Do Non-H1B Candidates Earn More Than Sponsored Employees?

The salary for a job is generally determined by the role's requirements, the candidate's skills and experience, and market conditions, rather than solely by visa status. However, in some cases:

1. No H1-B Sponsorship Required: Candidates who do not need visa sponsorship might be more cost-effective for employers, as the company avoids the expenses and administrative effort associated with the H1-B process. This could allow the employer to allocate more resources to salary, though this is not guaranteed.

2. H1-B Sponsorship Required: Employers might adjust salaries to meet the Department of Labor's prevailing wage requirements for H1-B workers. This ensures that the foreign worker is paid comparably to others in similar roles, preventing wage suppression. In some cases, this could lead to a higher salary floor for H1-B workers.

In practice, the actual salary difference depends on the employer's policies, budget, and the overall competitiveness of the candidate's profile. For high-demand skills or roles, visa status might have minimal impact on compensation.