Does my employees’ average salary matter for the EB-5?

In the EB-5 program, what is required is the creation of full-time jobs for workers in the United States. The program does not set a specific average salary threshold for those employees, so the average wage, on its own, is not a formal eligibility criterion.

What truly counts is demonstrating that the enterprise generated the required jobs. That said, paying wages consistent with the local market and U.S. labor laws strengthens your case: it shows the business is serious, sustainable, and that the positions created are real and viable in the long term.

• There is no minimum average salary defined as an EB-5 criterion.
• The focus is on the effective creation of the jobs required by the program.
• Market-rate compensation reinforces the economic viability of the project.

In short, the average salary is not the criterion, but sound labor practices support a stronger showing of business viability in more rigorous reviews. Since each case is evaluated individually, it is worth confirming current requirements at the official source (USCIS) and aligning your payroll structure 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.