists are frequently approved, with 10,229 petitions, crucial for healthcare delivery.
- Education: University Professors, College Teachers, and Secondary School Teachers are common, with 10,980 approvals, supporting academic institutions.
- Law and Jurisprudence: Attorneys, Legal Advisors, and Paralegals, with 799 approvals, are less frequent but qualify under specialty criteria.
- Architecture and Design: Architects, Urban Planners, and Interior Designers, part of the 43,351 engineering approvals, are vital for design and construction.
- Art and Design: Artists and Graphic Designers, with 2,160 approvals, cater to creative industries, though less dominant.
- Management and Consulting: Management Consultants, Business Managers, and Project Managers, included in administrative specializations (23,022 approvals), are essential for business operations.
- Finance and Accounting: Financial Analysts, Accountants, Auditors, and Tax Advisors, also under administrative specializations, support financial sectors.
- Media and Communications: Journalists, Editors, Technical Writers, and Public Relations Managers, with approvals scattered across miscellaneous categories, serve media and corporate communications.
These categories align with the Boundless Immigration list, which provides specific occupations like IT Professionals, Computer Scientists, and Physicians, and the H1B Visa Jobs list, offering 200 detailed job titles such as Data Scientist and Nurse Practitioner.
Industry-Specific Insights
The report also includes industry data by NAICS codes, showing industries like custom computer programming services (101,195 beneficiaries) and colleges/universities (23,132) as significant employers, reinforcing the prevalence of tech and education roles. This data, while not directly listing occupations, supports the categorization by showing where these jobs are concentrated.
Considerations and Limitations
It’s important to note that while these occupations are common, approval is not guaranteed and depends on factors like individual qualifications, employer needs, and compliance with regulations. The USCIS report notes that occupations with fewer than 700 petitions are not shown, and an “Occupation Unknown” category (29,980, 6.8%) exists, indicating some petitions lack specific job codes. Additionally, trends may shift, and the FY2022 data, while recent, may not reflect the latest developments as of March 2025.
Unexpected Findings
An interesting observation is the dominance of computer-related occupations at 66%, which might surprise those expecting a more balanced distribution across industries. This highlights the tech sector’s reliance on H-1B visas, potentially influencing perceptions of visa program priorities.
Conclusion
In summary, common H-1B visa occupations cover a wide range, with computer-related roles leading, followed by engineering, healthcare, and education. Specific jobs like Software Engineer, Physician, and University Professor are frequently approved, reflecting industry needs. This analysis, grounded in official data and supplementary resources, offers a comprehensive view for stakeholders as of March 25, 2025