Top 10 H-1B Sponsors by Volume
Based on DOL LCA data tracked by PlainVisa, these employers have filed the most H-1B petitions:
Top 10 H-1B sponsors by petition volume
Total Labor Condition Applications filed, FY2023–FY2026
- Amazon.com Services …
Amazon.com Services LLC
48,738 petitions
- COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY…
COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP
39,691 petitions
- Ernst & Young US LLP
Ernst & Young US LLP
35,410 petitions
- Google LLC
Google LLC
30,573 petitions
- Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Corporation
29,803 petitions
- TATA CONSULTANCY SER…
TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED
28,590 petitions
- INFOSYS LIMITED
INFOSYS LIMITED
21,741 petitions
- Meta Platforms, Inc 18,785
Meta Platforms, Inc
18,785 petitions
- Apple Inc 17,876
Apple Inc
17,876 petitions
- Amazon Web Services,… 12,811
Amazon Web Services, Inc
12,811 petitions
| # | Employer | Petitions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon.com Services LLC | 48,738 |
| 2 | COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS US CORP | 39,691 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young US LLP | 35,410 |
| 4 | Google LLC | 30,573 |
| 5 | Microsoft Corporation | 29,803 |
| 6 | TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | 28,590 |
| 7 | INFOSYS LIMITED | 21,741 |
| 8 | Meta Platforms, Inc | 18,785 |
| 9 | Apple Inc | 17,876 |
| 10 | Amazon Web Services, Inc | 12,811 |
See the full employer rankings for all sponsors, sortable by volume, wages, and certification rate.
Two Models of H-1B Sponsorship
H-1B employers generally fall into two categories with very different patterns:
- IT consulting/staffing firms: High volume, lower average wages (often Level I-II), workers placed at client sites across multiple locations. These firms file thousands of LCAs annually because each client project requires new filings. They dominate the top of the volume rankings.
- Direct-hire technology companies: Moderate volume, higher average wages (Level III-IV), workers employed at the company's own offices. Companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft sponsor fewer workers but pay significantly more per worker. Their per-petition wages often exceed $150,000.
PlainVisa shows average wages and wage level distribution for every employer, so you can see which model each company follows.
Consulting vs. Direct-Hire: A Comparison
| Metric | IT Consulting | Big Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Annual petitions | 5,000 to 25,000 | 1,000 to 5,000 |
| Average salary | $85K to $110K | $150K to $220K |
| Typical wage level | Level I to II | Level III to IV |
| Certification rate | 85% to 95% | 95% to 99% |
| Worksites per worker | 2 to 5 (client sites) | 1 (company office) |
The salary gap is striking: a Level I software engineer at a consulting firm might earn $85K to $95K, while the same role at a major tech company pays $150K to $200K. However, consulting firms sponsor far more workers, making them the most common entry point for H-1B employment.
Volume and pay pull in opposite directions: the firms that sponsor the most workers rarely pay the most per worker.
Industry Breakdown
H-1B sponsorship is concentrated in a few industries:
H-1B LCA filings by industry
Share of petitions by employer NAICS sector, DOL OFLC
- Professional & technical services
Professional & technical services — 48.6% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
48.6 % of petitions
- Other 12.2
Other — 12.2% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
12.2 % of petitions
- Manufacturing 10.5
Manufacturing — 10.5% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
10.5 % of petitions
- Information & software 9
Information & software — 9% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
9 % of petitions
- Financial services 8.1
Financial services — 8.1% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
8.1 % of petitions
- Education 7.4
Education — 7.4% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
7.4 % of petitions
- Healthcare 4.3
Healthcare — 4.3% of H-1B petitions by NAICS sector
4.3 % of petitions
- Professional & technical services (48.6%): Computer systems design, engineering, consulting, and other specialized services, the dominant NAICS sector for H-1B sponsorship.
- Manufacturing (10.5%): Electronics, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and other production employers.
- Information & software (9%): Software publishers, data processing, and telecommunications.
- Financial services (8.1%): Banks, insurers, and investment firms sponsoring quantitative and analytical roles.
- Education (7.4%): Colleges and universities, often cap-exempt.
- Healthcare (4.3%): Hospitals and health systems, often cap-exempt.
Sector shares are computed from each employer's NAICS classification weighted by total petitions filed, a real, reproducible breakdown, not an estimate.
Browse by occupation to see sponsorship patterns for specific job categories.
Geographic Concentration
H-1B worksites are heavily concentrated in technology hubs. The top metros by LCA volume include the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Seattle, Dallas, and Chicago. However, H-1B sponsorship occurs in all 50 states, even states with smaller technology sectors have significant sponsorship in healthcare and engineering.
Check your state or metro to see local sponsorship patterns.
Top 10 Metros by LCA Volume
| Metro | Est. Share of LCAs | Key Employers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | 12% to 15% | Google, Meta, Apple |
| New York City | 10% to 13% | JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte |
| Seattle | 8% to 10% | Amazon, Microsoft |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 5% to 7% | Infosys, Cognizant, Texas Instruments |
| Chicago | 4% to 6% | Accenture, United Airlines, Boeing |
Worked Example: Analyzing an Employer Profile
Consider a fictional employer "TechNova Systems" in our database. Their PlainVisa profile shows 3,200 LCA filings with a 96% certification rate and $175,000 median salary for software engineers. The yearly trend reveals filings growing from 580 in FY2023 to 1,100 in FY2025, a 90% increase in two years. Geographic distribution shows 72% of filings in the San Francisco Bay Area, 18% in Seattle, and 10% across other metros. The wage level breakdown is: Level III at 45% and Level IV at 40%, with Level I-II combined at just 15%.
What does this tell a job seeker? TechNova is an established direct-hire tech company (not a consulting firm), paying well above market rates, aggressively expanding headcount, and primarily hiring experienced engineers. The 96% certification rate suggests the company has a strong legal team and follows proper procedures. This is the profile of a company where H-1B sponsorship is highly likely for qualified candidates.
Compare this with a staffing firm filing 15,000 LCAs at Level I wages of $85K to $95K with a 15-state distribution, a very different employment proposition despite the higher volume.
Reading Between the Numbers
When evaluating an employer on PlainVisa, look for these patterns:
- Rapidly growing filings (50% to 100%+ year-over-year) indicate an expanding company with active hiring needs.
- Stable or declining filings may signal layoffs, offshoring, or a shift away from H-1B sponsorship.
- Wage level heavily weighted to Level III-IV suggests the company values experienced talent and pays competitively.
- Certification rate below 85% is a yellow flag, the company may face compliance issues or file borderline petitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do IT consulting companies top the H-1B lists?
IT consulting and staffing firms file large volumes of LCAs because their business model involves placing technology workers at client sites. Companies like Infosys, Tata, Wipro, and Cognizant sponsor thousands of workers annually to fulfill contracts with US companies. This model has drawn scrutiny over wages and working conditions.
Do big tech companies like Google and Apple sponsor many H-1Bs?
Yes, but fewer than consulting firms. Major tech companies (Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft) sponsor thousands of H-1B workers annually, but each individual worker typically earns significantly more than workers at consulting firms. Tech company sponsorships tend to be at higher wage levels (III and IV).
What percentage of H-1B petitions are for technology roles?
Approximately 65-70% of H-1B LCA filings are for technology-related occupations (software developers, systems analysts, computer programmers, data scientists). The remaining 30-35% span healthcare, engineering, finance, education, and other professional fields.
Are H-1B wages competitive with US worker wages?
It depends on the wage level. Level I wages (entry-level) are often below the median for the occupation. Level III and IV wages are at or above median. The DOL requires employers to pay at least the prevailing wage for the occupation and location. Check employer-level wage data on PlainVisa to see where specific companies fall.
Has H-1B sponsorship volume changed over time?
LCA filing volumes have generally increased over the past decade, with dips during economic downturns. The annual H-1B cap has remained at 85,000 since 2004 (65,000 regular + 20,000 advanced degree exemption), but the number of applications far exceeds the cap, resulting in increasingly competitive lotteries.
Can I see which employers sponsor in my state?
Yes. PlainVisa shows H-1B activity by state and metro area. Each state page lists the top employers filing LCAs for worksites in that state. This is useful for understanding the local H-1B labor market and identifying potential sponsors.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, LCA Disclosure Data, FY2023-FY2026
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
