Wisconsin (WI)
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H1BIndex State Grade
i
A
FY 2026
2023
A+
2024
A+
2025
A+
Total State Visa Volume i
594
Filings in FY 2026
Median State Salary i
$108,841
Standard yearly salary
True Purchasing Power i
$103,399
Adjusted for Cost of Living
USCIS Approval Rate i
99.7%
Official Adjudication
State Economic & Immigration Overview
An automated macro-level review of Wisconsin's tech ecosystem.Wisconsin Regional Score
Employers across Wisconsin submitted 594 work visa applications. Looking at these total hiring numbers, the state achieves an overall H1B Index Rating of "A".
Focus on Experienced Workers
Local employers focus heavily on acquiring proven workers. A massive 51.8% of the state's visa volume comes from transferring talent between organizations.
Real Cost of Living
A baseline salary of $108,841 is a strong starting point, but living here has distinct costs. After paying the 5.0% state tax and local living expenses, true spending power is closer to $103,399.
Confirmed Approvals
The data shows a very safe hiring environment. Employers in Wisconsin secure a 99.7% success rate on work visas and currently sponsor 331 professionals for permanent residency.
Highly Experienced Roles
Companies in Wisconsin actively target highly experienced talent. Over 42.1% of the regional job filings classify officially as advanced, high-level corporate roles.
Top Hiring City
In Wisconsin, Madison has the highest number of sponsored jobs. Looking at the whole state, the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry hires the most international workers.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Minor Displacement Notice
Low State Risk: YES. Exactly 20 Green Card applications (6.0%) in Wisconsin were filed under recent organizational layoff conditions.
Top Metro Hubs in Wisconsin
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $108,841.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?Fresh Hires (48.2%)Corporate Poaching (51.8%)
State Wage Premium
$14,222
Above Legal Minimum
On average, employers in Wisconsin offer salaries that are $14,222 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM). Wage Growth: +50.0%. State median pay has risen over the last ten years.
Minor Pay Adjustment: +$3,447. The 2026 base pay goes up by a small 3.3% after Green Card approval here.
Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.
Company & Median Pay
Total Approvals
O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 137 | 23.1% | $43,160 | $80,000 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 178 | 30.0% | $52,790 | $97,739 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 136 | 22.9% | $70,390 | $114,735 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 114 | 19.2% | $78,199 | $137,039 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 29 | 4.9% | $48,547 | $100,302 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 28.1% (167 Filings) | $105,853 | 9.0% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 17.8% (106 Filings) | $111,100 | 17.0% |
| Waukesha, WI | 6.6% (39 Filings) | $113,148 | 20.5% |
| Brookfield, WI | 4.9% (29 Filings) | $113,922 | 48.3% |
| Franklin, WI | 2.7% (16 Filings) | $116,741 | 25.0% |
| Green Bay, WI | 2.5% (15 Filings) | $123,302 | 60.0% |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 1.9% (11 Filings) | $116,900 | 18.2% |
| Pleasant Prairie, WI | 1.9% (11 Filings) | $128,600 | 27.3% |
| La Crosse, WI | 1.7% (10 Filings) | $83,500 | 30.0% |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 1.5% (9 Filings) | $118,976 | 33.3% |
| Appleton, WI | 1.5% (9 Filings) | $95,000 | 11.1% |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | 1.3% (8 Filings) | $120,547 | 12.5% |
| Middleton, WI | 1.3% (8 Filings) | $103,196 | 0.0% |
| Menomonie, WI | 1.2% (7 Filings) | $70,390 | 0.0% |
| Oak Creek, WI | 1.2% (7 Filings) | $96,491 | 14.3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 1.2% (7 Filings) | $120,000 | 42.9% |
| Neenah, WI | 1.0% (6 Filings) | $94,266 | 0.0% |
| New Berlin, WI | 1.0% (6 Filings) | $120,225 | 33.3% |
| Grafton, WI | 0.8% (5 Filings) | $134,754 | 20.0% |
| Dodgeville, WI | 0.8% (5 Filings) | $99,000 | 20.0% |
| Racine, WI | 0.8% (5 Filings) | $130,811 | 60.0% |
| Superior, WI | 0.8% (5 Filings) | $105,000 | 0.0% |
| Glendale, WI | 0.8% (5 Filings) | $103,875 | 0.0% |
| Marshfield, WI | 0.7% (4 Filings) | $222,500 | 0.0% |
| Fond Du Lac, WI | 0.7% (4 Filings) | $93,478 | 0.0% |
| Franksville, WI | 0.7% (4 Filings) | $105,245 | 50.0% |
| Verona, WI | 0.7% (4 Filings) | $115,046 | 50.0% |
| Beloit, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $107,000 | 0.0% |
| Mount Pleasant, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $94,000 | 33.3% |
| Kenosha, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $72,000 | 0.0% |
| Hudson, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $120,000 | 0.0% |
| De Pere, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $127,629 | 66.7% |
| River Falls, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $90,000 | 0.0% |
| Manitowoc, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $88,899 | 33.3% |
| West Bend, WI | 0.5% (3 Filings) | $90,000 | 0.0% |
| Sturtevant, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $81,042 | 0.0% |
| Platteville, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $88,990 | 0.0% |
| Stevens Point, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $126,090 | 0.0% |
| Belleville, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $240,000 | 0.0% |
| Poynette, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $48,547 | 0.0% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $182,594 | 50.0% |
| Sussex, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $119,295 | 0.0% |
| Mt. Pleasant, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $80,000 | 0.0% |
| Janesville, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $156,565 | 50.0% |
| Jefferson, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $70,002 | 0.0% |
| Hartland, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $170,456 | 50.0% |
| Kohler, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $116,043 | 50.0% |
| Mineral Point, WI | 0.3% (2 Filings) | $108,826 | 50.0% |
| Cudahy, WI | 0.2% (1 Filings) | $340,434 | 0.0% |
| Cottage Grove, WI | 0.2% (1 Filings) | $123,000 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.
Role & Transfer Pay
Total Transferred
Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.40.1%
23.7%
13.0%
8.6%
3.9%
Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.
End Client & Placement Data
Total Approvals
Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.
Role & Market Data
Median Base
Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Law Firm & Market Data
Total Approvals
Visa Volume & Success
-87.0% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in Wisconsin.Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor | 52 | $106,000 | $439,250 Range | +$36,490 Over Min |
| Software Developer | 28 | $105,853 | $58,208 Range | +$7,760 Over Min |
| Software Engineer | 25 | $114,213 | $70,960 Range | +$11,819 Over Min |
| Scientist I | 12 | $71,450 | $25,724 Range | +$15,166 Over Min |
| Research Associate-Postdegree Trainee | 11 | $61,008 | $16,284 Range | +$8,051 Over Min |
| Scientist Ii | 7 | $90,000 | $25,072 Range | +$33,798 Over Min |
| Dentist | 7 | $214,989 | $88,165 Range | +$59,967 Over Min |
| Senior Engineer | 6 | $127,891 | $51,613 Range | +$25,430 Over Min |
| Scientist Iii | 5 | $100,000 | $49,853 Range | +$32,982 Over Min |
| Design Engineer | 5 | $95,000 | $24,530 Range | +$12,507 Over Min |
| Test Consultant 3 | 5 | $104,800 | $1,783 Range | +$18,813 Over Min |
| Software Development Engineer Ii | 5 | $173,200 | $32,700 Range | +$75,107 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer | 5 | $135,000 | $47,259 Range | +$4,106 Over Min |
| Lead Data Engineer | 4 | $162,187 | $15,799 Range | +$47,454 Over Min |
| Information Security Analysts - Kbgfjg341142-2 | 4 | $78,000 | Fixed Pay | +$7,259 Over Min |
| Medical Physicist Assistant Ii | 4 | $67,018 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Lecturer | 4 | $56,406 | $4,756 Range | +$1,918 Over Min |
| Staff Software Engineer | 4 | $127,786 | $8,071 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Architect | 4 | $90,220 | $24,586 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Sr. Software Engineer | 3 | $113,922 | $23,922 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technical Lead | 3 | $94,266 | Fixed Pay | +$7,780 Over Min |
| Technical Lead L1 | 3 | $80,671 | $3,000 Range | +$4,876 Over Min |
| Associate Professor | 3 | $123,061 | $31,081 Range | +$62,201 Over Min |
| Project Manager | 3 | $110,000 | $10,909 Range | +$10,909 Over Min |
| Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $83,054 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Lead Application Development Engineer | 3 | $134,971 | $72 Range | +$20,467 Over Min |
| Data Engineer | 3 | $96,491 | $5,969 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Data Analyst | 3 | $70,907 | $1,809 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technology Consultant 2 | 3 | $69,451 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Field Application Engineer | 3 | $79,498 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Computer Programmer | 3 | $114,000 | $38,000 Range | +$25,933 Over Min |
| Research Associate | 3 | $65,000 | $9,152 Range | +$8,382 Over Min |
| Security Analyst | 3 | $120,750 | $12,569 Range | +$36,988 Over Min |
| Biostatistician I | 3 | $79,804 | $3,804 Range | +$21,647 Over Min |
| Clinical Assistant Profossor & Cpmg Leader | 2 | $111,100 | Fixed Pay | +$21,350 Over Min |
| Auditor | 2 | $72,000 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Sr. Mechanical Engineer | 2 | $88,899 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Audit & Assurance Senior Consultant | 2 | $101,130 | $5,970 Range | +$5,970 Over Min |
| Angular Developer | 2 | $126,090 | Fixed Pay | +$36,920 Over Min |
| Senior Systems Automation Qa Engineer | 2 | $105,245 | $5,967 Range | +$9,419 Over Min |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $292,000 | $105,000 | Balanced | $20.00/hr |
| 2025 | +5.9% | $400,000 | $93,642 | +7.7% Skew | $20.00/hr |
| 2024 | +0.5% | $400,000 | $88,462 | +10.0% Skew | $19.00/hr |
| 2023 | -0.4% | $400,000 | $88,005 | +6.6% Skew | $18.00/hr |
| 2022 | +4.0% | $400,000 | $88,400 | +5.5% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2021 | +8.4% | $400,000 | $85,000 | +6.4% Skew | $12.00/hr |
| 2020 | +4.2% | $355,000 | $78,386 | +7.2% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2019 | +0.3% | $400,000 | $75,250 | +9.9% Skew | $15.00/hr |
| 2018 | +4.2% | $400,000 | $75,000 | +8.0% Skew | $9.00/hr |
| 2017 | +2.9% | $400,000 | $72,000 | +7.8% Skew | $7.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $400,000 | $70,000 | +7.3% Skew | $9.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding Wisconsin.How likely are companies in Wisconsin to sponsor a Green Card?
Local companies sponsored 331 workers for Green Cards recently. This represents a solid 55.7% long-term commitment rate.
What is the best-paying market in Wisconsin?
Madison offers the highest salaries across the state, reflecting a median base pay of $105,853.
What is the tax rate on a professional salary in Wisconsin?
Based on local tax brackets (5.0%), an employee earning the $108,841 median will see around $5,442 withheld for state-level taxes.