We now have Quarter 4 H1B visa FY 2023 data and Quarter 4 PERM visa FY 2023 data and Quarter 4 H2A visa FY 2023 data.
Employer Search tool is moved to it's own page: "H1B Visa Data Search Tool"

California Foreign Labor Visa Stats (All Years)

Total Visas % of all Visas Average Wage Visa Type
1,132,362 86.89% $100,819 H-1B
137,987 10.59% $145,140 PERM
27,949 2.14% $107,091 E-3 Australian
4,960 0.38% $29,309 H-2A

As of May 2023, California has seen a total of 1,303,258 visa workers across all visa types. The most common visa class in California is the H-1B visa with 1,132,362 H-1B visas on record over all years accounting for 86.89% of California's total visas. The second most prevalent visa is the PERM visa with 137,987 PERM visas on record over all years accounting for 10.59% of California's total visas.

Top Occupations in California (All Years)

Occupation # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Animal Scientists 68 $57,784 83.95%
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 68 $60,710 83.95%
Surgeons 65 $165,492 81.25%
Credit Counselors 64 $37,128 81.01%
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes 64 $61,112 83.12%
Civil Engineering Technicians 63 $54,218 82.89%
Social Workers, All Other 62 $48,581 81.58%
Geographers 62 $59,089 82.67%
Logistics Managers 62 $105,785 82.67%
Set and Exhibit Designers 61 $46,893 83.56%
Occupation # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
California Employees Over Time
California has been in the H1B Visa program since 2011 where 50,870 employees were hired. California peaked in 2022 with 107,868 employees, and has since been on a decline with the most recent number of employees being 90,720 in 2023.

Top Countries with Workers in California From PERM Program (All Years)

Country # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
India 42,735 $178,228 48.91%
China 15,777 $108,656 53.06%
South Korea 4,032 $154,868 40.97%
Canada 3,684 $145,079 47.74%
Taiwan 1,769 $272,719 36.38%
Philippines 1,733 $517,903 45.04%
Mexico 1,231 $85,995 37.92%
United Kingdom 913 $111,050 45.38%
Japan 796 $241,546 40.24%
France 786 $107,939 47.61%

Top Hiring Companies in California (All Years)

Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Viasat Inc 279 $106,582 86.38%
Patni Americas Inc 278 $69,478 86.07%
Technosoft Corporation 276 $85,059 85.71%
Shutterfly Inc 274 $91,951 85.36%
Anaplan Inc 273 $140,380 85.31%
Hortonworks Inc 273 $112,042 85.31%
Anthem Inc 273 $103,795 85.31%
Sephora Usa Inc 273 $128,825 85.58%
Castlight Health Inc 271 $130,219 84.95%
M Arthur Gensler Jr Associates Inc 270 $62,978 84.91%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
West Advanced Technologies Inc 23 $100,492 35.94%
Fresenius Usa Inc 23 $115,043 35.94%
Asml Usinc 22 $121,334 34.38%
Ashbro Corp 22 $20,890 34.38%
Addepar Inc 22 $121,926 34.92%
Coppercone Inc 22 $97,522 34.92%
Smule Inc 22 $104,705 34.92%
Smallboardcom 22 $88,249 34.92%
Stratedge Inc 22 $108,728 34.92%
Checkr Inc 22 $138,735 34.92%

Top Industries in California (All Years)

Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Armored Car Services 1 $51,314 100.00%
Biomass Electric Power Generation 1 $101,254 100.00%
Timber Tract Operations 1 $77,917 100.00%
Sawmills 1 $92,706 100.00%
Petroleum Bulk Stations And Terminals 1 $43,056 100.00%
Other Waste Collection 1 $66,248 100.00%
All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing 1 $53,165 100.00%
Cane Sugar Manufacturing 1 $87,443 100.00%
Soybean Farming 1 $73,091 100.00%
Noncurrent Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing 1 $140,920 100.00%
Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %

California Wage Comparison to Other States (All Years)

The chart below compares The average wage in California to that of the other top 9 states with the highest overall average H1-B wage. The average wage in California over all years is $100,819. California has the highest average wage of H1-B workers for all states, with the second highest average wage being WA with an average wage of $99,834.

State Avg Wage