How do I set the salaries for the employees required by EB-5?

In the EB-5 program, employee salaries in the project must reflect actual local labor market conditions, not an arbitrarily chosen figure. The goal is to offer competitive compensation that is appropriate for the role and aligned with prevailing standards in the region where the enterprise will operate.

In practice, this typically starts with a local labor market analysis: researching what is paid for comparable positions, taking into account required qualifications, experience, responsibilities, and benefits accompanying the base salary. References from the U.S. Department of Labor help keep compensation within defensible standards and avoid compliance issues.

• Base salaries on real data from comparable positions in the region.
• Factor in qualifications, experience, responsibilities, and benefits.
• Assess payroll sustainability against the project’s operational capacity.

Setting realistic salaries also protects the financial health of the enterprise, since payroll must fit within the project’s operational capacity. Because benchmarks vary by region and role, it is worth confirming updated references from the official source and working with an accountant or consultant experienced in EB-5.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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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.