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Country guide · United States
Living and working in the United States
A guide for international candidates
Unless you're a US citizen or already have US status, you'll need a visa that lets you work. Many skilled roles use the H-1B, which has an annual cap and, since 2026, a wage-weighted selection. Other routes include L-1 transfers, O-1 and treaty visas. Pay, rent and state taxes vary a lot from state to state.
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US dollar
Currency
$, USD · source
Washington, DC
Capital
Six time zones
Time zone
From Eastern (UTC-5) to Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10)
911
Emergency number
Types A and B
Plug
120 V, 60 Hz · source
Last checked 12 October 2026. Estimates are labelled.
Where the jobs are
All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide. Choose a sector to see that industry in every place.
Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.
Region
New England
- Jobs 2024
- 7,469
- Strongest sector
- Healthcare
Sector strength vs average for United States
- Tech1.05×
- Healthcare1.18×
- Engineeringn/a
- Finance1.13×
- Hospitalityn/a
Main places
- CT
- ME
- MA
- NH
- RI
- VT
Job links open all United States roles for now.
View the map as a table
| Division | States | Population 2025 | Jobs 2024 (thousands) | Sectors above average (LQ 1.05 or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England | CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 15.4 million | 7,469 | Healthcare 1.18, Finance 1.13, Tech 1.05 |
| Middle Atlantic | NJ, NY, PA | 42.6 million | 19,978 | Healthcare 1.24, Finance 1.21, Tech 1.18 |
| East North Central | IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 47.7 million | 22,095 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.55 |
| West North Central | IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 22.1 million | 10,729 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.35, Finance 1.18, Healthcare 1.06 |
| South Atlantic | DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 70.2 million | 30,692 | Hospitality 1.06 |
| East South Central | AL, KY, MS, TN | 20.1 million | 8,533 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.52, Hospitality 1.06 |
| West South Central | AR, LA, OK, TX | 43.6 million | 18,845 | Hospitality 1.07, Finance 1.06 |
| Mountain | AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 26.3 million | 11,909 | Hospitality 1.22 |
| Pacific | AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 53.8 million | 24,741 | Tech 1.63 |
Cities
Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes. Estimates stay labelled.
United States
New York
- Rent
- $1,851
- Pay
- $61,430
- Rent share
- 36%
13.2 C average, 1,258 mm rain and snow a year (Central Park)
See jobs in New YorkUnited States
San Francisco
- Rent
- $2,435
- Pay
- $74,260
- Rent share
- 39%
14.3 C average, 581 mm a year (downtown)
See jobs in San FranciscoUnited States
Austin
- Rent
- $1,784
- Pay
- $56,950
- Rent share
- 38%
21.1 C average, 921 mm a year (Camp Mabry)
Tools
Step 1 of 2
Visa route finder
A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.
Rent and pay
The pay and rent figures already in this guide. This is not a tax calculation.
Rent a month in New York
$1,851
- Pay
- $61,430
- Rent share of pay
- 36%
Take-home pay
The IRS estimator covers federal income tax withholding. It does not cover Social Security, Medicare, or state tax.
Open the IRS withholding estimatorVisa routes to read about
These describe the route. They do not say whether you qualify.
- Source
H-1B specialty occupation
Degree-level jobs; employer files an LCA with DOL, then Form I-129. Cap 65,000 plus 20,000 (US master's).
$100,000 H-1B payment
Certain new petitions for people outside the US. Blocked by courts.
- Source
$103,265 fee for certain cap-subject petitions
Cap-subject H-1B petitions. Proposal.
- Source
OPT fees (F-1 Optional Practical Training)
F-1 students on OPT and STEM OPT. Proposal, not in force.
Little-known facts
Daily life
- HealthcareSurprise cards: tipping in restaurants, sales tax added at the till, how much depends on the state you live in, car-based cities, health insurance through work, credit history starting from zero.
- HealthcareNo universal public health service for working-age residents.
- HealthcareMost workers get health insurance through their employer; others buy a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) or a state exchange.
Family, school and pets
- FamilyH-4 for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B workers; certain H-4 spouses can apply for work authorisation once the green card process has started.
- FamilyL-2 for L-1 families.
- Schoolfree public schools from kindergarten to grade 12, run by states and local districts.
From job offer to settled in
1
Before you travel
Approved petition, visa appointment at a US embassy or consulate (State Department), documents
2
Arrival
CBP admission. Check your I-94 record online
Source3
Week 1
Form I-9 with your employer, completed by your third business day of work
Source4
Social Security number
Apply at a Social Security office, or tick the box on your immigrant visa application
Source5
Health insurance
Enrol in your employer's plan, or the Health Insurance Marketplace ( where moving to the US can open a special enrolment period
Source
Questions
Do I have to pay the $100,000 H-1B fee?
No one is collecting it right now. Federal courts have blocked enforcement (8 June and 30 September 2026), and where it applied it was a payment by the employer, not the worker. The proclamation still exists, so check the latest position with a specialist before an offer depends on it.
How does H-1B selection work now?
Since the FY2027 season, when there are more registrations than places, each person goes into the pool between one and four times, depending on the wage level of the job offer (four times at level IV, once at level I). Each person still counts once toward the cap.
When is the next H-1B registration?
Registration for FY2028 is expected in March 2027, but USCIS hadn't announced dates on 12 October 2026. It must announce them at least 30 days ahead.
Can my spouse work in the US?
It depends on your visa. Certain H-4 spouses of H-1B workers can apply for work authorisation once the green card process has started. L-2 spouses can work. Ask a specialist about your case.
What will I take home?
Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) come off your pay, and most states add their own income tax. On a $70,000 salary as a single filer, federal deductions leave about $58,075 before state tax. Use the pay calculator above.
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