Techies Lose Top Spot for Highest Paid H-1B Jobs

For years, Indian techies dominated the US job market through H-1B visas. That trend is changing. You now see medical professionals emerging as the biggest beneficiaries, with doctors overtaking software engineers in pay and demand.

Doctors overtake tech in H-1B pay

A new study by immigration law firm Manifest Law shows medical specialists now earn the highest H-1B salaries. The data, sourced from the US Department of Labor, confirms that healthcare roles pay more than tech jobs.

Specialists earn over $300,000

Specialty doctors top the list. Cardiologists, surgeons, neurologists, radiologists and anaesthesiologists earn median salaries above $300,000. Some even cross $400,000. These figures put medical roles far ahead of most corporate and tech positions.

Tech salaries lag behind

Non-medical H-1B jobs usually pay between $100,000 and $200,000. That gap is widening. While Indians are still strongly associated with IT roles in the US, Indian doctors now lead when it comes to top-end H-1B salaries.

Smaller cities pay more

Pay levels also vary by location. Cities like San Jose, San Francisco and Seattle offer strong salaries. However, smaller and rural regions often pay more due to acute doctor shortages, pushing median wages above $315,000.

Shortage drives higher wages

States such as West Virginia, Arizona and North Carolina report unusually high H-1B wages for doctors. You are seeing higher pay because fewer specialists are willing to work in these regions, giving doctors stronger negotiating power.

Success takes years

This shift did not happen overnight. Doctors say the highest pay usually comes five to ten years after training. The H-1B visa also limits early career movement, making the journey slow and tightly regulated.

Tough path for Indian doctors

A Hyderabad-based doctor preparing for US practice says the US Medical Licensing Exam is tougher than Indian exams. Clearing the tests and securing residency takes years. The process is costly and often leaves students in heavy debt.

Demand set to rise further

Despite the challenges, demand continues to grow. The Association of American Medical Colleges warns the US may face a shortage of up to 86,000 specialist doctors by 2036. The H-1B dream is clearly moving beyond Silicon Valley.