Beyond the 70% headline: USCIS report shows H-1B workers are becoming more educated, better paid and increasingly concentrated in tech

Of the H-1B petitions approved in fiscal 2025 (fiscal ended Sept 30), nearly 70 percent were for beneficiaries whose country of birth was India. The second most common country of birth was China, accounting for approximately 12 percent of all beneficiaries.

However, the latest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) annual report on H-1B specialty occupation workers offers a far richer picture than the now-familiar headline that Indians account for roughly seven out of every ten H-1B approvals.The fiscal 2025 report, which was released this spring, shows an H-1B programme that is becoming increasingly dominated by highly qualified professionals, with master’s degree holders now form the majority of beneficiaries, while computer-related occupations continue to drive demand. It also underlines the continuing dependence of the US technology sector on Indian talent despite political debates over the visa programme.

Masters’ degree now the norm

Perhaps the most striking finding is the educational profile of H-1B beneficiaries. More than half (58 percent) of H-1B beneficiaries had a master’s degree or higher, according to the USCIS report, highlighting employers’ continued demand for advanced qualifications. Bachelor’s degree holders accounted for a much smaller share of 31 percent, while doctoral degree holders continued to represent a niche but important segment of the workforce, which is around 4 percent.In the previous fiscal year ended Sept 30, 2024 – of all approved H-1B applications, 46 percent held a master’s degree, 33 percent had a bachelor’s degree, 8 percent had a doctorate, almost 3 percent had a professional degree.Immigration experts say the trend reflects the growing demand for specialised skills in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductor design, biotechnology and advanced engineering.While the latest report covers fiscal ended Sept 30, 2025, the imposition of the $ 100K fee on sponsoring H-1B workers who are outside the US, the emerging trend is hiring of candidates graduating from US universities, especially those with advanced degrees. Of all the H-1B applications approved in fiscal 2025, beneficiaries with professional degrees had the highest median compensation ($205,000). Beneficiaries with doctorate degrees had the lowest median compensation ($105,000), while beneficiaries with bachelor’s degrees had a median compensation of $132,000.

Tech remains the engine

Computer-related occupations continued to dominate H-1B approvals by a wide margin. Of the total H-1B approvals of 4,06,348 nearly 2,52,088 (62 percent) were computer related. The concentration highlights why technology companies continue to be among the largest users of the H-1B programme even as companies account for a smaller share than they once did.

Experienced professionals continue to drive approvals

The report also indicates that a significant share of approvals relates to continuing employment rather than first-time entrants into the programme.

That suggests employers continue to retain skilled foreign workers for multiple years, reflecting the long-term nature of many specialised positions and the continuing delays in employment-based green card processing for countries such as India.

Political debate unlikely to fade

The report comes amid renewed debate over skilled immigration in the US. While business groups argue that H-1B workers fill genuine shortages in specialised occupations, critics contend the programme me can depress wages or displace domestic workers. Recent proposals to tighten eligibility standards and place greater emphasis on higher-paying positions indicate that scrutiny of the programme is likely to continue.Yet, the data in the report shows that employers are increasingly using the programme me to recruit highly educated professionals for specialised, high-skilled roles rather than lower-skilled positions.For India, the report is another reminder that its engineering and technology workforce remains central to America’s innovation economy—even as immigration policy continues to evolve.