How can I tell if my salary qualifies as ‘high salary’ for EB-1 without market data?

When a ready benchmark is not available, you can still assess whether your compensation meets the high salary criterion for the EB-1 by building that reference yourself. The goal is to show that you are among the highest-paid professionals in your field, and that case is built with credible sources, not a single figure in isolation.

Several approaches can help you form a meaningful comparison:

• Look for compensation benchmarks from professional associations, specialized publications, and job boards in your industry.
• Account for your full compensation package, not just base salary: bonuses, profit-sharing, benefits, and other forms of remuneration all count.
• Reach out to professionals, unions, or industry organizations, which can provide a realistic picture of the pay ranges in your field.

By combining these elements, you can position your compensation against the market average and support your case with documented evidence. The key is to ground the comparison in credible sources rather than asserting figures you cannot substantiate.

Because this criterion is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it is worth confirming how the USCIS reviews this point and revisiting your strategy with an immigration professional.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.