According to the American Immigration Council, more than 45 million immigrants reside in the US, comprising around 14% of the total population. This only goes to show what we already knew – immigrants aren’t only an essential part of American life and culture but of our economy as well.
However, as a newcomer, getting your foot in the door is never easy, as finding a career that fulfills you while also meeting your financial needs can be challenging.
Some of the most common jobs for immigrants and refugees in the United States include being a manager, healthcare worker, teacher, researcher, tailor, service industry worker, program officer, software engineer, agricultural worker, translator, researcher, media specialist, mechanic, or engineer.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of options to consider depending on your professional strengths and weaknesses. While the process of finding a job that fulfills both your emotional and financial needs is undoubtedly difficult, looking through your alternatives may help you along the process more than you’d think. Let’s first dive into some of the challenges immigrants face when finding a job in the US; then, I’ll take you through your best career options.
1. Manager
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 103,151 manager jobs are available on
As more business are opening their doors, competition in most industries is becoming relentless, making managerial roles even more important than they already were. According to CBS News, around 8.5% of immigrants have held managerial positions at one point in their careers, meaning it’s a pretty common job choice among newcomers in the US.
And that’s for a good reason. While most other positions require extensive proof of education and previous experience, being a manager mostly relies on your innate organizational and communication skills.
2. Translator
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,493 translator jobs are available on
As an immigrant living in the US, you’re likely fluent in at least two languages, which is why being a translator is a job that may come very naturally to you. While in some cases, you may have to provide formal proof of your linguistic knowledge (especially if you’re looking to fill a high-paying position), in many others, you can get started right away.
As the world we live in becomes more diverse, the need for translators increases, so you shouldn’t have too hard of a time finding a job. You can even freelance on platforms like UpWork or Fiverr, setting your own rates and hours.
3. Agricultural Jobs
- Salary: $17 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 40 agricultural jobs are available on
Though being an agricultural worker is not everyone’s idea of living the American dream, you’ll be surprised to find how fulfilling a job in the industry can be as long as you have the right interests and skillset.
While the position is pretty labor-intensive, it’s pretty easy to get started. In some cases, you might even secure a decent-paying job, so if you’re interested, there’s no harm in entertaining the idea.
4. Teacher
- Salary: $21 per hour.
- Workload: 77% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 5,658 teacher jobs are available on
Being a teacher is a fulfilling albeit challenging profession that you can thrive in as long as you have the right knowledge and, more importantly, patience. Since, unfortunately, teachers are usually underpaid, fewer and fewer Americans are choosing to get into the industry. That leaves plenty of job openings, which, as long as you’re equipped with the right certifications, you can easily fill.
While teaching isn’t the best-paying profession out there, you can still make a decent living out of it while also finding a sense of purpose in your job.
5. Culture Mediator
- Salary: $21 per hour.
- Workload: 63% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 197 culture mediator jobs are available on
While, as mentioned, your cultural background may sometimes turn into a hurdle in your career advancement journey, other times, it might actually present you with more opportunities. As more immigrants are settling in the US, more and more institutions and companies are feeling the need to hire cultural mediators in an effort to create a more inclusive workplace.
If you’re qualified enough, you can even get recruited by big international organizations whose goal is to balance and mediate relations between different countries. So if you do decide to get into this field, know that you have more options than you think.
6. Healthcare Worker
- Salary: $31 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 15 healthcare worker jobs are available on
In the past few years, the healthcare industry has been consistently understaffed, which is why you shouldn’t have too hard of a time trying to get hired as a healthcare worker. Note that most positions industry are extremely demanding and not great-paying, which is why the field is understaffed in the first place.
However, if you’re trying to get your foot in the door and advance your career to more lucrative positions as time goes on, starting out as a nurse or caretaker can be a great way to get started.
7. Mechanic
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 52,029 mechanic jobs are available on
Trade jobs, in general, can be pretty lucrative in the US, with highly experienced workers making well over six figures yearly. That’s because there aren’t nearly enough plumbers, electricians, and mechanics currently working in the country. So, if you have a bit of experience with handy work, you can probably get started right away.
Note that the initial salary may be disappointing. However, as time goes on and you gain more experience and connections, you can open up your own business – that’s where the big earnings come in.
8. Sales Representative
- Average Salary: $53,000 per year.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 38,177 sales representative jobs are available on
According to Forbes, 7.7% of immigrants have worked in sales at one point in their career or another. The industry is relatively easy to get to and doesn’t require you to have much more than good communication skills. The pay isn’t the greatest, but you’ll still be making a decent living, especially if you have a few years of experience under your belt.
9. Software Engineer
- Average Salary: $120,000 a year.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 4,123 software engineering jobs are available on
If you have a knack for STEM-related subjects, you’re in luck – the field is highly lucrative and ever-growing, meaning that plenty of well-paying positions are open at any given time. However, when it comes to securing very lucrative jobs, you might be required to back up your talents with formal education.
However, not all employers require proof of higher education or previous experience as long as you showcase you possess the required skills, so you might be able to get a comfortable, well-paying job right off the bat.
10. Social Worker
- Average Salary: $74,584 per year.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,081 social worker jobs are available on
While this might not be the most coveted position to hold, the upside is that you can get hired pretty quickly, even without any previous experience or proof of education. That’s why many immigrants choose to work in the service industry as their first job in the US.
While you’ll likely be making minimum wage doing this type of job, you can easily transition to a more stable position as time goes on, or you can even use your experience to advance to managerial positions.
11. Program Officer
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 89% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 9,239 officer jobs are available on
If you’re passionate about helping other immigrants like you have an easier time settling in the US, you can become a program officer in organizations whose purpose is the creation and implementation of programs dealing with refugees.
Not only are these institutions far more open to hiring people of all backgrounds, but you’ll also be making a positive impact on people’s lives, which gives your job purpose.
12. Construction Worker
- Salary: $21 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 24 construction worker jobs are available on
If you like to be on the more practical side of the construction industry, you can choose to be a worker instead. While the job is far more demanding and not as high-paying (compared to being an engineer or architect), it’s substantially easier to secure.
Chances are you’ll still make a decent living; however, being in good physical shape is of the essence if you’re even thinking about becoming a construction worker.
13. Jobs In The Beauty Industry
- Salary: $19 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 10 beauty industry jobs are available on
Makeup artists, hair stylists, nail technicians, and cosmetologists can make a killing in today’s US beauty market. Many experienced professionals who are self-employed make well over six figures; however, to get to that point, you do need a fair bit of experience and connections.
Luckily, getting started is pretty easy as long as you have some talent and are willing to learn.
14. Delivery Driver
- Salary: $19 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 64,582 delivery driver jobs are available on
Drivers and chauffeurs can also make a decent living, especially if they’re self-employed. Moreover, getting into transportation work is as easy as it gets – all you need is a valid driver’s license and, ideally, some years of experience. While most transportation workers don’t make mind-blowing salaries, you can still be able to financially support yourself by doing a versatile job that’s easy to get into.
15. Tailor Or Dressmaker
- Salary: $22 per hour.
- Workload: 90% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 295 tailor jobs are available on
If you’re more of a creative type and have an eye for cuts and fabrics, becoming a tailor or dressmaker is an excellent, underrated career move. While you might not be able to open up your own business right away, you’ll still be able to get hired relatively easily, as there are usually no education requirements to get started, and the industry is pretty understaffed.
As time goes on, you can even become self-employed and make a pretty good living while at it.
16. Research Scientist
- Salary: $40 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 88 research scientist jobs are available on
If you’re a curious scientist at heart, I highly recommend getting into research. Again, this is another one of those underfunded yet fulfilling industries that many Americans are staying away from, so there’s no shortage of opportunities for you to get hired.
While you probably won’t be able to make a mind-blowing salary, you can use the opportunity to gain some valuable experience and advance in your career as time goes on.
17. Communication Jobs
- Salary: $35 per hour.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 9,584 communication jobs are available on
If communication is your strong suit, getting a job as a media specialist is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your skills. Your unique background can even give you an edge in the hiring process, as employers are looking for specialists that are able to relate and connect with a broader, more diverse audience.
The pay is decent, and the job itself isn’t too demanding, so it’s a pretty good deal overall.
18. Administrative Jobs
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 90% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 7,711 administrative jobs are available on
If you’re not much of a social butterfly and crave stability and routine in your profession, becoming an administrative worker is a great career move. These types of jobs aren’t too demanding, and as long as you have good attention and aren’t necessarily looking for thrill and excitement in your career, being an administrative worker gets the bills paid. In most positions, you won’t even have to provide proof of formal education or have previous experience.
19. Engineer
- Average Salary: $91,000 a year (on average).
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 49,726 engineering jobs are available on
If you have engineering or architectural talents, I guarantee you’ll be highly sought-after by American employers. However, you do have to provide proof of formal education to secure most engineering positions. Still, the pay and nature of the job often make an effort worth it.
The 4 Challenges of Finding a Job as a Legal Immigrant in America
As an immigrant, your path to a fulfilling career isn’t as exciting or romanticized as the movies make it seem. Sure, you’re taking on a new adventure, so the enthusiasm and hope are still there. However, what many of those movies fail to mention is that the journey is also filled with uncertainty, financial struggles, and discrimination.
While we’re probably all aware that illegal immigrants, more often than not, have to settle for sub-par working conditions and poor treatment in the workplace, you might be surprised to find out that legal immigrants often face those same struggles as well.
1. Low-Paying Jobs and Longer Hours
When you’re just starting out in a new country, you’re willing to do whatever you can to put your foot on your table and a roof over your head. Unfortunately, many corporations are not only well aware of this phenomenon but also eagerly waiting to profit from it.
Now, I feel obligated to note that legally, immigrants should always be paid the same salary for the same job as their colleagues. However, as expected, the reality is a bit more complicated than that.
To make meets end, many have to accept low-paying jobs that their native counterparts wouldn’t settle for and, in the same vein, have to work grueling hours to make up for the low hourly salary.
Luckily, this isn’t always the case, as stricter laws are being passed when it comes to offering legal immigrants the same job opportunities as any other citizen. Moreover, as you gain some financial independence and experience, you’ll hopefully be able to be more selective about your career choices. However, there’s no doubt that most corporations take advantage of immigrants’ vulnerable states to offer them lower-than-market-average salaries.
2. Discrimination
Generally speaking, this is a way more challenging issue to combat than a low salary or long hours, as it’s far trickier to prove and, therefore, difficult to be regulated by law. Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of rules and regulations whose aim is to prevent discrimination and racism in the workplace.
However, this type of discrimination can be so nuanced and well-concealed that it might not only be difficult to prove but even difficult to notice. Many decisions regarding your career, salary, and professional advancement are made behind closed doors, so if you’re an immigrant, you’ll never know with certainty whether your background has cost you an opportunity.
3. Language and Cultural Barriers
No matter how fluent an English speaker you are or how much you know about the country, you’re still bound to experience some communication challenges once you actually start working in the US.
It is very challenging to find a job if you don’t know English or have a noticeable accent. Your challenges might be even greater as you try to juggle working and learning a new language all at once. Hopefully, however, after the first few years of working in the US, these barriers should start disappearing.
4. Being Seen as Overqualified
Many immigrants coming to the US already have an established career in their home country. That’s why you’ll often see doctors, engineers, lawyers, and architects with impressive CVs applying for entry-level positions that pay minimum wage.
Upon seeing a CV full of experience and accomplishments, an employer might hesitate to offer you a job as, say, a cashier, as they’ll worry you’ll feel disengaged and unsatisfied, which will inevitably affect your work performance. That’s why your impressive achievements might actually hold you back when it comes to starting a new career in the US.
With that out of the way, let’s get into some of the best jobs for immigrants and refugees in the United States.
Resources and References
- CBS News: U.S. jobs most held by immigrants, ranked
- Forbes: The Top 10 Jobs Among New Immigrants (And What They Show Us)
- iED: 5 Best Work Opportunities for Immigrants and Refugees in 2021
- Visa Place: Top Jobs In the US for Immigrants
- The Quinn Law Firm: How serious are employment challenges for immigrants?
- American Immigration Council: Immigrants in the United States
- Visa Place: Immigration to the US as a Nurse
- STAT: The healthcare workforce is understaffed for life after Covid-19