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"

Illinois Foreign Labor Visa Stats (All Years)

Total Visas % of all Visas Average Wage Visa Type
328,359 91.53% $77,136 H-1B
25,222 7.03% $170,962 PERM
3,529 0.98% $97,739 E-3 Australian
1,637 0.46% $32,808 H-2A

As of May 2023, Illinois has seen a total of 358,747 visa workers across all visa types. The most common visa class in Illinois is the H-1B visa with 328,359 H-1B visas on record over all years accounting for 91.53% of Illinois's total visas. The second most prevalent visa is the PERM visa with 25,222 PERM visas on record over all years accounting for 7.03% of Illinois's total visas.

Top Occupations in Illinois (All Years)

Occupation # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists 38 $81,298 82.61%
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 37 $66,979 80.43%
Survey Researchers 37 $45,509 82.22%
Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other 37 $58,944 84.09%
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners 37 $38,174 84.09%
Editors 36 $48,065 83.72%
Regulatory Affairs Managers 35 $121,241 81.40%
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 34 $51,629 80.95%
Agricultural Engineers 34 $63,806 80.95%
Architectural Drafters 34 $49,456 85.00%
Occupation # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Illinois Employees Over Time
Illinois has been in the H1B Visa program since 2011 where 14,981 employees were hired. Illinois peaked in 2016 with 29,364 employees, and has since been on a decline with the most recent number of employees being 3,790 in 2025.

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

Country # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
India 9,745 $242,007 46.63%
China 1,311 $75,213 49.51%
Poland 521 $175,933 47.11%
South Korea 427 $55,341 43.09%
Canada 361 $90,633 37.37%
Philippines 356 $493,600 40.27%
Mexico 333 $65,272 43.42%
Brazil 188 $79,878 47.47%
Ukraine 174 $62,423 47.80%
Pakistan 164 $88,269 47.95%

Top Hiring Companies in Illinois (All Years)

Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Language Stars Llc 88 $26,989 87.13%
Ww Grainger Inc 88 $108,543 88.00%
Ab Technologies Inc 88 $60,324 88.00%
Cook County Health Hospital Systems 88 $57,276 88.00%
Genius Business Solutions Inc 87 $73,555 87.00%
University Of Illinois At Springfield 87 $34,429 87.00%
Egencia Llc 87 $99,208 87.88%
Professional Vision Technologies Inc 86 $66,332 86.87%
Hospira Inc 86 $84,286 86.87%
Cyma Systems Inc 86 $74,421 86.87%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Software Systems And Solutions Inc 5 $91,000 29.41%
Kraft Foods Group Inc 5 $101,400 29.41%
Freeport School District 145 5 $34,666 29.41%
Aroo International Inc 5 $29,998 29.41%
Old Mission Capital Llc 5 $88,308 29.41%
Hitachi Consulting Corporation 5 $78,424 29.41%
Mckendree College 5 $30,506 29.41%
Martinez Produce And Seafood Inc 5 $70,192 29.41%
Follett Corporation 5 $102,219 29.41%
Revenue Well Systems Llc 5 $69,680 29.41%

Top Industries in Illinois (All Years)

Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Casinos Except Casino Hotels 11 $122,953 84.62%
Animal Food Manufacturing 11 $83,106 84.62%
Professional And Commercial Equipment And Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 11 $57,421 84.62%
Iron Foundries 11 $66,177 84.62%
Steel Wire Drawing 11 $75,812 84.62%
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation 11 $58,624 84.62%
Document Preparation Services 11 $52,545 91.67%
Steam And Air Conditioning Supply 11 $60,955 91.67%
Meat And Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers 11 $65,293 91.67%
Iron And Steel Forging 11 $60,679 91.67%
Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Dance Companies 2 $43,743 50.00%
Automotive Equipment Rental And Leasing 2 $28,434 50.00%
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing 2 $109,013 66.67%
Doll Toy And Game Manufacturing 2 $85,842 66.67%
Motor Vehicle Parts Used Merchant Wholesalers 2 $65,697 66.67%
Machinery Manufacturing 2 $76,128 66.67%
Commuter Rail Systems 2 $75,598 66.67%
Consumer Electronics And Appliances Rental 2 $76,076 66.67%
Beer Wine And Liquor Retailers 2 $25,303 66.67%
Security Systems Services 2 $76,004 66.67%

Illinois Wage Comparison to Other States (All Years)

The chart below compares The average wage in Illinois to that of the top 9 states with the highest overall average H1-B wage. The average wage in Illinois over all years is $77,136. The state with the highest average wage of H1-B workers for all states is CA with an average wage of $104,510.

State Avg Wage