Computer Jobs made up 65% of H-1B Petitions in FY2014

USCIS recently released a report on the characteristics of H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2014.  The following are some of the highlights:

• The number of H-1B petitions filed increased 6% from 299,467 in FY 2013 to 318,824 in FY 2014.
• The number of H-1B petitions approved increased 10% from 286,773 in FY 2013 to 315,857 in FY 2014.
• 72% of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2014 were for workers between the ages of 25 and 34.
• 45% of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2014 were for workers with a bachelor’s degree, 43% had a master’s degree, 8% had a doctorate, and 4% were for workers with a professional degree.
• 65% of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2014 were for workers in computer-related occupations.
• The median salary of beneficiaries of approved petitions increased from $72,000 for FY2013 to $75,000 for FY 2014.

Top 10 Countries

The top 10 countries of birth of applicants are: India (220,286), China, People's Republic (26,393), Canada (6,853), Philippines (5,157), South Korea (4,390), United Kingdom (3,307), Mexico (2,768), Taiwan (2,406), France (2,218) and Japan (1,983).  

Top 10 Occupation Classifications by Number

The top 10 occupation classifications are: Occupations in Systems Analysis and Programming (54.1%), Computer-Related Occupations, Others (8.4%), Occupations in College and University Education (4.6%), Electrical/Electronics Engineering Occupations (3.6%), Accountants, Auditors, and Related Occupations (2.5%), Physicians and Surgeons (2.3%), Mechanical Engineering Occupations (1.7%), Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying (1.2%), Occupations in Administrative Specializations (1.2%), Budget and Management Systems Analysis Occupations (1.2%).

Top 10 Occupation Classifications by Salaries

The top 10 occupation classifications ranked by mean annual income are:  Sales Promotion Occupations ($127,000), Occupations in Law and Jurisprudence ($119,000), Occupations in Medicine and Health ($117,000), Managers and Officials ($111,000), Miscellaneous Professional, Technical, and Managerial Occupations ($99,000), Occupations in Social Sciences ($90,000), Occupations in Architecture, Engineering, and Surveying ($89,000), Occupations in Mathematics and Physical Sciences ($85,000), Computer-related Occupations ($83,000), and Occupation in Administrative Specializations ($79,000)

These statistics provide some important insight regarding the sometimes controversial H-1B Visa Program.