What Jobs Qualify for H-1B? Specialty Occupations Explained
A job qualifies for H-1B if it normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field that is directly related to the duties. The title alone does not decide it. Software, engineering, data, accounting, medicine and teaching jobs usually qualify.
Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.
The legal test
The rule is in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4). A specialty occupation needs highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent.
The job must also meet at least one of four tests:
- A degree in a directly related field is normally the minimum for the occupation.
- Similar employers in the industry normally require that degree for parallel jobs.
- This employer, or the client where you will work, normally requires that degree for the role.
- The duties are so specialized or complex that they normally call for that degree.
What "specific specialty" means
A DHS rule that took effect January 17, 2025 clarified the test. A job does not qualify if a general degree, with no specialization, is enough.
A job can accept a range of degree fields, as long as each one is directly related to the duties. Directly related means a logical link between the degree and the work.
The rule also says "normally" does not mean "always." A few people in the field without that degree does not sink a petition.
You can qualify without a US degree. A foreign degree that is equivalent counts. So can experience: three years of specialized training or work for each year of college you lack.
| Employer | H-1B filings | Transfers | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.Com Services LLC | 14,047 | 2,382 | $155k |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen | 10,209 | 872 | $110k |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,808 | 269 | $143k |
| Google LLC | 7,899 | 844 | $186k |
| Microsoft CorporationGC frozen | 7,840 | 879 | $173k |
| Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen | 7,287 | 353 | $86k |
Jobs that usually qualify
Computer jobs made up about 65% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal 2023, the Congressional Research Service reports. Engineering jobs were next at about 10%, then education at about 6%.
Common occupations, with their Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, include:
- Software developers (15-1252) and software QA analysts and testers (15-1253)
- Computer systems analysts (15-1211) and data scientists (15-2051)
- Civil engineers (17-2051) and mechanical engineers (17-2141)
- Accountants and auditors (13-2011)
- Physicians, college teachers and nurse practitioners (29-1171)
Gray areas
- Business analyst and management analyst: these jobs accept many degrees. Petitions do better when they show a specific field, such as information systems or finance, tied to the duties.
- Computer programmer: in 2017, USCIS rescinded older guidance that treated most programmer jobs as qualifying. In 2020, the Ninth Circuit's Innova Solutions v. Baran ruling pushed back on denials based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Entry-level roles still draw questions.
- Registered nurses: USCIS guidance says the standard RN job generally does not qualify. Advanced practice nurses usually do. See H-1B for doctors and nurses.
- Sales: general sales jobs usually do not qualify. A sales engineer role that requires an engineering degree may.
- Skilled trades: jobs like electrician or mechanic do not fit H-1B. Other visa types, such as H-2B, cover some of them.
How the employer proves it
The employer shows the duties, the degree requirement and why the two connect. Evidence often includes a detailed job description, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, its own hiring history and expert letters.
The SOC code and wage level on the Labor Condition Application must match the real duties. A mismatch can lead to a request for evidence. Read H-1B wage levels to see how the two connect.
Using this in your job search
Search roles that sponsors file for most. Browse H-1B jobs by role, and check each employer's filings on our H-1B sponsors list.
If your degree and target role do not line up, say how your coursework connects to the duties. You can also match sponsor jobs to your resume.
If H-1B does not fit, compare TN, E-3, L-1 or a green card path.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with an immigration attorney.
Questions
Does my degree have to match my job exactly?
No. It must be directly related to the duties, and a job can accept several related fields. A general degree with no specialization is usually not enough.
Can I get an H-1B without a bachelor's degree?
Possibly. USCIS can accept three years of specialized training or work experience for each year of college you lack.
Is business analyst an H-1B job?
It can be. The petition needs to show the job requires a degree in a specific related field, not just any business degree.
Can registered nurses get H-1B?
Most staff RN jobs do not qualify, according to USCIS guidance. Nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses usually do.
Does the job title decide if a job qualifies?
No. USCIS looks at the actual duties and the degree the job requires. The SOC code on the LCA must match those duties.
Sources
- 8 CFR 214.2(h): H-1B specialty occupation rules (eCFR)
- Federal Register: Modernizing H-1B Requirements final rule (89 FR 103054)
- USCIS: H-1B Specialty Occupations
- Congressional Research Service: The H-1B visa program (IF12912)
- Pierce Atwood: USCIS rescinds prior guidance on H-1B computer-related positions
- Fisher Phillips: Federal appeals court solidifies straightforward view of specialty occupation
- BLS: Occupational Outlook Handbook
