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Comment by ab8 | Hacker News Reader

Why do they all keep saying H1-B workers are underpaid? The government determines minimum pay for each application. My experience has been that this number is quite high.

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The government sets payscale 'tiers' based on qualifications / roles, and these tiers determine the minimum you're able to earn once you obtain an H-1B or PERM. the employer is still able to work w/ the lawyers to get you to fall at a lesser paying tier, and also offer no further growth/compensation as they have no incentive to-- regardless of performance or structure.

Source: My exact role and bulk of responsibilities are valued at at least 2x; but given how difficult it is (for me, at least) to transition out given the job market, I have no other option but to stay or simply leave the country.

Even if the pay by salary amount is fair, these workers can be exploited to work more hours than their non-H1B colleagues such that if their pay was broken down hourly it would be comparatively lower.

Back in their home country they are probably expected to work those same hours (or more!) for a lot less money. By our standards it is exploit, but often for them it is better.

I understand their incentives. But the fact that they are exploited here, just less so still, makes the exploitation wrong. The H1B program needs to end.

Pay is only "high" as it relates to the experience level and the location.

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