Abstract
Whether documented or undocumented, migrant workers have always been in the center of significant debate in the United States. The presence of high-skilled immigrant workers receives constant attention amid immigration policy discussions. In the United States, the demand for temporary workers has doubled since the 1990s, particularly in the wake of the technology boom. Many employers have found temporary worker visa programs useful for hiring foreign talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations. While skilled immigration provides benefits for the American workforce, there are concerns about the impact of skilled immigration on native workers and wage inequality.This study aims to investigate the experiences of skilled immigrants in STEM jobs regarding salary and immigration status. Contrary to previous research suggesting that foreign-born STEM professionals accept lower salaries and earn less than their domestic counterparts, this qualitative study found no evidence that temporary worker visa holders in STEM occupations earned less than their American counterparts.