Of these, 940 were approved (98.8%), while 11 were denied (1.2%).
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, higher than 2023's 97.3%. Statewide, Florida employers across all industries submitted 9,692 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 97.1%.
The Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings in Florida during 2024, with 4,711 petitions (48.6% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 95.8%. Meanwhile, the Educational Services industry was the second largest contributor, filing 951 petitions (9.8% of the total), with an approval rate of 98.8%.
The Florida employers which made the most petitions in the Educational Services sector during 2024 included University of Florida with 253 petitions, University of Miami with 116 petitions, and Florida State University with 87 petitions.
Compared to 2023, the Educational Services sector in Florida saw a 0.7% decrease in the number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 4,711 | 48.6% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 951 | 9.8% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 3 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 800 | 8.3% | 98.8% | 1.3% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 683 | 7.1% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| 5 | Manufacturing | 545 | 5.6% | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| 6 | Retail Trade | 371 | 3.8% | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| 7 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 343 | 3.5% | 94.5% | 5.5% |
| 8 | Information | 242 | 2.5% | 96.3% | 3.7% |
| 9 | Construction | 210 | 2.2% | 99.1% | 1% |
| 10 | Wholesale Trade | 196 | 2% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 11 | Transportation and Warehousing | 137 | 1.4% | 95.6% | 4.4% |
| 12 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | 128 | 1.3% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| 13 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 98 | 1% | 99% | 1% |
| 14 | Utilities | 81 | 0.8% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| 15 | Accommodation and Food Services | 72 | 0.7% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| 16 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 64 | 0.7% | 96.9% | 3.1% |
| 17 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 34 | 0.4% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| 18 | Public Administration | 12 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 19 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| 20 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 5 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
Top Employers in Educational Services Industry in Florida, 2024
| Rank | Company Name | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida | 253 | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | University of Miami | 116 | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Florida State University | 87 | 98.9% | 1.2% |
| 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universi | 72 | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 5 | University of South Florida | 59 | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Florida International University | 43 | 100% | 0% |
| 7 | University of Central Florida | 41 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| 8 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| 9 | Florida Atlantic University | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| 10 | Nova Southeastern University | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| 11 | Florida Institute of Technology | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| 12 | The University of Tampa | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| 13 | Advantage Academy of Miami, Inc. | 11 | 90.9% | 9.1% |
| 13 | River City Education Services, Inc. | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | University of North Florida | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 15 | University of West Florida | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Florida a and M University | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Rollins College | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| 17 | Kaplan North America, LLC | 8 | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| 20 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | 7 | 71.4% | 28.6% |
| 20 | New College of Florida | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Florida Polytechnic University | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 22 | Stetson University | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| 24 | Uma Education D B a Ultimate M, Inc. | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 24 | Barry University | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 24 | Stars Education Services, Inc. | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Knowbe4, Inc. | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 27 | Avant Garde Academy, Inc. | 4 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Victory Charter School Tampa 6-12 | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Everglades College, Inc. | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Miami Dade College | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 29 | Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Miami Community Charter Schools | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | International School of Excellence | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Somerset Academy, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Palm Beach Atlantic University | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Testmax, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Mater Academy, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Oga, Inc. | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Downtown Doral Charter Upper School | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Levy County School District | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 33 | Florida State College at Jacksonvi | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | The National Center for Constructi | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Florida a&M University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Discovery Education Services, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Saint Leo University Incorporated | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Law Offices of Catherine Ferrigno | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Montessori Academy of Early Enrich | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Es KHM Opco, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Southeastern University, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | American Youth Academy | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Pharos Group, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | The Institute of Internal Auditors | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Coral Diving Club, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Saint Edwards School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Larkin University, Corp. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Mleeb, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | UCP of Central Florida | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Melbourne Flight Training | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Alexander School D B a Alexand, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | International Junior Golf Academy - Bishops Gate | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Flagler College, Inc. | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 43 | Conductive Education Center of Orlando | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Lando Interactive, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Miami Dade FDN for Educational Innovation, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Slam Florida D B a Slam Boca R, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | IMG Academy Foundation, Inc. | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 43 | Sunshine Wheels and Deals, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Excelsior Charter of Broward, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Lake Wales Charter Schools | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | The School Board of Hillsborough C | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Eckerd College | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Shores Soccer Club, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Lynn University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Academy at the Lakes | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 43 | Hobe Sound Bible College, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Examroom Ai, Corp. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Ave Maria University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Ringling College of ART & Design, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Florida College, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | The School Board of Broward County | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Dynasty Aviation, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Service Learning Microschool Organ | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | LLL Licensing, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | 54D Online, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | New Springs, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Redvector.com, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Victory Charter School K-5, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | The Pine School | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | School Board of Broward County | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | United Cerebral Palsy Association | 1 | 0% | 100% |
| 43 | Es Washington, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | St. Thomas University | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Archimedean Academy, Inc. | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| 43 | Redvector Com D B a Vector Sol, LLC | 1 | 100% | 0% |