H-1B After Layoffs: Salary Data, Transfer Timelines (2026)
H-1B workers have 60 days after a layoff to find a new employer sponsor or change visa status. LCA filing data from the Department of Labor cannot directly track individuals across employers, so there is no reliable salary-delta-on-transfer statistic from DOL data. What the data does show clearly: median salaries vary dramatically by company tier, and the top H-1B sponsors by volume are the most likely targets for transfer petitions.
This analysis uses more than 9 million certified LCA filings from FY2008 to FY2026 to show who is filing H-1Bs, at what pay level, and where. Understanding these patterns can help you negotiate better during a stressful transition.
Salary by Company Tier (FY2024)
Rather than estimating transfer deltas per person (which DOL data cannot produce), compare the median pay profiles of the three main H-1B employer tiers. A transfer from a Big Tech employer to an IT consulting firm typically means a salary decrease because the tier pay gap is large.
| Category | Average Salary | FY2024 Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tech (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple) | $168,616 | 45,950 |
| Finance (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Capital One) | $149,192 | 6,392 |
| IT Consulting (Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, HCL, Accenture, Capgemini, LTIMindtree) | $102,992 | 39,516 |
Most Active H-1B Employers (FY2024 Filing Volume)
These 10 companies filed the most certified LCA applications in FY2024, making them the most likely to be actively hiring H-1B transfers.
| # | Company | FY2024 Filings | Median Salary | Primary Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon.com Services LLC | 14,583 | $153,000 | Seattle, WA |
| 2 | Cognizant Technology Solutions | 11,226 | $100,090 | Plano, TX |
| 3 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,802 | $141,228 | New York, NY |
| 4 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 9,606 | $83,616 | Irving, TX |
| 5 | Microsoft Corporation | 9,491 | $162,100 | Redmond, WA |
| 6 | Google LLC | 8,813 | $180,000 | Mountain View, CA |
| 7 | Meta Platforms, Inc. | 5,907 | $203,350 | Menlo Park, CA |
| 8 | Infosys Limited | 5,896 | $91,863 | Richardson, TX |
| 9 | HCL America Inc | 3,929 | $103,730 | San Antonio, TX |
| 10 | Walmart Associates, Inc. | 3,810 | $140,000 | Bentonville, AR |
Geographic Salary Differences (Software Engineer, FY2024)
If you need to relocate for a new H-1B position, expect salary adjustments based on the local market. The values below are the computed difference between average software engineer salaries (from certified FY2024 LCA filings) in each city pair, not person-level transfer data. Lower cost of living often partially offsets these differences.
| From City | To City | Avg SWE Salary Change |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | Austin, TX | -32% |
| San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA | -13% |
| New York, NY | Chicago, IL | -23% |
| New York, NY | Atlanta, GA | -24% |
| Seattle, WA | Denver, CO | -20% |
| Boston, MA | Raleigh, NC | -15% |
The 60-Day Grace Period: Key Facts
What the 60-day grace period allows
After your employment ends, you have 60 calendar days (or until your I-94 expires, whichever is sooner) to either find a new H-1B sponsor, change to another visa status, or depart. During this period, you maintain valid immigration status but cannot work unless a new employer files an H-1B transfer petition on your behalf.
H-1B transfer while on grace period
A new employer can file an H-1B transfer (Form I-129) while you are in the grace period. Once the petition is filed, you can begin working for the new employer immediately (assuming they request Change of Employer, not new cap). You do not need to wait for approval to start working.
Premium processing
Premium processing (Form I-907) guarantees a faster adjudication for an additional USCIS fee. Most H-1B transfer petitions use premium processing to reduce uncertainty. Approval rates vary by employer and fiscal year and are published in the USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub. Check the USCIS I-907 page for current fees and service timelines.
How to Research Salary at Target Employers
Before accepting an offer, check what the target company pays for your role:
GET /api/v1/salaries?employer=target_company&job_title=your_role&sort=salary_desc
Compare the offer against their own LCA filing history. If the offer is below their typical Level II filing, you have strong data to negotiate higher. See the API documentation for all available filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to find a new H-1B sponsor after layoff?
You have a 60-day grace period (or until your I-94 expiration, whichever is shorter) to find a new employer to file an H-1B transfer. During this period you maintain valid status but cannot work for anyone other than an employer who has filed or will file on your behalf.
Do I have to take a pay cut when transferring H-1B?
LCA filing data cannot directly track individuals across employers, so there is no reliable salary-delta-on-transfer statistic from DOL data. What the data does show: the median salary varies dramatically by company tier. Big Tech employers (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple) average $168,616/year per filing in FY2024, while IT consulting firms (Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, HCL, etc.) average $102,992/year. Transfers between similarly-tiered employers typically preserve salary; transfers to lower tiers usually mean decreases.
Which companies are actively hiring H-1B transfers?
Based on FY2024 certified LCA filing volume, the most active H-1B sponsors are Amazon.com Services LLC, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Ernst & Young, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Google, Meta Platforms, Infosys, HCL America, and Walmart Associates. See the table below for exact filing counts and median salaries.
Can I negotiate salary during an H-1B transfer?
Yes. The new employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and location, but you can negotiate above that floor. Use LCA data to show what other companies pay for the same role. The 60-day deadline creates urgency, but do not accept below your market value without understanding your options.
What happens if I do not find a sponsor in 60 days?
If you cannot find a new H-1B sponsor within the 60-day grace period, you must either change to another valid visa status (B-1/B-2 tourist, F-1 student, etc.) or depart the United States. Overstaying beyond the grace period can result in bars on future visa applications.
How to check if a company sponsors H-1B visas?
Query the H-1B Salary Data API with the company name: GET /api/v1/salaries?employer=company_name. If results exist, the company has filed LCA applications for H-1B workers. You can filter by fiscal_year=2024 to see recent activity.
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Query any company, job title, city, or salary range from more than 9 million H-1B records.
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