How to Negotiate Salary as an H1B Visa Holder in Tech

Many H1B visa holders believe they cannot negotiate salary because their employer is sponsoring their visa. This misconception costs thousands of dollars in compensation every year. The H1B prevailing wage requirement actually works in your favor. Your employer is legally required to pay at least the prevailing wage for your role and location, set by the Department of Labor. You can look up prevailing wages on the DOL Foreign Labor Certification Data Center website. Do not accept the first offer. Research market rates on levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Blind for your specific role and city. Come to the negotiation with data, not just a number. Visa sponsorship costs the employer money in attorney and filing fees. Use this as a point of leverage: you are committed to staying long-term, making you a more stable investment than a candidate who may leave in 6 months. Stock compensation and signing bonuses are often more flexible than base salary. If the employer cannot move on base, push hard on equity and bonuses.