How to go to work in Los Angeles, California: vacancies and employment

Advantages and disadvantages

Before deciding to take such a serious step as getting a job in California with long-term residence in a foreign country, we recommend weighing the positive and negative aspects of such a decision.

Pros of living in California:

1. High salaries.
2. Dense concentration of large business agencies and companies.
3. Prestigious education.
4. Developed infrastructure.
5. Warm climate all year round.
6. A variety of places for entertainment and recreation: beaches, national parks, entertainment centers, nightclubs, bars.
7. Ethnic diversity of the population.

Flaws:

1. High cost of living – the cost of real estate exceeds state indicators by 15-20%.
2. High competition for employment and starting your own business.
3. High crime rate.
4. Density and density of population - over 3.9 million people live in Los Angeles.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Los Angeles

Before you finally decide to leave Russia for America for work, you should carefully weigh both the positive aspects of this event and the negative ones.

Advantages

The positive factors include the following:

1. Our compatriots will be able to get a job in Los Angeles without any problems, both with a higher education diploma and without special qualifications.
2. The Californian city has an excellent climate and many places where you can have a great time after finishing a working day.
3. Medical care is provided at the highest level.
4. In Los Angeles, you can get an education by taking training courses in American educational institutions.

Flaws

Of course, the above points are very attractive, but it is also worth noting the negative factors of the issue under consideration:

1. To live in Los Angeles you will have to pay a rather impressive amount of money every month. After all, taking into account statistics, it is in this sunny Californian metropolis that the cost of renting and purchasing housing exceeds the average for the entire country by about 20%.
2. The level of air pollution, unfortunately, has also increased significantly.
3. Los Angeles has the highest crime rate regarding car accidents, as local residents prefer to travel by car. Moreover, in every family, as a rule, all adult family members have a car.

In-demand jobs in Los Angeles

The most popular areas for employment here are presented below:

1. Medicine.
2. Mechanical engineering and engineering.
3. Programming.
4. Ecology.
5. Finance.
6. Education.
7. Construction.

The most popular and highly paid specialty is a programmer. The proximity of Silicon Valley and advanced technologies provide ample opportunities for development in this area. But to get a job in a large high-tech company, you will have to beat many competitors, have a decent education, work experience and portfolio.

The average salary in Los Angeles reaches $5,000.

California Minimum Wage (per hour):

• $11.00 - for employees in companies of 26 people or more;
• $10.50 - for employees in companies with less than 25 employees.

Work in Los Angeles for Russians is presented in different segments of the labor market, it all depends on the level of your education, qualifications and experience.

Highly skilled work

Among highly qualified professions, the following are especially in demand:

1. Doctors (about $12,000 per month).
2. Top managers, managers, directors (about $9,000 per month).
3. IT workers, programmers and web designers (about $9,000 per month).
4. Nuclear engineers (about $8000 per month).

Skilled and other work

• pharmacists (about $8,500 per month);
• cosmetologists, makeup artists, make-up artists ($4000 per month);
• waiters, “hostesses”, bartenders, assistant cooks ($3000-5000 per month);
• maids ($3500 per month);
• nannies with pedagogical education ($3000 per month);
• nurses, physician assistants, with medical education ($3000 per month);
• builders ($2500 per month);
• sellers ($1500-3000 per month);
• seamstresses ($1600 per month);
• electricians, plumbers, painters, joiners, carpenters ($8,000-10,000 per month);
• drivers, couriers ($6000 per month);
• auto mechanics ($5,600 per month);

You can get an unskilled job without knowing English. In California there are many immigrants from Russia and former CIS countries who are not against hiring a person of a similar mentality.

Feedback from those who left for work in Los Angeles

People from the CIS countries note positive adaptation to the city, as well as the absence of problems with finding work. It is easy for men to get a job as a security guard, driver or courier, and women are easily hired as a nanny or caregiver after an appropriate interview.

Immigrants note that living in Los Angeles is not so cheap compared to other American cities, but the city attracts with its beauty and diversity, and the warm climate makes them stay there forever.

When moving to Los Angeles on a work visa or permanent residence, it is important to consider any possible surprises. Immigrants argue that there is a job for everyone in the city, but the higher the skills, abilities and English language proficiency, the greater the chance of finding a worthwhile vacancy.

How to go to work in LA

Before you start looking for a suitable vacancy, carefully study the information on the California Department of Employment Services website, which contains the most current employment information, as well as useful job search links.

The California State Labor Department website provides information on the minimum wage and many other labor protection issues.

Ways to find work in the USA:

1. Through American acquaintances - if you are the lucky owner of friends and relatives from the Russian Federation who have moved to America.
2. Through job search sites (Craigslist).
3. Through newspapers (Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News).
4. Through licensed recruitment agencies (they charge a percentage for their services, but guarantee employment).

Recommendations for a successful job search:

1. Create a competent resume. In American resumes, jobs are not listed in chronological order, but in descending order of prestige and value of work experience.
2. Attach letters of recommendation from former employers.
3. Be prepared for an interview (via video or in person). Show your interest in the profession, desire for development and knowledge of the specifics of the company's activities. To do this, study the official website of the company in detail.

Employment procedure:

1. Search for a suitable vacancy.
2. Personal interview, discussion of working conditions.
3. Certification of the company by the US Department of Labor - permission to hire foreign employees (if the company does not have one).
4. Filing an I-129 petition with USCIS.
5. Filling out a visa application form (online) using Form DS-160.
6. Sign up for an interview.
7. Submitting documents and undergoing an interview with the consul.
8. Obtaining a visa and leaving for the USA.

Completing Form DS-160 requires uploading a digital image that meets strict requirements:

1. Square photo in JPEG format.
2. The minimum size is 600 by 600 pixels, the maximum is 1200 by 1200 pixels.
3. High quality color image.
4. The maximum “weight” of an image is 240 KB.

Important . An interview with the consul is the decisive factor for approval or refusal of a visa. The procedure requires careful preparation, including the collection of documents confirming the purpose of the trip. If you are receiving a non-immigrant visa, you must provide evidence of a strong connection with your homeland and the absence of migration intentions. These include: a marriage certificate, a certificate of real estate, a deposit in a bank account.

Sample Job Offer

Applying for a work permit

Legal employment in the United States is possible with the appropriate type of visa.

A work permit is not required if you:

• have permanent resident status or a US permanent residence status;
• Green Card holder;
• fiancee visa holder - K1;
• a student who arrived on an F visa, which allows students to work part-time during their free time;
• refugee or asylum seeker - filing a Form I-765 petition.

Conditions for obtaining a work visa:

1. Americans are not applying for the vacancy.
2. Payment, working conditions and employment contract comply with state standards.
3. Meet the minimum requirements for qualifications, education and work experience.
4. Conversational proficiency in English.

Starting a business

The stable economic situation in the United States creates favorable conditions for business development and prosperity. But future entrepreneurs must be prepared for high competition, hard work and high cash costs - at least $15,000. Opening your own business has its positive aspects, since the entrepreneur receives a residence permit in the United States, and after 5 years he has the right to apply for citizenship.

To open your own business in the USA (California), follow these steps:

1. Choosing a business form (buying a franchise or a ready-made company, starting your own business, etc.).
2. Applying for a business visa to the USA (L-1).
3. Rent of premises ($5000-7000 per year).
4. Taking out insurance for the company (from $4000 per year).
5. Hiring workers and providing them with a minimum wage.
6. Registering a business on the official California business website.
7. Registration with the tax service and obtaining a tax number - TIN.
8. Registration of a license or permit. You can check the official Business and Economic Development website to see if your business requires a license/permits.
9. Payment of state duty (about $1000).
10. Opening a bank account.

The most profitable areas for starting a business in Los Angeles:

1. Film industry and mass media.
2. Recruiting agencies.
3. Repair and maintenance of residential premises.
4. Security companies.
5. Sport halls.
6. Cosmetology clinics and beauty salons.
7. Vehicle maintenance workshops.
8. Hotel business.
9. Transport services (taxi).
10. Ecotourism.

Average salary in the USA

According to the American Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in the United States is $905 (58,956 rubles) per week (hereinafter, the figures are given before taxes and other mandatory payments), which is $24 (1,563 rubles) more than they paid for that same time period last year. Average monthly earnings are $3,916 (RUB 255,107).

Women earn almost 20% less than men in the same profession. Men 45-54 years old earn the most in America – $1,174 (RUB 76,480) per week. Hired workers 16-24 years old earn half as much: women – $539 (35,113 rubles), men – $605 (39,412 rubles) per week. In terms of ethnic groups, Latinos of any age receive the lowest salary - $696 (45,340 rubles). Asians earn $1,157 (RUB 76,372), whites – $935 (RUB 60,910), African Americans – $737 (RUB 48,007).

Average pay by industry:

1. Utilities – $1,752 (RUB 114,124) per month.
2. Extraction and processing of minerals – $1,562 (101,747 ₽).
3. IT – $1,511 (98,425 ₽).
4. Financial sector – $1,347 (RUB 87,742).
5. Wholesale trade – $1,214 (RUB 79,079).
6. Construction – $1,196 (RUB 77,904).
7. Production – $1,118 (RUB 72,823).
8. Logistics – $956 (62,271 ₽).
9. Education and medicine (teachers, doctors, junior medical staff) – $908 (59,144 ₽).
10. Retail – $597 (RUB 38,886).

High salaries for qualified doctors: a surgeon receives $255,110, or 16.6 million rubles (annual salary), a psychiatrist - $220,380 (14.3 million rubles), a dentist - $180,590 (11.7 million rubles). Pilots receive $169,560 (RUB 10.9 million), mining engineers – $156,370 (RUB 10.2 million), architects – $148,220 (RUB 9.6 million), lawyers – $114,230 (RUB 7.4 million) ).

This is how much Americans earned in 1 hour in 2021

Average salary in Washington

Washington ranks only third in the ranking of cities in terms of income of citizens. According to US News & World Report, the highest average salaries are in San Jose and San Francisco. Almost a third (27%) of the capital's residents are employed in the public sector. They earn an average of $5,410 (RUB 352,441) in Washington.

The state's minimum hourly rate is set at $12 (RUB 781). With a standard 40-hour work week, an employee will receive a minimum of $1,920 (RUB 125,080) per month.

Average salary in California

California is home to Hollywood, Silicon Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge and other iconic places. On average, in Los Angeles they earn $25 (1,628 rubles) per hour, that is, $4,000 (260,585 rubles) per month. But other cities in the state hold the lead in salaries:

1. San Jose is a large technology and business center where the offices of major global corporations are located: Yahoo, Google, Airbnb, Amazon, Uber. The average salary is $6,314 (411,325 rubles).
2. San Francisco. The average monthly salary is $5,415 (RUB 352,760), and total household income is $8,022 (RUB 522,593). The figure is almost $3,000 (RUB 195,435) per month higher than the US national average, but this is not enough for a comfortable life, because rent in San Francisco is very expensive.
3. San Diego. The large port city is located near the Mexican border. Many residents work in shipbuilding companies and on the US Navy base. Average monthly income is $4,418 (287,810 rubles).

The current minimum wage in California is $11 (RUB 716) per hour. In 2021, it is planned to increase to $12 (781 ₽).

Types of work visas

American work visas come in immigration and non-immigrant types.

Migration

Migration visas require obtaining a residence permit in the country.

EB1

Available to the following categories of persons:

• figures of art, science, education, sports with international documents;
• outstanding scientific researchers with at least 3 years of experience teaching in American educational institutions must have an invitation;
• top managers and senior managers who have held high management positions for at least 1 year for 3 years (if they change jobs).

EB2

Available to highly professional categories of citizens:

• an outstanding scientist with a master's degree (at least) and five years of research experience;
• artists or businessmen.

EB3

Relevant for holders of very rare and highly sought-after specialties in the USA:

• professional workers with a bachelor's degree from an American or European university;
• rare specialists with two years of experience in their specialty.

EB4

Covers experienced, distinguished citizens, as well as members of their families if their work was of particular importance to the US economy, these include:

• military personnel;
• employees of international organizations;
• religious figures;
• doctors;
• military translators.

EB5

A visa for investors who have contributed more than $1 million to the development of the US economy.

Non-immigrant

To obtain a non-immigrant visa, the applicant proves to the US consulate his intentions to return to his homeland after living in America.

H-1B

The most common type of work visa, it has a quota of 65,000 permits per year. The visa is issued for 3 years, with the right to extend up to 6 years. It has no restrictions on the choice of specialties, but “gives preference” to the professions most in demand in the country (technical, medical).

Primary requirements:

1. Employment contract with an American employer.
2. Having a higher education recognized in the USA.
3. Professional experience 12 years.

H-2A

A type of work visa that regulates seasonal or temporary work in the agricultural sector. Issued for one year, not available to Russians and Belarusians.

H-2B

Another subcategory of the US work visa for seasonal and temporary work in all fields, with the exception of agriculture. Issued for 1 year, not available to Russians and Belarusians.

N-1C

Special permit allowing nurses/brothers, paramedics and laboratory assistants to work.

H-3

A rare category of work permit issued to teachers, nurses and nannies for the care of disabled children.

I

Temporary visa for foreign journalists and reporters, as well as other workers in the media, film, radio and television industries.

L-1

A special permit that allows you to transfer employees to the United States when opening a new branch, subsidiary or expansion of the company in the States. Employees are required to have at least 1 year of work experience in the company.

O-1

Category of work visas for citizens who have achieved high results/awards/prizes in the following areas:

• sport;
• art;
• cinema;
• business;
• education;
• the science.

R-1

Issued for a limited period for athletes who come to the United States to participate in competitions and Olympics; artists - for tours and performances.

R-2

Issued to artists and performers for participation in government exchange programs.

R-3

Also issued to representatives of creative professions to attend special cultural events held in the United States.

Q-1

Issued to participants in international cultural exchange programs to demonstrate the American way of life, culture and customs of the country.

R-1

Special permission for religious leaders who conduct non-profit missionary, educational or charitable activities in the United States.

Highest paid positions

The most in demand are specialists who speak programming languages ​​such as Java Script, CSS, C++, java, PHP.

Current vacancies are listed in the table.

How much can you earn

A qualified specialist earns $70/1 hour. It takes 8 hours to work. A person working two days off earns $4,400 a week. Accordingly, a good programmer earns about $17,600 per month without taxes.

Procedure for obtaining a work visa

Obtaining a work visa to the USA consists of two stages:

1. Acquisition by the employer of a permit to hire a foreign citizen.
2. Purchasing a visa permit by a foreign citizen at the US Embassy of his country of residence.

To obtain a permit, the employer must prove that:

1. The specialty is in demand and necessary to improve the company’s performance.
2. The specialty requires professional qualifications.
3. Salary equals or exceeds state minimum wage.
4. The financial condition of the company allows us to ensure timely payment of wages in the specified amount.
5. The foreign worker has experience and qualifications in his specialty.

Procedure for obtaining a work visa:

1. Filling out the form (online).
2. Receive confirmation of acceptance of the questionnaire by email.
3. Selecting a date for visiting the consulate.
4. Collection of the necessary package of documents.
5. Visit the consulate on the appointed day with a package of documents.
6. Fingerprinting.
7. Interview with a visa officer.
8. Providing additional documents confirming the purpose of the trip (if necessary).
9. Receiving a ready-made passport with a visa by courier service “Pony Express”.

List of required documents:

1. A foreign passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the United States.
2. Previous foreign passports and previous visas.
3. Confirmation of completion of the visa application form (DS-160 form).
4. Receipt of payment of the visa fee.
5. Photograph (requirements for it are given below).
6. An invitation from an American company.
7. I-129 or I-797 petition approval receipt number (sent by employer).
8. Translated and certified documents confirming the level of education or qualifications - diploma, certificate, certificates, work book.
9. Detailed description of work experience and jobs.
10. Documents confirming the citizen's solvency - bank account statement.

Photo requirements:

1. High quality color image.
2. 50-69% of the photo is occupied by the face - 22-35 mm from the chin to the top of the head.
3. The photo was taken no later than 6 months and shows the applicant’s current appearance.
4. Plain white background.
5. Photo from the front, looking straight, eyes open.
6. Neutral facial expression.
7. No hats, glasses or massive accessories that distort the appearance (with the exception of religious reasons).

The visa is issued within a week to a month. The consular fee is 190 US dollars. To track the status of your application, please use the e-application portal.