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
$108,417
Standard yearly salary
True Purchasing Power i
$102,996
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 Market Grade
Companies in Wisconsin filed 594 work visa applications. Based on the local job market and salaries, this state earns an H1B Index Grade of "A".
Talent Shifts
The talent pool here shifts frequently among top organizations. Roughly 51.8% of all visa activity in the state revolves around transferring employees between local companies.
Adjusted Pay Value
Working in Wisconsin requires adjusting baseline financial expectations. After standard 5.0% state tax withholdings and local cost adjustments, the median $108,417 salary buys roughly $102,996.
Strong Visa Success
Getting an approved work visa is highly likely here. The government approves 99.7% of applications from Wisconsin, and local companies also filed 331 permanent residency requests.
Expert Skill Sets
If you are a senior candidate, Wisconsin offers a massive advantage. 42.1% of the sponsored opportunities in this state are engineered for highly experienced specialists.
Biggest Job Market
Most of the businesses sponsoring visas in Wisconsin are based in Madison. This regional hiring is strongly driven by the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Minor Displacement Notice
Some Statewide Reductions: YES. There are 20 companies (6.0%) reporting recent layoffs across Wisconsin's sponsored economy.
Top Metro Hubs in Wisconsin
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $108,417.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?Fresh Hires (48.2%)Corporate Poaching (51.8%)
State Wage Premium
$13,798
Above Legal Minimum
On average, employers in Wisconsin offer salaries that are $13,798 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). Long-Term Gain: +50.0%. The average salary here is notably higher now than in 2016.
Minor Wage Increase: +$3,447. Moving to a Green Card provides only a 3.3% boost to the 2026 median salary statewide.
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 | $97,333 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 136 | 22.9% | $70,390 | $114,700 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 114 | 19.2% | $78,199 | $136,769 |
| 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) | $110,739 | 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) | $108,458 | 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 | $105,000 | $211,732 Range | +$35,490 Over Min |
| Software Developer | 28 | $105,853 | $70,893 Range | +$7,760 Over Min |
| Software Engineer | 25 | $114,213 | $70,960 Range | +$11,819 Over Min |
| Scientist I | 12 | $71,450 | $30,749 Range | +$15,166 Over Min |
| Research Associate-Postdegree Trainee | 11 | $61,008 | $19,961 Range | +$8,051 Over Min |
| Scientist Ii | 7 | $90,000 | $25,076 Range | +$33,798 Over Min |
| Dentist | 7 | $214,989 | $157,415 Range | +$59,967 Over Min |
| Senior Engineer | 6 | $127,891 | $59,834 Range | +$25,430 Over Min |
| Scientist Iii | 5 | $100,000 | $58,830 Range | +$32,982 Over Min |
| Design Engineer | 5 | $95,000 | $49,530 Range | +$12,507 Over Min |
| Test Consultant 3 | 5 | $104,800 | $27,395 Range | +$18,813 Over Min |
| Software Development Engineer Ii | 5 | $173,200 | $33,100 Range | +$75,107 Over Min |
| Senior Software Engineer | 5 | $135,000 | $52,963 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 | $9,598 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Architect | 4 | $90,220 | $39,083 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Sr. Software Engineer | 3 | $113,922 | $23,922 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technical Lead | 3 | $94,266 | $18,609 Range | +$7,780 Over Min |
| Technical Lead L1 | 3 | $80,671 | $5,238 Range | +$4,876 Over Min |
| Associate Professor | 3 | $123,061 | $32,407 Range | +$62,201 Over Min |
| Project Manager | 3 | $110,000 | $12,909 Range | +$10,909 Over Min |
| Mechanical Engineer | 3 | $83,054 | $6,946 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Lead Application Development Engineer | 3 | $134,971 | $19,459 Range | +$20,467 Over Min |
| Data Engineer | 3 | $96,491 | $35,193 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Data Analyst | 3 | $70,907 | $4,742 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Technology Consultant 2 | 3 | $69,451 | $10,109 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Field Application Engineer | 3 | $79,498 | $0 Range | Baseline Pay |
| Computer Programmer | 3 | $114,000 | $46,000 Range | +$25,933 Over Min |
| Research Associate | 3 | $65,000 | $12,813 Range | +$8,382 Over Min |
| Security Analyst | 3 | $120,750 | $12,569 Range | +$36,988 Over Min |
| Biostatistician I | 3 | $79,804 | $5,000 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 | $11,940 Range | +$5,970 Over Min |
| Angular Developer | 2 | $126,090 | Fixed Pay | +$36,920 Over Min |
| Senior Systems Automation Qa Engineer | 2 | $105,245 | $11,935 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.Which business sector leads H-1B hiring in Wisconsin?
The local hiring market is dominated largely by the Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services industry, responsible for 40.1% of all certified applications.
Where do professionals make the most money in Wisconsin?
Madison represents the top-paying metro area in the state, where H-1B salaries reach a local median of $105,853.
What are the estimated state taxes for professionals in Wisconsin?
Based on local tax brackets (5.0%), an employee earning the $108,417 median will see around $5,421 withheld for state-level taxes.