Nursing provides tremendous career opportunities for those seeking stable employment and the chance to help others through caring for their health. For international residents seeking to practice nursing in the United States, finding a job that offers both a competitive salary and visa sponsorship can be challenging yet achievable.
This guide provides an overview of nursing roles in New York State that offer a starting salary of $65,000 or more with associated H1-B visa sponsorship through the employer. Pursuing one of these positions allows international candidates to legally work as a nurse in the US while establishing long-term career prospects.
The Nursing Profession in New York
New York is home to some of the top hospitals and healthcare systems in the country. With a population of over 8 million residents in the city alone, the demand for qualified nurses is very high.
The New York State Department of Labor has projected nursing to be one of the fastest growing occupations through 2026. Some key facts about nursing opportunities in New York include:
- Over 236,000 registered nurses were employed in New York as of 2020, making it the state with the second highest RN employment in the US.
- New York hospitals and clinics employ 110,000 nurses, more than any other industry in the state.
- The average annual salary for all RNs in New York is $83,570 as of 2020, well above the national average of $75,330.
- Job prospects are excellent, as over 30,000 RN jobs are projected to become available each year through 2026 due to both expansion and replacement of retiring nurses.
This strong and growing profession provides many pathways for international nurses to build a long-term career while living and working in New York through employer-sponsored visas. The rest of this guide will outline specific positions that offer $65,000 starting salaries with H1-B visa support.
Nursing Positions with $65,000 Starting Salary & H1-B Visa Sponsorship
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses that can provide primary and specialty healthcare independently. To become an NP, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and additional graduate education is required. NP programs take 2-3 years beyond a BSN to complete.
Starting salaries for NPs in New York range from $100,000-125,000 depending on specialty and location. Some major hospitals that offer $65,000 starting salaries for NPs with H1-B visa sponsorship include:
- Mount Sinai Health System (various locations in NYC)
- Northwell Health (various locations in Long Island and NYC)
- NYU Langone Health (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island locations)
The specific NP specialties in need with these employers include family, pediatric, women’s health, neonatal and psychiatric NPs. Relevant clinical experience is beneficial but new NPs can find opportunities as well.
Registered Nurse (RN)
For international nurses already licensed as RNs, hospital-based roles typically start at $75,000-85,000 in urban areas like New York City and Long Island. Some large hospital systems willing to directly hire international RNs at $65,000 starting salaries and sponsor H1-B visas include:
- Northwell Health (jobs in Queens, Staten Island, Long Island)
- NYC Health + Hospitals (various locations citywide public hospitals)
- Mount Sinai Health System (Manhattan hospitals)
In these systems, the most in-demand nursing specialties include medical/surgical, intensive care, pediatrics, labor/delivery and emergency department nursing. Managerial roles such as unit charge nurses may start higher at $75,000+.
Clinical Research Nurse
For RNs interested in the growing research side of healthcare, jobs as clinical research nurses start between $65,000-75,000 at major academic medical centers in New York City. Employers potentially offering this career pathway include:
- NYU Langone Health (based in Manhattan and Brooklyn locations)
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx)
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center (Northern Manhattan)
Clinical research nursing involves aspects of both direct patient care and coordinating clinical trial logistics. A BSN is required while experience in areas like oncology or cardiology is beneficial. Proficiency in additional languages may also aid certain research roles.
Relocation and Cost of Living Considerations
For nursing professionals relocating to New York, it’s important to research cost of living expenses which can be higher compared to most U.S. cities. However, salaries offered also tend to be above national averages to compensate. Some key factors to consider related to relocation include:
- Housing: Expect to pay $2,000-3,000/month for a 1-bedroom apartment further from Manhattan. Closer-in areas will be $3,000+ on average.
- Transportation: Subways/buses are quite extensive but a monthly MetroCard is $127. Having a car involves high insurance, gas and parking costs in urban areas versus using public transit or rides/taxis.
- Food: Groceries are 10-15% higher priced versus national averages. Dining out ranges widely but expect $20-30 per person minimum at casual establishments on average.
- Healthcare: Premium health insurance through employer plans is common, lowering individual costs significantly versus national exchanges. Consider any immigration/visa medical requirements too for initial entry.
- Other: Utility bills vary based on housing size/age but run $150-300/month on average total. Cellphones are $60-100/month plans. No state income tax helps offset costs.
With diligent budgeting and an RN salary of $65,000 or greater, it is very possible to live comfortably in the New York area while establishing an exciting nursing career and long-term work authorization through employer visa sponsorship. Relocating for these career opportunities provides both professional and personal growth potential.
Non-Patient Care Nursing Roles to Consider
For some international nurses, they may prefer non-clinical options that still use their skills and education without direct patient contact. Employers in New York also offer select hybrid nursing positions starting at $65,000 that could provide H1-B visa sponsorship:
Nursing Informatics
RN Case Manager
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Nursing Education/Faculty
These roles involve using nursing knowledge and leadership skills but in an office, technology or academic setting versus a clinical patient care environment.
Examples of employers potentially sponsoring nurses for such hybrid roles include large health insurers, EMR vendors and university-affiliated hospitals with education divisions. Background experience in areas like informatics, quality improvement, utilization review or research is most applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What qualifications do I need as an international nurse to qualify for these positions?
At minimum, employers require candidates to have an active, valid nursing license from their home country equivalent to a US RN license. A BSN degree is preferable over an Associate’s. 2-5 years bedside clinical experience, strong English skills and eligibility to obtain US work authorization are also musts.
2. What is the H1-B visa process and costs like when sponsored by these healthcare employers?
The employer handles all H1-B visa filing, legal costs and government fees which can total over $10,000. Nurses only pay small additional medical exam fees of $300-500. If approved, the initial H1-B lasts 3 years and extends another 3 years if sponsored by employer. Green card sponsorship often follows for long-term employees performing permanent roles.
3. Are relocation assistance or signing bonuses common when accepting one of these nursing jobs?
Some large healthcare systems like Northwell Health offer new nurses up to $10,000 in relocation allowances if relocating over 50 miles away. Signing bonuses of $5,000-10,000 for specialty areas like ICU or labor/delivery are also seen at major New York hospitals even for H1-B transfers. Negotiating such incentives is reasonable when accepting an offer.
4. How do I search for and apply to these nursing job opportunities if living overseas currently?
Most postings for these positions can be found on individual employer websites under their international/global healthcare careers sections or at established job boards specializing in immigration nursing careers. It’s best to connect with recruiters directly by phone/email to discuss H1-B transfer options rather than through general online applications initially.
5. Do these employers typically assist with temporary housing if relocating to New York from abroad?
While long-term housing is your responsibility after relocating, some hospitals offer discounted short-stay corporate housing options through partnerships for 2-4 weeks to assist in finding a permanent residence. Mount Sinai’s employee relocation guidelists their housing resources as an example employer. Temporary stays in sublet housing rented by other traveling nurses is also common until permanently settled.