There is no official “Construction Visa Program” in the United States, and no government scheme pays anyone $70,000 to relocate. If you want to relocate to the USA for construction work, the real routes are the seasonal H-2B visa, the EB-3 employment-based green card, and TN status for Canadian and Mexican professionals. Each one starts with a US employer who is willing to file paperwork for you.
The $70,000 figure is not invented, though. It is a realistic annual salary for experienced skilled tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, crane operators and site supervisors, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wage data. It is pay you earn for the work, not a relocation grant, and it depends on holding the right license or certification in the state where you work.
Which construction trades really pay $60,000 to $70,000?
Entry-level laboring pays far less, and we cover that separately in our guide to entry-level construction jobs in the US. This article is about skilled trades, where pay rises with licensing, experience and union membership. The figures below are approximate national medians from BLS data at the time of writing; big-city and union rates are often higher, and rural rates lower.
| Trade | Approximate median annual pay | Experienced or union range | Main credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | About $62,000 | $75,000–$100,000+ | State or local journeyman license |
| Plumber, pipefitter, steamfitter | About $62,000 | $75,000–$100,000+ | State or local license |
| Welder | About $50,000 | $60,000–$85,000 for pipe and structural specialists | AWS certification, employer weld tests |
| Crane operator | About $65,000 | $75,000–$100,000+ | Accredited operator certification such as NCCCO |
| Heavy equipment operator | About $58,000 | $65,000–$90,000 | Employer qualification, sometimes a CDL |
| First-line site supervisor | About $78,000 | $85,000–$110,000 | Trade experience, OSHA 30 |
| Construction manager | About $105,000 | $120,000–$170,000 | Degree or long experience |
Overtime is common on large projects and can add substantially to base pay. On federally funded projects, the Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors to pay locally prevailing wages, which often match union scale.
What are the real visa routes for skilled construction workers?
None of these routes lets you apply on your own. In every case the employer is the petitioner, and you are the beneficiary.
H-2B: temporary and seasonal work
The H-2B visa covers temporary non-agricultural jobs where the employer has a seasonal, peak-load or one-time need. It is capped at 66,000 visas a year, plus supplemental visas released in some years. Construction firms in cold-weather states and specialty contractors do use it, but most H-2B construction positions are laborer and helper roles, not licensed trades. Stays are granted in periods of up to a year, with a three-year maximum. Our H-2B visa sponsorship guide explains the cap and the timetable in detail.
EB-3 skilled worker: the green card route
EB-3 is permanent residence, not a temporary visa. The “skilled worker” subcategory is for jobs that need at least two years of training or experience, which fits most licensed trades. The employer must complete PERM labor certification, proving that no qualified US worker was available at the prevailing wage, then file Form I-140. You then wait for your priority date to become current in the State Department’s Visa Bulletin.
The whole process commonly takes two to four years or more, and longer for applicants born in India, China and at times the Philippines. The reward is a green card for you, your spouse and your unmarried children under 21. The full process is set out in our EB-3 green card guide.
TN: Canadian and Mexican professionals only
TN status under the USMCA agreement is limited to citizens of Canada and Mexico in a fixed list of professions. That list includes engineers, architects and land surveyors, but not electricians, plumbers, welders or equipment operators. A Canadian civil engineer can use TN to work for a US contractor. A Canadian electrician cannot.
Routes that usually do not fit
The H-1B visa requires a job that needs a bachelor’s degree in a specific field, so it suits civil engineers, estimators with degrees and some construction managers, not tradespeople. It is also subject to an annual lottery and, since September 2025, a presidential proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment on many new petitions for workers outside the US, which is subject to exceptions and ongoing litigation. L-1 transfers work only if you already hold a managerial or specialist post with a multinational contractor.
Will your foreign trade license be accepted?
In most cases, no. This is the part that many relocation adverts leave out. The US has no national trade license. Electricians and plumbers are licensed by the state, and in some states by the city or county, and a foreign certificate does not transfer automatically.
- Electricians and plumbers: most states require several years of documented, supervised work hours and a written exam on US codes, such as the National Electrical Code. Some boards credit foreign experience if it is well documented; others do not. Until you are licensed, you may have to work as an apprentice or helper under a licensed tradesperson, at lower pay.
- Welders: welding is mostly certification-based. American Welding Society (AWS) certification and passing the employer’s own weld test matter more than where you trained.
- Crane operators: federal OSHA rules require operators to be certified by an accredited body, such as NCCCO, and some states and cities add their own license.
- Supervisors: OSHA 30-hour training is widely expected, and contractors themselves must hold state contractor licenses.
Before accepting an offer, look up the licensing board for the state concerned and ask the employer in writing which license you will need, who pays for the exam, and what your pay will be before and after you qualify.
Who pays for relocation?
Relocation support depends on the visa and the employer. Some costs are the employer’s legal responsibility, and the rest is negotiable.
| Cost | H-2B | EB-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Labor certification, recruitment and attorney fees for it | Employer | Employer, by law |
| Petition filing fees | Employer | Usually employer; confirm in writing |
| Visa application fee | Employer must pay or reimburse | Often the worker |
| Travel to the US | Employer reimburses inbound travel, and pays return travel when the job ends | Negotiable |
| Medical exam, document translation, police certificates | Worker | Worker |
| Housing, tools, moving household goods | Negotiable | Negotiable |
Larger contractors sometimes offer a relocation package to hard-to-find specialists, such as a lump sum, temporary housing or a sign-on bonus. Get any promise in the written offer, and ask whether you must repay it if you leave early.
Are union apprenticeships open to newcomers?
Union apprenticeships are one of the best deals in the American labor market: paid on-the-job training, classroom teaching at little or no cost, rising wages each year, and health and pension benefits. The main building trades unions include the IBEW (electricians), the United Association (plumbers and pipefitters), the Ironworkers, and the Operating Engineers.
Apprenticeships do not sponsor visas. You need existing work authorization, such as a green card or a valid employment authorization document. They are therefore a strong option once you are in the country with the right to work, including for spouses and adult children who arrive with you on an EB-3 green card.
How to pursue a skilled construction job step by step
- Document your experience. Collect employer letters on letterhead stating dates, duties and hours, plus trade certificates and training records. EB-3 cases depend on this evidence.
- Get a credential evaluation if you have formal qualifications. A recognized evaluation service can describe your training in US terms.
- Research licensing in your target state. Check the state board’s rules on foreign experience and exams.
- Search official sources. H-2B job orders are published on seasonaljobs.dol.gov. For permanent roles, use contractors’ official careers pages and check the employer’s filing history in Department of Labor disclosure data.
- Interview and get a written offer. It should state the wage, location, duties, and which immigration costs the employer covers.
- Let the employer file. The employer or its attorney files the labor certification and petition. You attend the consular interview with your own documents.
- Plan your first three months. Budget for a deposit and rent, transport, tools, work boots, and health insurance until employer cover begins.
What will the move cost you?
Even with an employer covering the legal costs, you will need savings. A car is essential for most construction jobs, because sites change and start times are early. Newcomers without a US credit history often pay higher rates for car loans and insurance, so compare quotes and consider buying a used vehicle outright.
Ask when employer health insurance starts, since many plans have a waiting period of 30 to 90 days, and consider a short-term policy to cover the gap. For housing in your first months, a furnished room is usually the cheapest start; see our guide to affordable co-living spaces in the USA. If you send money home, compare the exchange rate and fee of several transfer providers rather than relying on your bank.
How do you spot a false “construction visa” offer?
Adverts for a “USA Construction Visa Program” with a guaranteed salary are not genuine. Genuine employers do not charge for job offers or sponsorship, and US rules prohibit H-2B employers and their recruiters from collecting recruitment fees from workers.
- Be wary of anyone selling a “visa slot”, “LMIA” (a Canadian term) or “work permit” for the USA.
- Refuse requests to pay by cryptocurrency, gift card or personal money transfer.
- Treat offers made without an interview or skills check as false.
- Verify any attorney through the relevant state bar’s website.
- Remember that only a US embassy or consulate issues visas, after an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a US work visa as a self-employed tradesperson?
No standard work visa exists for self-employed tradespeople. H-2B and EB-3 both require an employer to petition for you. Investor routes such as E-2 exist for nationals of treaty countries who buy or start a real business, but they need substantial capital and legal advice.
Does a welding certificate from my country count in the US?
It helps as evidence of training, but employers will normally test you themselves. Most structural and pipe welding jobs require you to pass a weld test to the code used on that project, and many ask for AWS certification.
Can a spouse and children join a construction worker?
On H-2B, your spouse and children can apply for H-4 status, but they cannot work. With an EB-3 green card, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 become permanent residents and can work and study freely.
Is $70,000 guaranteed if I am an experienced electrician?
No. Your pay depends on the state, the employer, union status, and whether you hold a US license. Many foreign-trained electricians start below journeyman pay while they complete local licensing, then move up.
Bottom line
The “Construction Visa Program” is a marketing phrase, not a visa. The real options are H-2B for temporary work, EB-3 for a green card, and TN for Canadian and Mexican engineers and architects. Skilled trades can pay $60,000 to $70,000 or more, but only with an employer willing to petition, recognized credentials, and patience with a process measured in months or years.