I earn double my field’s average. Does that count as ‘high salary’ for the EB-1?

It may. Earning well above the average in your field is precisely the kind of evidence the EB-1 considers under the ‘high salary’ criterion. The central point is comparison: your compensation must stand out against that of other professionals doing similar work in your field.

Earning double the sector average is a meaningful indicator, but it does not decide the case on its own. The visa weighs a body of evidence, and compensation enters as one piece that reinforces your professional recognition.

• Document your compensation with official records such as contracts, pay stubs, and employer statements.
• Use industry reference sources to show the average against which you are being compared.
• Combine the salary data with awards, publications, and expert letters.

Each case is evaluated individually by the competent authority. It is worth checking the updated criteria on the USCIS website and structuring your salary comparison with a specialist.

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.