With a warm climate and tropical beaches, the state offers expats a place to live and work. However, due to the high demand for jobs here, employers pay fewer salaries compared to other US states. The average salary here is between $30,000 to $50,000 a year, of which 20% to 30% is deducted as federal and state taxes. Foreigners should note that this is one of the most expensive states to live in in the United States. The capital city, Honolulu is home to most of the jobs available in the state and the largest population of inhabitants, thus living expenses are relatively expensive. The best-paying jobs are in the medical industry, law firms, military, and government sectors. Employees in this field make around $100,000 or more annually. Service jobs such as cashiers, desk assistants, receptionists, et cetera pay less. The average pay for service jobs is between $8 to $10 an hour.
If you are an expat looking to relocate to this state for work opportunities, a resident looking for work, or you are a student interested in working part-time while studying, this article provides information on finding work in the state and other things to know.
Finding work as an expat
The most popular site to look for work is Craigslist. This is an advertising company with a website where jobs available in all states are posted. Expats search for jobs based on their location or the state they desire to work in. Jobs are also posted in Star-Advertiser, the state’s main newspaper. Foreigners can also consult with a local job agency for available job positions. Due to its multicultural environment, there are several people from different nations in the world. As a U.S. state, its working regulations can be a bit strict. Foreigners who are not U.S. citizens or green card holders require a valid work visa to work in the state such as an H-1B visa or investor visa.
Working as a foreign student
A second option of getting work within the state is available to foreign students with an F-1 visa. They are allowed to work at most 20 hours a week only after residing here for 9 months. There are jobs available on campuses for students, but they pay little compared to other jobs. Upon graduation, expats are given a one-year work permit to work within the US on OPT-Optional Practical Training. Those with degrees in science, technology or IT can option to extend their training for 17 more months.
H-1B visa for foreigners
H-1B visas are issued to people working in a specialty sector that needs theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge earned at the end of a higher education course. It requires a labor attestation usually granted by the Secretary of Labor. It is also applicable to government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects managed by the Department of Defense. This implies that to get an H-1B visa, an expat must have a specialty occupation currently in high demand in the United States and an employer willing to sponsor such an expat and pay the prevailing wage required for all H-1B workers. The H-1B visa is valid for 3 years, after which it can be renewed.
Language requirement
Any expat who wants to work in a US state must provide proof of proficiency in English. This is mostly for foreigners from non-speaking countries. An expat who is a non-speaker but wants to stand out during the application process should ensure he or she passes a proficiency test before applying. Not all job positions require language proficiency but having it will be an added advantage.
You may also like these articles:
Business immigration to Hawaii