A Manifest Law analysis of Labor Department data released January 16 finds that specialty physicians have overtaken software engineers as the highest-paid cohort in the H-1B program. Median offered wages for H-1B doctors reached US$318,000 in FY 2026, compared with US$212,000 for senior software developers. The shift is driven by the United States’ aging population and a shortage of board-certified specialists in fields such as cardiology and oncology—areas where foreign-trained doctors can fill critical gaps.
Smaller metropolitan areas are paying the steepest premiums; hospitals in Des Moines and Little Rock offered 25-30 percent above national medians to lure foreign talent. Yet the immigration pathway for physicians remains arduous: graduates must pass the three-step U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, clear state credentialing boards, and often complete additional residency years before they can practice independently.
![Doctors, not coders, now top H-1B salary charts, study shows]()
For companies and practitioners looking to cut through that red tape, VisaHQ’s online platform can be a timesaving ally. Its U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time application tracking for H-1B, J-1 waiver, or O-1 petitions—helping hospitals, clinics, and tech firms alike stay compliant while keeping recruiting timelines on track.
For employers, the data highlight an emerging bidding war between health-care providers and tech firms for the limited H-1B cap. Companies filing FY 2027 registrations in March should be prepared for stiffer competition if the forthcoming weighted lottery rule favors higher-wage cases. Multinational hospitals may also consider J-1 waiver strategies or O-1 petitions to hedge against cap uncertainty.
Recruiters note that the surge in physician salaries could further squeeze rural clinics already struggling to sponsor visas, prompting industry groups to renew calls for a separate H-1B cap exemption for medical professionals serving shortage areas.
Smaller metropolitan areas are paying the steepest premiums; hospitals in Des Moines and Little Rock offered 25-30 percent above national medians to lure foreign talent. Yet the immigration pathway for physicians remains arduous: graduates must pass the three-step U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, clear state credentialing boards, and often complete additional residency years before they can practice independently.
For companies and practitioners looking to cut through that red tape, VisaHQ’s online platform can be a timesaving ally. Its U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time application tracking for H-1B, J-1 waiver, or O-1 petitions—helping hospitals, clinics, and tech firms alike stay compliant while keeping recruiting timelines on track.
For employers, the data highlight an emerging bidding war between health-care providers and tech firms for the limited H-1B cap. Companies filing FY 2027 registrations in March should be prepared for stiffer competition if the forthcoming weighted lottery rule favors higher-wage cases. Multinational hospitals may also consider J-1 waiver strategies or O-1 petitions to hedge against cap uncertainty.
Recruiters note that the surge in physician salaries could further squeeze rural clinics already struggling to sponsor visas, prompting industry groups to renew calls for a separate H-1B cap exemption for medical professionals serving shortage areas.
