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:
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.