H-1B wage bill for US employers set to jump to $9.4 billion under new selection rules

The US has modified the H-1B visa lottery, transitioning to a wage-based selection process starting in February 2026. Higher-paid positions will get priority, pushing employer wage bills higher, and redistributing millions in salaries away from entry-level workers toward senior professionals.

The new rules will have two major impacts. Firstly, the low-paid and low-skilled workers will see their chances diminish, and secondly, US employers will see a hike in their wage bill.