The H-1B Swindle

An anonymous reader writes "A new study shows that companies hire foreign workers for cheap labor, not skill." From the article:"When you look at computer job titles by state, California has one of the biggest differentials between OES salaries and H-1B salaries. The average salary for a programmer in California is $73,960, according to the OES. The average salary paid to an H-1B visa worker for the same job is $53,387; a difference of $20,573 ... H-1B visa workers were also concentrated at the bottom end of the wage scale, with the majority of H-1B visa workers in the 10-24 percentile range. 'That means the largest concentration of H-1B workers make less than [the] highest 75 percent of the U.S. wage earners,' the report notes. "

Comments

Also doesn't account for conversion

[donutello]

Most H1B's are folks who've been in the workforce for a relatively shorter period of time. Most H1Bs are actually dual-status, which means they are applying for a Green Card while working as an H1B. Green Card processing typically takes 4-5 years. They are not classified as H1Bs once they get their Green Cards - which coincides with them acquiring additional experience and raises.

I make more money now than when I was an H1B and it has nothing to do with my visa status and everything to do with the fact that I have more experience doing what I do now than I did before.

Re:Also doesn't account for conversion

[a1englishman]

Most H1B's are folks who've been in the workforce for a relatively shorter period of time. Most H1Bs are actually dual-status, which means they are applying for a Green Card while working as an H1B. Green Card processing typically takes 4-5 years. They are not classified as H1Bs once they get their Green Cards - which coincides with them acquiring additional experience and raises.

This argument overlooks the fact that the H1-B program is designed to allow employers to aquire talent that isn't available within the US. That would mean that these people are valuable. They shouldn't be grunts, they should be people who poses detailed and specific information which wasn't avaible in an American candidate. That being the case, the H1-Bs should be appearing near the top of the pay curve, not the bottom.

Re:Raises

[billsoxs]

They ARE stupid if they think that science and engineering has no future. Where do these brilliant students go to make money? These geniuses are either going to leech off their parents or they are not going to be well off if they reject science as an option. Do you think a law degree or a medical degree is so lucrative compared to a good engineering degree? I'm not so sure about that.

Well let's see:

Point 1) Our US students that go beyond a BSEE tend to get an MBA. It is easier and typically pays better than a MSEE. More respect in business and shorter hours as well.

In fact a few years ago the Dean of the School of Management PO'd local CEOs of high tech companies by saying that they needed to raise salaries and treat engineers better - right after the CEO pi--ed and moaned that they could not hire enough US engineers. [Personally, I'd be bored to tears as an MBA but that is me.]

Point 2) My wife (an MD) makes a lot more than I do... I have a PhD and similar numbers of years of experince. Finally my older brother a JD (lawyer) makes a lot more then me. Both of them are treated better as well. I guess our students are not all that dumb. But then this feeds right into your next point. US businesses do not really care about engineers and there is no real respect for the field. [Again, I'd go nuts in almost any other field - but that is me and I am not typical.]

Re:Raises

[Tim C]

Do you think a law degree or a medical degree is so lucrative compared to a good engineering degree?

I don't know about the US, but here in the UK I have the distinct impression that a top lawyer will be earning more than a top engineer could ever hope to. For example, I've never heard of a programmer charging more than about £1000/day, while I have heard of lawyers charging £1750/hour. (Of course they won't be pulling that in 8 hours/day, but even 1 hour/day gives them 75% more than the programmer, plus potentially a boat-load of free time)