Computer-related jobs have dominated the H-1B visa program, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all approvals for foreign workers in the U.S. for over a decade.

Since fiscal year 2012, at least 60% of H-1B visa recipients have worked in technology sectors, as indicated by a recent report from the Pew Research Center.

On June 26, 2017, international travelers arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport located in Dulles, Virginia, United States. The photograph was taken by Reuters.

By 2023, this percentage had risen to 65%. Foreign experts in these positions received a median yearly wage of $123,600. This sector encompasses professions like system analysts, programmers, tech support specialists, and data communication and network managers.

In 2023, the second largest category for H-1B visa recipients was architecture, engineering, and surveying, which made up 9% of all approved visas. Professionals in these sectors, such as electrical, electronic, mechanical, and industrial engineers, had a median income of $115,000.

In the ranking, education was placed at number three, succeeded by administrative specialties and healthcare. Notably, social sciences constituted the smallest share of occupations for H-1B beneficiaries, accounting for merely 0.8% of approvals.

Introduced in 1990, the H-1B visa program enables U.S. companies to employ foreign experts for positions that demand high-level skills. Candidates need to possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a pertinent discipline.

The initial approval for H-1B visas lasts for three years, with the possibility of extending it up to six years. Nevertheless, should an employer support their employee’s petition for permanent residence, this visa period can be prolonged past the six-year cap.

In 2023, around 400,000 H-1B applications were granted to highly skilled foreign professionals. Among them, 65% represented renewal cases, with the remaining portion being initial approvals for individuals starting their first job in the U.S.