In 2026, the United States has made available thousands of job openings for legal immigrants (foreign workers), which also offer visa sponsorship with not much hassle. The interesting thing about this is that the United States doesn’t just offer high-skilled roles but also entry-level and seasonal positions where you have guaranteed annual earnings beginning around $18,000 to $28,000.
Normally, you tend to find this type of opportunity in sectors experiencing labor shortages, like the hospitality, agriculture, and logistics sectors.
The US economy is going through a delicate period, experiencing inflationary instability and fears of recession. However, the demand for skilled labor remains high, and immigration of professionals tends to help boost the economy and stabilize the market, since many companies are suffering in their production fields due to a lack of qualified professionals.
Therefore, green cards through work, the so-called EB or H-2 visas, remain in high demand and should remain so for some time, as the American government itself understands the need to “import” this skilled workforce.
Therefore, it is of great importance that international job seekers should understand how these jobs work and likewise know where they can find those jobs so as to secure stable employment while also getting the opportunity to legally live in the United States with their work visa.
Why These Jobs Matter
It is no more news that the majority of U.S. visa sponsorship jobs are centered on high-paid tech or healthcare jobs. Don’t get it twisted, as we also have numerous jobs with lower annual salary ranges that also offer sponsorship, especially under temporary work visas like the ones listed below:
-
H-2A: for seasonal agricultural work/jobs
-
H-2B: for seasonal non-agricultural jobs (e.g., hospitality, maintenance)
-
EB-3: for skilled and semi-skilled workers, including entry-level roles
With any of the mentioned visa categories, employers are allowed to fill essential roles for which it could be difficult to find local staff.
Using information from Business Insider, it was possible to project the 20 most promising professions in the United States by 2026. Only professions with a minimum salary of US$3,086 were considered.
Typical Jobs Around the $18,000–$20,000 Range
1- Nurse
In the year 2026, it is estimated that more than 400,000 jobs will be created in the nursing field. Definitely, most foreign workers who enter the United States with the opportunity of a job with visa sponsorship earn about $18,000 per year, and they usually transition into high-demand healthcare careers in the health sector, which further increases their pay.
Come to think of it, nursing ranks among the most stable professions in the United States, and also it is an in-demand profession; don’t forget we will always need people to help us out or help our aging parents.
2- Software developer
More than 250,000 jobs will be created in this branch of technology. The average salary for a software engineer in 2026 is way over $18,000, but you can come in as an entry-level software developer or even apply for the following roles: IT Support Assistant, Data Entry Clerk, Junior Tech Support Staff, Computer Lab Assistant etc.
These roles often require basic computer skills; you do not need to be so vast in any form of coding, and you can as well get visa sponsorship for such roles. An interesting part of it is one can transition into earning higher with further training, certifications, and enrolling in some side programs.Â
3- Operations Manager
More than 200,000 jobs will be created in this field of business management. Operations managers are not paid $18,000 in the US; they earn way more, but if you go online to research jobs with visa sponsorship for the operations manager role, you will likely find many visa-sponsored roles in the range of $18,000–$28,000.
Have you thought about hotels, farms, food processing, factories, logistics hubs, warehouses, and so on? It is a perfect role one can take advantage of.
4- Financial Manager
By 2026, there will be over 100,000 job openings in this field. No doubt financial managers in the US earn well above $18,000, but we cannot despise the days of humble beginnings, as you can start your journey as a financial manager in the US with a visa-sponsored entry, or rather, you secure for yourself a support role and earn about $18,000–$28,000.
As a financial manager, you can work in healthcare, retail, logistics, hospitality, and corporate settings and also in financial departments. The following also count: accounting or bookkeeping, billing assistant roles, payroll, bank clerks or finance assistants etc.
5- Surgeon/specialist doctor
There will be nearly 50,000 job openings for surgeons or medical specialists by 2026. Some foreign healthcare workers who got into the United States confirmed their earnings to be in the range of $18,000 to $28,000 annually; this is quite cool, and you also have the opportunity to pursue advanced medical careers to earn more. For the surgeon and specialist doctor roles, there is a need for extensive education, licensing, and residency training, and this is an avenue to earn higher.
6- Accountant
There will be approximately 140,000 job openings for graduates in accounting sciences.Â
7- Lawyer
Approximately 75,000 job openings for law graduates in the US are projected by 2026.
8- Marketing Specialist/Market Analyst
More than 130,000 job openings will be available for those with a degree in Marketing in the USA.Â
9- Management Analyst
More than 95,000 jobs will be available for those who graduate with a degree in Business Administration.Â
10- Medical Manager
There will be nearly 70,000 job openings in this field for those studying Business Administration and Medicine.
These data show that there is no shortage of opportunities to move to the United States. Compared to the cost of living in developing countries.
Read Also: Farmworker Jobs in USA ($12 – $18 hour, Visa Sponsorship)
To move to the United States, it’s necessary to plan for the entire cost of living there. Job hunting is one of the most important steps to successfully establishing a new life in a different country, especially in the US, where employment itself is generally a key part of the immigration process. Good legal advice from experienced immigration lawyers will make all the difference in this process.
