New Jersey does not get enough attention in H1B conversations. Most people think California, Texas, or New York and stop there. In reality, New Jersey is the fifth-largest H1B state in the country with 28,924 total filings in fiscal year 2025 and an average salary of $125,791. What makes New Jersey genuinely different from other states is the mix of industries doing the sponsoring. Pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, technology consulting firms, major universities, and Wall Street back-office operations all converge here in a way that creates H1B opportunities across a much wider range of career paths than most people realize. This article breaks down exactly who is sponsoring, how much they pay, and what is happening with salaries in 2026 — all from real H1B sponsor filing data.

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New Jersey H1B Overview: The Numbers

Here is what the overall picture looks like for New Jersey based on LCA and H1B petition filings:

Total H1B filings in 2025: 28,924
Average H1B salary in 2025: $125,791
2026 filings so far: 3,861 at an average salary of $137,402

The early 2026 average of $137,402 is already $11,611 higher than the full-year 2025 figure. As with other states, this reflects the pattern of larger, higher-paying employers filing earlier in the fiscal year. Nevertheless, the trend is clear. New Jersey H1B salaries have been rising consistently and the 2026 trajectory is continuing upward.

How New Jersey H1B Salaries Have Grown Year Over Year

Looking at the year-over-year trend tells a story of steady and consistent growth:

2022: 32,613 filings | Average salary $113,296
2023: 28,993 filings | Average salary $116,308
2024: 23,850 filings | Average salary $116,711
2025: 28,924 filings | Average salary $125,791
2026 (so far): 3,861 filings | Average salary $137,402

Several things stand out here. First, the average salary has grown by more than $12,000 in three years from 2022 to 2025. Second, after a dip in volume in 2023 and 2024 — consistent with the broader tech hiring slowdown — New Jersey recovered strongly in 2025, returning almost to 2022 filing levels. Third, the jump from $125,791 in 2025 to $137,402 in early 2026 is the sharpest single-year rise in the dataset, suggesting that the mix of employers filing in 2026 is skewing toward higher-paying companies and roles.

Top 15 H1B Job Titles in New Jersey

New Jersey’s role mix reflects its unique blend of technology, finance, and pharmaceutical industries. Here are the fifteen most commonly sponsored job titles in the state:

Software Developers: 8,147 filings | Average salary $138,709
Computer Systems Engineers and Architects: 2,313 filings | Average salary $109,563
Information Technology Project Managers: 1,721 filings | Average salary $126,515
Computer Programmers: 1,333 filings | Average salary $103,051
Computer Systems Analysts: 1,111 filings | Average salary $115,920
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers: 1,101 filings | Average salary $116,208
Data Scientists: 994 filings | Average salary $128,502
Business Intelligence Analysts: 869 filings | Average salary $124,996
Accountants and Auditors: 577 filings | Average salary $120,035
Database Administrators: 575 filings | Average salary $125,431
Management Analysts: 555 filings | Average salary $129,988
Computer and Information Systems Managers: 539 filings | Average salary $210,392
Operations Research Analysts: 451 filings | Average salary $129,919
Chemists: 396 filings | Average salary $88,398
Financial and Investment Analysts: 350 filings | Average salary $148,369

Software Developers dominate as expected with 8,147 filings at an average of $138,709. However, two roles deserve specific attention. Computer and Information Systems Managers average $210,392 — the highest of any role in New Jersey and reflecting the seniority of technology leadership positions at the state’s major financial and pharmaceutical employers. Financial and Investment Analysts average $148,369, reflecting New Jersey’s proximity to Wall Street and the back-office operations of major financial institutions based in Jersey City, Newark, and Parsippany.

Chemists appearing at $88,398 across 396 filings is a distinctly New Jersey data point. The state’s pharmaceutical corridor — running through counties like Somerset, Morris, and Middlesex — sponsors chemists, biochemists, and laboratory scientists at a scale found nowhere else in the country. This is an H1B pathway almost entirely invisible in general tech-focused immigration content.

Top 25 H1B Sponsor Companies in New Jersey

Here are the top 25 companies by filing volume in New Jersey for the most recent available data, with salary and approval rate for each:

1. Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp

NJ H1B Filings: 1,141
Average Salary: $122,876
Approval Rate: 98.50%

Cognizant leads all New Jersey H1B sponsors by filing volume with 1,141 petitions and a strong 98.50% approval rate. New Jersey serves as one of Cognizant’s primary US hubs for IT consulting and services delivery. With an average salary of $122,876, it sponsors across software development, systems engineering, and project management roles. For workers seeking consistent, high-volume sponsorship with a reliable approval track record, Cognizant remains one of the most dependable options in the state.

2. Ernst and Young US LLP

NJ H1B Filings: 1,066
Average Salary: $173,501
Approval Rate: 100%

Ernst and Young is the second-largest New Jersey sponsor and holds a perfect 100% approval rate across all its filings in the state. The average salary of $173,501 is the second-highest among the top 25 sponsors, reflecting the seniority of EY’s technology consulting, audit analytics, and financial advisory roles. The combination of top-tier pay and zero denials makes EY one of the most attractive H1B sponsors in New Jersey for finance and technology professionals.

3. Tata Consultancy Services Limited

NJ H1B Filings: 586
Average Salary: $94,802
Approval Rate: 91.70%

TCS is one of the largest IT services companies in the world and a significant H1B sponsor across New Jersey. With 586 filings and an average salary of $94,802, it primarily sponsors entry and mid-level IT consulting roles. The 91.70% approval rate is lower than most peers on this list, consistent with the heightened USCIS scrutiny applied to large IT staffing firms. Nevertheless, TCS offers consistent volume and an established immigration infrastructure for workers in consulting roles.

4. JPMorgan Chase and Co

NJ H1B Filings: 573
Average Salary: $169,259
Approval Rate: 99.00%

JPMorgan Chase has major operations in New Jersey including its significant technology centers in Jersey City and the surrounding area. With 573 filings at an average salary of $169,259 and a 99.00% approval rate, JPMorgan is one of the highest-paying and most reliable H1B sponsors in the state. Software developers and financial technology professionals are the primary roles. The combination of strong pay and near-perfect approval makes JPMorgan one of the best targets for tech professionals interested in financial services sponsorship in New Jersey.

5. Barclays Services Corp

NJ H1B Filings: 370
Average Salary: $152,798
Approval Rate: 98.58%

Barclays has a significant US operations hub in New Jersey and is one of the more underappreciated H1B sponsors in the state. With 370 filings at $152,798 average salary and a 98.58% approval rate, Barclays sponsors consistently for technology and quantitative finance roles supporting its investment banking and capital markets operations. For finance-oriented technology professionals, Barclays represents a strong option that generates far less competition than the more prominent Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley brand names.

6. Infosys Limited

NJ H1B Filings: 340
Average Salary: $108,236
Approval Rate: 88.20%

Infosys sponsors 340 workers in New Jersey at an average salary of $108,236. As with TCS, the 88.20% approval rate is notably lower than most peers on this list. This reflects the USCIS scrutiny pattern applied to large Indian IT firms across the board. Infosys offers meaningful sponsorship volume for software development and IT consulting roles, but the higher denial risk is worth factoring into any comparison of offers.

7. IBM Corporation

NJ H1B Filings: 339
Average Salary: $127,682
Approval Rate: 95.15%

IBM has a long-established New Jersey presence through its research and enterprise technology divisions. With 339 filings at $127,682 average and a 95.15% approval rate, IBM sponsors across cloud computing, AI, and enterprise technology roles. The company brings extensive H1B immigration experience with nearly 18,000 total historical filings nationally, making its petition preparation generally solid and reliable.

8. The Trustees of Princeton University

NJ H1B Filings: 289
Average Salary: $90,648
Approval Rate: 98.80%

Princeton University is a cap-exempt H1B sponsor as a qualifying institution of higher education. This means Princeton can file H1B petitions at any time of year without going through the lottery. With 289 filings and a 98.80% approval rate, Princeton is one of the strongest academic H1B pathways in New Jersey for researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and academic professionals. The average salary of $90,648 reflects academic compensation rather than industry pay. For those open to research and academic careers, cap exemption at an institution of Princeton’s caliber is a genuinely rare opportunity.

9. Capgemini America Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 261
Average Salary: $137,142
Approval Rate: 91.80%

Capgemini sponsors 261 workers in New Jersey across cloud services, digital transformation, and enterprise applications at an average of $137,142. The 91.80% approval rate is consistent with other large consulting firms. New Jersey serves as a key delivery hub for Capgemini’s financial services and pharmaceutical client base in the state.

10. LTIMindtree Limited

NJ H1B Filings: 258
Average Salary: $113,188
Approval Rate: 99.03%

LTIMindtree consistently stands out among Indian IT firms for its approval rate. A 99.03% rate across 258 filings makes it one of the most reliable IT services sponsors in New Jersey. The average salary of $113,188 is competitive for the IT services sector. For workers considering IT consulting roles, LTIMindtree’s approval record is significantly stronger than most of its peers in the same category.

11. HCL America Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 244
Average Salary: $117,003
Approval Rate: 90.87%

HCL America sponsors 244 workers in New Jersey at $117,003 average. The 90.87% approval rate is in line with other large IT consulting firms. Computer programmers and systems analysts are the primary roles. HCL’s New Jersey presence primarily serves pharmaceutical and financial services clients in the state.

12. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

NJ H1B Filings: 236
Average Salary: $111,956
Approval Rate: Listed as 0.00% in current data

Rutgers University is a cap-exempt H1B sponsor as a public institution of higher education. It sponsors researchers, faculty, and postdoctoral professionals across its campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. The 0.00% approval rate in the current dataset almost certainly reflects that all recent Rutgers petitions are still pending adjudication rather than a genuine zero approval record — Rutgers has a long and established history of successful H1B sponsorship. For academic professionals and researchers seeking a lottery-free H1B pathway in New Jersey, Rutgers is a significant option worth pursuing.

13. Accenture LLP

NJ H1B Filings: 217
Average Salary: $150,582
Approval Rate: 92.74%

Accenture sponsors 217 New Jersey workers at an average of $150,582. This average is notably higher than Accenture’s national figure, reflecting that its New Jersey-based roles skew toward more senior technology and strategy consulting positions serving financial services and pharmaceutical clients. The 92.74% approval rate is consistent with large consulting firm dynamics nationally.

14. Diaspark Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 214
Average Salary: $89,762
Approval Rate: 94.82%

Diaspark is a mid-sized IT services and software company headquartered in New Jersey. With 214 filings and a 94.82% approval rate, it offers solid sponsorship for software development and IT consulting roles. The average salary of $89,762 reflects its entry and mid-level workforce. Diaspark is a lesser-known but consistent New Jersey H1B sponsor worth including on a target list for workers open to mid-sized IT firms.

15. ADP Technology Services Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 190
Average Salary: $130,143
Approval Rate: 99.23%

ADP is headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey and is one of the world’s largest human capital management companies. With 190 filings at $130,143 average salary and a 99.23% approval rate, ADP is a highly reliable H1B sponsor. The near-perfect approval rate reflects strong internal immigration processes. Software developers and data engineers supporting ADP’s payroll and HR technology platforms are the primary roles sponsored.

16. Wipro Limited

NJ H1B Filings: 189
Average Salary: $100,296
Approval Rate: 90.06%

Wipro sponsors 189 workers in New Jersey at an average of $100,296. The 90.06% approval rate is the standard pattern for large Indian IT services firms facing USCIS scrutiny. Wipro’s New Jersey operations serve pharmaceutical and financial services clients primarily.

17. Mphasis Corporation

NJ H1B Filings: 188
Average Salary: $125,124
Approval Rate: 96.13%

Mphasis sponsors 188 New Jersey workers at $125,124 average with a solid 96.13% approval rate. Focused on banking, financial services, and insurance technology, Mphasis is well-positioned in New Jersey given the concentration of financial institutions in the state. Its approval rate is meaningfully better than many of its IT services peers.

18. Compunnel Software Group Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 179
Average Salary: $120,132
Approval Rate: 96.60%

Compunnel is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey — a city that has become one of the largest hubs for Indian-American professionals and IT companies on the East Coast. With 179 filings, a $120,132 average salary, and a 96.60% approval rate, Compunnel is a consistent and reliable mid-tier sponsor for software development and IT consulting roles in the state.

19. UBS Business Solutions US LLC

NJ H1B Filings: 176
Average Salary: $153,772
Approval Rate: 98.40%

UBS operates significant technology and operations infrastructure in New Jersey supporting its investment banking and wealth management divisions. With 176 filings at an average salary of $153,772 and a 98.40% approval rate, UBS is one of the higher-paying financial sector H1B sponsors in the state. Technology and quantitative roles supporting trading operations are the primary categories.

20. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

NJ H1B Filings: 172
Average Salary: $157,203
Approval Rate: 97.72%

Bristol-Myers Squibb is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey and is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. With 172 filings at a $157,203 average salary and a 97.72% approval rate, BMS is the highest-volume pharmaceutical H1B sponsor in New Jersey by filings. It sponsors across drug discovery research, clinical data science, biostatistics, regulatory affairs technology, and IT roles supporting its pharmaceutical operations. For scientists and researchers with pharmaceutical backgrounds, BMS represents one of the most valuable H1B sponsorship opportunities in the state.

21. Walmart Associates Inc

NJ H1B Filings: 163
Average Salary: $175,515
Approval Rate: 98.71%

Walmart’s technology division sponsors 163 H1B workers in New Jersey at an average salary of $175,515 — the highest average among all top 25 New Jersey sponsors. With a 98.71% approval rate, Walmart’s technology operations in New Jersey are a genuinely surprising and consistently overlooked H1B opportunity. Most people do not think of Walmart when they consider H1B sponsorship. The data tells a different story.

22. Deloitte Consulting LLP

NJ H1B Filings: 155
Average Salary: $156,993
Approval Rate: 85.72%

Deloitte Consulting sponsors 155 workers in New Jersey at a competitive average of $156,993. However, the 85.72% approval rate is the lowest of any major employer on this list. Nearly one in seven Deloitte Consulting H1B petitions has been denied historically. For workers comparing Deloitte offers with those from other firms at similar salary levels, the approval rate differential is a meaningful factor worth weighing carefully.

23. Bank of America NA

NJ H1B Filings: 129
Average Salary: $167,427
Approval Rate: 98.64%

Bank of America sponsors 129 New Jersey workers at $167,427 average salary with a 98.64% approval rate. Technology roles supporting its retail banking, capital markets, and wealth management operations are the primary categories. BofA’s New Jersey presence reflects the state’s role as a major back-office and technology operations hub for financial institutions headquartered in New York.

24. Deloitte and Touche LLP

NJ H1B Filings: 120
Average Salary: $140,426
Approval Rate: 89.00%

Deloitte and Touche LLP, a separate entity from Deloitte Consulting, sponsors 120 workers in New Jersey at $140,426 average. The 89.00% approval rate is higher than Deloitte Consulting’s 85.72% but still below the majority of employers on this list. Together, the two Deloitte entities have generated some of the highest denial volumes of any employer nationally, a pattern that is reflected in New Jersey as well.

25. The Prudential Insurance Company of America

NJ H1B Filings: 118
Average Salary: $149,569
Approval Rate: 100%

Prudential Financial is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey and holds a perfect 100% approval rate across its H1B filings in the state. With 118 filings at $149,569 average salary, Prudential sponsors primarily for technology and actuarial roles supporting its insurance and financial services operations. A perfect approval record combined with strong compensation makes Prudential one of the most reliable H1B sponsors in New Jersey’s financial sector. It is also one of the most underappreciated by international job seekers focused primarily on tech companies.

Key Insights From the New Jersey H1B Data

Walmart pays the most: At $175,515 average salary in New Jersey, Walmart’s technology division outpays every other top 25 sponsor in the state including JPMorgan, EY, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. This is consistently surprising to job seekers who overlook retail technology as an H1B pathway.
Three companies hold perfect 100% approval rates: Ernst and Young, Prudential Insurance, and ADP Technology Services at 99.23% round out the top approval performers. These companies have demonstrated zero tolerance for poorly prepared petitions across meaningful filing volumes.
Princeton and Rutgers offer lottery-free H1B paths: Both universities are cap-exempt sponsors. For researchers and academics, these institutions offer H1B sponsorship at any time of year with no lottery required. Princeton’s 98.80% approval rate specifically makes it one of the cleanest academic sponsors in the country.
Bristol-Myers Squibb is the gateway to pharma sponsorship: With the highest filing volume and salary among pharmaceutical companies in New Jersey, BMS is the clearest example of the sponsorship opportunity that exists in the state’s pharmaceutical corridor. Chemists averaging $88,398 and pharmaceutical scientists represent an H1B pathway almost entirely absent from general immigration content.
New Jersey’s salary jumped sharply in 2026: The move from $125,791 in 2025 to $137,402 in early 2026 filings is a $11,611 increase. That is the largest year-over-year jump in the entire five-year trend dataset for New Jersey and suggests 2026 will end significantly higher than 2025.
Deloitte’s dual entity structure creates unequal risk: Deloitte Consulting at 85.72% and Deloitte and Touche at 89.00% are the two lowest approval rate employers on this list. Workers receiving offers from either Deloitte entity should specifically ask which entity will file their petition and factor the approval rate into their decision.
Computer and Information Systems Managers earn the most: At $210,392 average, this is the highest-paying role category in the New Jersey dataset by a wide margin. Technology leadership roles at the state’s major financial and pharmaceutical employers command compensation well above $200,000.

Why New Jersey Deserves More Attention From H1B Job Seekers

Most international professionals targeting H1B sponsorship think primarily about California and New York. New Jersey sits between them geographically and draws from both markets while offering its own distinct advantages. Cost of living, while high by national standards, is generally lower than Manhattan. Commutes to New York City financial district positions are feasible from many New Jersey locations. And the pharmaceutical corridor running through Somerset, Morris, and Middlesex counties offers a category of high-paying, specialized H1B employment that simply does not exist at the same scale anywhere else in the country.

Furthermore, the financial services concentration in Jersey City, Newark, and Parsippany creates consistent demand for technology professionals supporting global banking, insurance, and asset management operations. Companies like Barclays, UBS, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Prudential all have significant New Jersey operations that generate steady H1B filing volume year after year.

For workers who are open to New Jersey as a location, the combination of high salaries, established sponsoring employers, and relatively lower competition compared to pure San Francisco or New York City job markets makes it one of the more undervalued H1B markets in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which company sponsors the most H1B workers in New Jersey?

Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp leads New Jersey with 1,141 H1B filings, followed by Ernst and Young US LLP with 1,066 and Tata Consultancy Services with 586. Cognizant leads in volume while EY leads in both salary and approval rate among the top three.

What is the average H1B salary in New Jersey?

The average H1B salary in New Jersey was $125,791 in fiscal year 2025, rising to $137,402 in early 2026 filings. New Jersey ranks among the top ten states nationally for average H1B salary, reflecting its concentration of financial services, pharmaceutical, and technology employers.

Which New Jersey H1B sponsors have the best approval rates?

Ernst and Young US LLP and The Prudential Insurance Company of America both hold perfect 100% approval rates in New Jersey. ADP Technology Services follows at 99.23%, LTIMindtree at 99.03%, and JPMorgan Chase at 99.00%. Among cap-exempt academic sponsors, Princeton University holds a 98.80% approval rate.

Are there cap-exempt H1B sponsors in New Jersey?

Yes. Princeton University and Rutgers University are both cap-exempt H1B sponsors as qualifying institutions of higher education. They can file H1B petitions at any time of year without going through the lottery. For researchers, faculty, and postdoctoral professionals, these institutions offer a direct path to H1B status without lottery participation.

Does New Jersey have pharmaceutical companies that sponsor H1B workers?

Yes. Bristol-Myers Squibb is the largest pharmaceutical H1B sponsor in New Jersey with 172 filings at an average salary of $157,203 and a 97.72% approval rate. The state’s pharmaceutical corridor across Somerset, Morris, and Middlesex counties is home to numerous major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that sponsor chemists, research scientists, clinical data professionals, and regulatory affairs specialists under H1B.

Final Thoughts

New Jersey is quietly one of the most diverse and rewarding H1B markets in the United States. The combination of pharmaceutical giants, global financial institutions, major universities, and technology companies creates sponsorship opportunities across a far wider range of career paths than most people associate with the state.

Before focusing your entire job search on California or New York, spend some time looking at New Jersey employers with the data in this article. A 100% approval rate at Prudential, a $175,515 average salary at Walmart’s tech division, a cap-exempt lottery-free path at Princeton, and $157,000 average pay at Bristol-Myers Squibb are not minor footnotes. They are genuinely strong options that deserve serious consideration from anyone building an H1B job search strategy in 2026.

Data source: H1B petition records and Labor Condition Application filings from USCIS and the US Department of Labor. All figures reflect the most recent available filing data. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.