Why Location Matters in Your H-1B Job Search

H-1B sponsorship is not evenly distributed across the United States. Certain states account for a disproportionate share of all sponsorship activity, and within those states, specific cities drive the majority of filings. Understanding where sponsorship is genuinely concentrated gives candidates a more accurate picture of where to focus their search.

Location also has a direct impact on wages. The median sponsored wage in California is $143,336. In Florida it is $94,120. In Indiana it is $85,446. For candidates weighing multiple opportunities, these differences compound significantly over the course of a sponsored career.

The data below covers all 50 states plus Washington DC and Guam, ranked by total LCA filing volume between 2020 and 2026, with city-level and employer-level breakdowns for the three largest sponsorship markets: California, Texas, and New York.

H-1B Sponsorship by State: Full Rankings (2020-2026)

Source: VisaViz analysis of DOL LCA disclosure data by worksite state, FY2020-FY2026. FY2026 figures reflect partial-year data.

State-Level Key Findings

California dominates by volume but Washington leads on new hire intensity

California's 690,727 filings make it the largest H-1B market by a wide margin, accounting for nearly 20% of all national filings. However, Washington state is notable for the ratio of new hires to total filings: 240,620 new hires against 220,618 total filings, a pattern that reflects the concentration of Amazon and Microsoft headquarters in the Seattle area driving sustained new international hiring at a rate that outpaces even California on a relative basis.

Texas is the second largest market but wages lag significantly

Texas accounts for 487,487 filings, making it a major sponsorship market. However, its median sponsored wage of $103,106 is significantly below California ($143,336) and Washington ($143,700).

For candidates evaluating Texas versus coastal markets, the lower cost of living partially offsets this gap, but the wage difference on sponsored roles is real and worth factoring into any relocation decision.

New York stands out for finance sector sponsorship

New York's 274,180 filings and $119,837 median wage reflect its position as the primary hub for financial services sponsorship. The employer profile in New York is meaningfully different from California and Texas, with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Bloomberg all appearing prominently alongside the major technology companies.

Several mid-tier states offer strong wages with lower competition

West Virginia ($110,047), Washington DC ($101,313), Colorado ($102,482), and Delaware ($105,206) all offer median sponsored wages above $100,000 with filing volumes well below the major coastal markets. For candidates open to less obvious locations, these states may offer a more accessible path to sponsorship with competitive compensation.

The lowest-wage sponsored markets are concentrated in the south and rural states

Mississippi ($80,000), Oklahoma ($81,200), Louisiana ($83,233), and North Dakota ($69,254) sit at the bottom of the wage table. Guam, while technically a US territory, shows a median sponsored wage of $53,685, which is an outlier driven by the specific role mix there. Candidates should weigh lower median wages in these markets against cost of living differences when evaluating opportunities.

California: The Largest H-1B Market in the United States

690,727 LCA filings | Median wage: $143,336 | 538,139 new hires | 321,342 continuations

California accounts for more H-1B sponsorship activity than any other state, driven by the concentration of technology companies across the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and the broader Southern California market. The state's median sponsored wage of $143,336 is the second highest in the nation after Washington state, reflecting the premium that California employers pay for international talent.

Top California Locations by Filing Volume

Source: VisaViz analysis of DOL LCA disclosure data for California locations, FY2020-FY2026.

Top California Employers by Filing Volume

Google (47,838), Apple (26,004), Amazon (23,683), Meta (23,545), Qualcomm Technologies (12,871), Ernst and Young (9,021), Walmart Associates (8,678), Cognizant Technology Solutions (8,366), Intel (7,878), Tesla (7,364), LinkedIn (7,137), Infosys (6,110).

Menlo Park ($181,150) and Mountain View ($164,800) are the two highest-paying locations in California for sponsored roles, reflecting the concentration of Meta and Google headquarters respectively. Both cities have median sponsored wages significantly above the California state median.

Texas: The Second Largest H-1B Market

487,487 LCA filings | Median wage: $103,106 | 222,426 new hires | 150,756 continuations

Texas has grown significantly as an H-1B sponsorship market over the study period, driven by the expansion of technology companies into Austin, the established financial and energy sector presence in Dallas and Houston, and the relocation of major corporate headquarters from higher-cost coastal states. Its median sponsored wage of $103,106 is below the national median for the most active states, but the Texas cost of living advantage and breadth of industries represented make it one of the most diverse sponsorship markets in the country.

Top Texas Locations by Filing Volume

Source: VisaViz analysis of DOL LCA disclosure data for Texas locations, FY2020-FY2026.

Top Texas Employers by Filing Volume

Cognizant Technology Solutions (14,324), Amazon (12,132), Tata Consultancy Services (11,727), Infosys (10,623), Ernst and Young (8,146), HCL America (6,297), JPMorgan Chase (5,140), Deloitte Consulting (4,621), Apple (4,064), Wipro (3,974), Tech Mahindra Americas (3,166), Mphasis (3,056).

Austin is the standout location in Texas, with 79,742 filings and a median sponsored wage of $114,754. This is meaningfully above the Texas state median and reflects the concentration of technology companies and corporate headquarters that have relocated to Austin from California over the past several years.

New York: The Finance and Technology Hub

274,180 LCA filings | Median wage: $119,837 | 186,809 new hires | 105,770 continuations

New York is the third largest H-1B market nationally and the most important market for candidates targeting financial services. Its employer profile is distinct from California and Texas, with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg, and Columbia University all featuring prominently alongside technology companies. The state's $119,837 median sponsored wage is the third highest in the country among major markets.

Top New York Locations by Filing Volume

Source: VisaViz analysis of DOL LCA disclosure data for New York locations, FY2020-FY2026.

Top New York Employers by Filing Volume

Ernst and Young (10,442), Amazon (7,289), Google (6,048), Goldman Sachs (4,561), Meta (3,937), JPMorgan Chase (3,823), Morgan Stanley Services Group (3,067), Bloomberg LP (2,619), Columbia University (2,605), Cognizant Technology Solutions (2,558), Tata Consultancy Services (2,087), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2,031).

New York is the only major H-1B market where an academic medical centre appears among the top employers. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2,031 filings) reflects the significant healthcare and research sponsorship activity concentrated in New York City, alongside the financial services sector.

How to Use Geographic Data in Your Job Search

Start with the state, then go to city level

State-level data tells you where overall sponsorship activity is concentrated. City-level data tells you where within those states the opportunities actually sit. A candidate targeting California will find very different employer profiles and wage levels in San Francisco versus Los Angeles. Filtering to city level before applying gives a more accurate picture of the local market.

Use median wage by state to negotiate and compare offers

The state-level median sponsored wage is a concrete benchmark. If you receive a sponsored offer in Washington state below $143,700, you have data to anchor a salary conversation. If you are comparing offers across states, the wage data should be viewed alongside cost of living differences to assess real purchasing power.

Do not overlook mid-tier states for early career roles

States like Colorado ($102,482), Oregon ($101,670), and Washington DC ($101,313) offer above-average sponsored wages with significantly less competition than the primary coastal markets.

For candidates earlier in their career, these markets may offer a more accessible entry point into the sponsored workforce.

Employer profiles vary significantly by state

California's top employers are overwhelmingly technology companies. New York's include major financial institutions, media companies, and academic medical centres. Texas reflects a mix of IT consulting firms, technology companies, and financial services. Understanding which employers dominate a specific market helps candidates tailor their target list to where they are actually looking.

Washington state punches above its weight for new hires

Washington's 240,620 new hires against 220,618 total filings is an unusual pattern. It suggests the state generates a disproportionately high number of genuinely new international placements relative to its overall market size. For candidates looking for first-time sponsored roles, this makes Washington state a particularly attractive target alongside California.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which US state has the most H-1B sponsorship opportunities?

California leads all states with 690,727 LCA filings between 2020 and 2026, accounting for nearly 20% of all national sponsorship activity. Texas is second with 487,487 filings, followed by New York with 274,180. These three states together account for over 40% of all H-1B sponsorship activity in the US.

Q: Which state pays the highest wages for H-1B sponsored roles?

Washington state leads on median sponsored wage at $143,700, marginally ahead of California at $143,336. Both states significantly outpace the national median of $110,000. New York ($119,837) and Massachusetts ($108,181) are the next highest among major markets.

Q: Is it harder to get H-1B sponsorship in smaller states?

Smaller states have fewer sponsoring employers and lower overall filing volumes, which can make it harder to find sponsorship opportunities in your specific field. However, some mid-tier states offer competitive wages with less candidate competition. The key is to research employer-level data within each state rather than relying on state-level volume alone.

Q: Which city has the most H-1B sponsorship filings in the US?

Based on the data available, New York City (Manhattan) leads on individual city filings with 198,517 LCA filings, reflecting its status as both the largest financial services hub and a major technology market. Within California, San Francisco (89,194), San Jose (70,802), and Sunnyvale (70,158) are the leading cities by filing volume.

Q: Why does Texas have lower median sponsored wages than California?

Texas's lower median sponsored wage reflects the mix of industries and employers that dominate its H-1B market. IT consulting firms such as Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services, and Infosys are among the largest Texas sponsors, and these firms typically file at lower wage levels than the product technology companies that dominate California. Austin, as Texas's technology hub, carries a median sponsored wage of $114,754, significantly above the state median.

Q: Can I filter H-1B sponsorship data by city on VisaViz?

Yes. VisaViz allows you to filter sponsorship data by state, city, employer, and role type. You can use the Geography tab on the intelligence dashboard to explore sponsorship activity at the location level and see which employers are most active in your target market.