The USA is one of the most popular choices for studying abroad across the world. With the increasing population, finding jobs after MS in USA is becoming very challenging. Strict immigration policies and high living cost are some of the factors contributing to this challenge. The average salary of the MS graduates in USA is around 94,000 USD (~70.4 lakh INR) per annum. 

STEM courses in USA have more opportunities as compared to other subjects. International students can stay back for 1 year in the USA after studies via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) route. Jobs after MS in the USA are immense if a student has the required skill sets and zeal to work hard.

Students are required to have an H1-B visa to work after studying in the USA. Though during this pandemic, no new H1-B visas are being accepted, it is usually easy to get accepted to work in the USA after completing education.

Top Universities for Jobs after MS in USA

The USA is one of the leading countries for top universities across the world. 5 out of the top 10 universities ranking for Graduate Employability factor in 2022 are from the USA. Following are some of the top universities ranking high on the graduate employability scale with good ROI and salary for MS programs:

University Graduate Employability Ranking 2022 Graduate Employment Rate Average Annual Salary (USD)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) #1 79.3 175,000
Stanford University #2 73.4 184,000
University of California – Los Angeles #3 93.2 150,000
Harvard University #5 90 168,000
Cornell University #9 73.4 145,000

ROI for Top Universities offering MS in USA

Some of the top universities with the highest ROI are depicted below in the graph:

Jobs after MS in US universities

Popular Jobs after MS in USA

It has been observed that STEM programs attract more international students due to high ROI and longer stay back period on F1 visa. Unemployment rate in this field also didn’t see much of rise under COVID situation as compared to other industries like leisure & hospitality and wholesale & retail trade. Top five STEM MS programs with lucrative job opportunities in the USA are discussed as follows:

Jobs after MS in Finance in USA

  • Average Annual Salary: 81,000 USD
  • Projected Job Growth (2021-31): 7%
  • Popular Job Roles: 
    • Accountants
    • Budget Analysts
    • Financial Analysts 
    • Financial Examiners

Checkout: MS Finance Colleges in USA

Jobs after MS in Computer Science in USA

  • Average Annual Salary: 79,793 USD
  • Project Job Growth (2021-31): 15%
  • Popular Roles: 
    • Computer and Information Research Scientists
    • Network Architects
    • Support Specialists
    • System Analysts

Checkout: MS Computer Science Colleges in USA

Jobs after MS in Management in USA

  • Average Annual Salary: 77,000 USD
  • Projected Job Growth (2021-31): 5%
  • Popular Job Roles:
    • Project Manager
    • Human Resource Manager
    • Financial Analyst
    • Business Development Manager

Checkout: MS Management Colleges in USA 

Jobs after MS in Data Science in USA

  • Average Annual Salary: 77,790 USD
  • Projected Job Growth (2018-2028): 36%
  • Popular Job Roles: 
    • Data Scientist
    • Data Analyst
    • Statistical Analyst
    • Data Administrator

Checkout: MS Data Science Colleges in USA

Jobs after MS in Civil Engineering in USA

  • Average Annual Salary: 72,201 USD
  • Projected Job Growth: 7%
  • Popular Roles: 
    • Construction Engineers
    • Geotechnical Engineers
    • Structural Engineers 
    • Transportation Engineers

Checkout: MS in Civil Engineering in the USA

Some other high-paying MS programs in USA are tabulated below:

Program Projected Job Growth Average Annual Salary (USD) Popular Roles
MS in Electrical Engineering in USA 3% 101,000 Industries including Research, Development, Engineering Services, Telecommunications
MS in Engineering Management in USA 5% 84,181 Project Manager, Program Manager, Industrial Engineer
MS in Marketing in USA 10% 72,843 Marketing Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Marketing Analyst
MS in Mechanical Engineering in USA 2%  61,300 Mechanical engineering manager, Robotics engineer, Automation engineer
MS in Public Health in USA 5% 89,252 Healthcare Consultant, Research Associate, Health Educator
MS in Information Systems in USA 15% 86,000 Application Analyst, Cyber Security Analyst, Information Systems Manager

Where to Seek Jobs after MS in USA

Most universities of the USA do not provide direct campus placement services. They have a Career Service department that invites companies for recruiting students as interns or project assistants. All the top universities of the USA aim for 100% placement but all students are not lucky enough to secure a position of their choice through university’s placement services.

Another option is to apply through the Career page of the organization you are interested in. However, this is a tedious task as you have to be aware of when job openings are published and visit each and every organization’s page individually. 

To solve this problem, many websites are available on the internet that lists job posting by various organizations on their page. Some of the popular ones in the USA are Indeed, LinkedIn, Job2Careers, Monster.com, CareerBuilder, Google for Jobs, SimplyHired, LinkUP, etc.

Jobs after MS in USA: Highest Paying Provinces

One of the variables affecting salaries and jobs after MS in the USA is the location. Depending on which state or city you are located in, the base-salaries vary depending on the demand in the sector you are seeking employment in. Detailed below are some of the top-paying states in the USA:

Name of State Average Salary Earned(USD per Year)
Washington Software Engineer: 95,000
Data Scientist: 94,000
Mechanical Engineer: 90,000
California Software Engineer: 110,000
Senior Software Engineer: 140,000
Mechanical Engineer: 79,000
Texas Mechanical Engineer: 78,000
Project Engineer:79,000
Software Engineer: 81,000 
Florida Software Engineer: 75,000
Mechanical Engineer: 66,000
Pennsylvania Software Engineer: 77,000
Mechanical Engineer: 68,000
Software Developer: 68,000
Georgia Software Engineer: 81,000
Project Manager: 74,000
Massachusetts Software Engineer: 92,000
Senior Software Engineer: 122,000
Mechanical Engineer: 74,000
Arizona Software Engineer: 79,000
Mechanical Engineer:71,000
Electrical Engineer: 77,000
Michigan Software Engineer: 76,000
Mechanical Engineer: 74,000
Electrical Engineer: 75,000
Ohio Software Engineer: 72,000
Mechanical Engineer: 67,000
Software Developer: 65,000

Post-study Work Visa for Jobs after MS in USA

International students with an F-1 visa can stay back for a period of 1 year after completion of MS under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) scheme. This time period can be extended up to 3 years for those pursuing an MS degree in STEM fields such as computer science, engineering, business management, etc. Students are required to find employment within 90 days of the expiry of a US student visa to take advantage of OPT.

  • F-1 visas can be converted into H-1B visas by the employer of the graduates.
  • H-1B visa grants temporary work status and is valid for 3 years which can be extended up to three years.
  • Students have to keep working for the same employer to maintain H-1B status
  • If anyone changes organization during the period of H-1B, they are required to apply again for this visa with the new employer's details.

USA is often considered as the best place to study MS abroad. The average salary of the students pursuing jobs after MS in USA is 94,000 USD per annum. With a MS degree from USA, an international student can secure jobs at almost anywhere in the world. 

FAQ’s

Ques. Which is the best MS course to get a job in USA?

Ans. STEM-related programs such as computer science, electrical engineering, data science, etc, offer some of the highest returns on investment in terms of the ratio of tuition fee to average salary earned.

Ques. How much can I make after MS in USA?

Ans. Professionals with a master's degree can expect to earn 67,000 USD to 73,000 USD and above per year. Students graduating from a top university in the US may even expect an annual salary of 100,000 and above.

Ques. How long can I work in US after MS?

Ans. Under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) scheme, international students with an F-1 visa can stay in USA for 1 year after completing their master's degree. For those pursuing an MS degree in STEM fields such as computer science, engineering, business management, and so on, this time period can be extended up to 3 years.

Ques. Is it easy to get a job in USA after MS?

Ans. The probability of securing a job in USA after MS would depend on the credentials of an individual and their field of study. Therefore, graduates must make sure theychoose the right MS field and maintain good grades.

Ques. Which is the best institute for MS in USA? How to get a job in USA after MS?

Ans. The US is home to over 1,500 universities that offer masters level degrees. Some of the top US institutes include MIT, Stanford University, Harvard University, etc.

Ques. How to get a job in USA after MS?

Ans. Almost all top universities in USA have a high placement rate. To gain after MS in US jobs, international students usually apply directly on recruiter’s websites. Graduates also apply for job openings on websites such as LinkedIn, Job2Careers, Monster.com, SimplyHired, etc, to get hold of job opportunities after MS in USA. 

Ques. Do Indian students get jobs in USA after MS?

Ans. Yes, Indian students do get jobs in USA after MS. Getting a job after MS is not a problem for Indian students. Anyone with an MS degree from Tier 1 or 2 universities and decent skills gets a job pretty easily.