H-1B hiring boost: Nvidia offers top salaries despite slowdown in foreign recruitment
At a time when many technology companies are cutting jobs, slowing recruitment and reducing sponsorship of foreign workers, Nvidia appears to be moving in the opposite direction. The artificial intelligence chip giant has continued to aggressively hire overseas talent through the H-1B visa programme.
Federal filings show Nvidia secured certification for around 1,200 H-1B positions during the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, up from roughly 1,000 during the same period a year earlier.
The increase comes as several major technology companies have scaled back foreign hiring amid immigration uncertainty and broader cost-cutting measures.
The hiring surge highlights Nvidia's growing demand for specialised engineers, researchers and AI experts as competition intensifies in the race to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems. The company has been expanding across hardware, software and customer-facing roles as businesses worldwide adopt AI technologies powered by Nvidia chips, Business Insider reported.
The surge in hiring comes as other technology giants saw downfall. Google saw approved H-1B hiring fall from about 5,100 positions to 2,200 over the same period, while Amazon's approvals declined from around 6,100 to 4,300. The figures suggest that while much of the sector is becoming more cautious, Nvidia continues to invest heavily in talent acquisition.
The company's approach reflects the views of chief executive Jensen Huang, who has repeatedly argued that immigration remains essential to America's technological leadership. Born in Taiwan, Huang has often highlighted the contribution of immigrants to both Nvidia's success and the broader US technology industry.
Last year, Huang reassured employees that Nvidia would continue sponsoring H-1B visas and cover associated costs despite policy changes introduced by the Trump administration. The measures included a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications, triggering concerns across the technology sector about the future availability of skilled foreign workers.
"As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know that the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives," Huang told employees at the time.
He also said that Nvidia's success would not have been possible without immigration and described legal immigration as critical to ensuring that the United States remains a global leader in technology and innovation.
Nvidia's willingness to continue recruiting international talent is backed by compensation packages that rank among the most lucrative in the industry. While the company does not publicly disclose detailed salary data, federal filings linked to H-1B applications provide insight into the base pay offered for key positions.
According to the filings, software engineers can earn base salaries of up to $391,000 (around Rs 3.71 crore) while research scientists can receive as much as $356,500 (around Rs 3.39 crore). Product managers can earn up to $379,500 (around 3.60 crore) and hardware engineering managers up to $368,000 (around Rs 3.49 crore).
Senior leadership and specialised AI positions command even higher pay. Directors can earn up to $488,750 (around 4.64 crore) in base salary alone, while principal systems software engineers and distinguished AI algorithm engineers can receive compensation exceeding $400,000 before stock awards and bonuses are included.
Federal filings show Nvidia secured certification for around 1,200 H-1B positions during the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, up from roughly 1,000 during the same period a year earlier.
The increase comes as several major technology companies have scaled back foreign hiring amid immigration uncertainty and broader cost-cutting measures.
The hiring surge highlights Nvidia's growing demand for specialised engineers, researchers and AI experts as competition intensifies in the race to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems. The company has been expanding across hardware, software and customer-facing roles as businesses worldwide adopt AI technologies powered by Nvidia chips, Business Insider reported.
The surge in hiring comes as other technology giants saw downfall. Google saw approved H-1B hiring fall from about 5,100 positions to 2,200 over the same period, while Amazon's approvals declined from around 6,100 to 4,300. The figures suggest that while much of the sector is becoming more cautious, Nvidia continues to invest heavily in talent acquisition.
The company's approach reflects the views of chief executive Jensen Huang, who has repeatedly argued that immigration remains essential to America's technological leadership. Born in Taiwan, Huang has often highlighted the contribution of immigrants to both Nvidia's success and the broader US technology industry.
Last year, Huang reassured employees that Nvidia would continue sponsoring H-1B visas and cover associated costs despite policy changes introduced by the Trump administration. The measures included a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications, triggering concerns across the technology sector about the future availability of skilled foreign workers.
"As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know that the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives," Huang told employees at the time.
He also said that Nvidia's success would not have been possible without immigration and described legal immigration as critical to ensuring that the United States remains a global leader in technology and innovation.
Nvidia's willingness to continue recruiting international talent is backed by compensation packages that rank among the most lucrative in the industry. While the company does not publicly disclose detailed salary data, federal filings linked to H-1B applications provide insight into the base pay offered for key positions.
According to the filings, software engineers can earn base salaries of up to $391,000 (around Rs 3.71 crore) while research scientists can receive as much as $356,500 (around Rs 3.39 crore). Product managers can earn up to $379,500 (around 3.60 crore) and hardware engineering managers up to $368,000 (around Rs 3.49 crore).
Senior leadership and specialised AI positions command even higher pay. Directors can earn up to $488,750 (around 4.64 crore) in base salary alone, while principal systems software engineers and distinguished AI algorithm engineers can receive compensation exceeding $400,000 before stock awards and bonuses are included.
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