The US is hiring tech professionals: salaries of up to CLP 138 million a year

A weakening Chilean labour market is pushing qualified professionals to look abroad. According to the 24 Horas report, the H-1B1 visa is the most direct route, and technology salaries exceed 138 million Chilean pesos a year.

The report starts with the local picture. Unemployment in Chile reached 9.4% in the March–May 2026 quarter, rising to 24.6% among young people. Informal employment sits at around 27%.

Against that backdrop, 24 Horas focuses on an option that remains little known: the H-1B1 visa, created by the Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement that entered into force in 2004 and available only to Chilean and Singaporean nationals.

What the other side pays

According to figures cited in the report, the median salary for these specialty-occupation visas sits at roughly US$120,000 a year. In software roles the figure rises above US$149,000, equivalent to some 138 million Chilean pesos annually.

The breakdown by field shows where demand is concentrated:

• Computing and information technology: 64%
• Architecture and engineering: 10%
• Education: 6%
• Business: 5.4%
• Healthcare: 4.2%

Not only developers

One point stressed by Visability CEO Pablo Navarrete is that reading this as "only for tech people" leaves out a large share of the profiles actually being hired.

"Among the most in-demand profiles are engineers, lawyers, pilots, teachers, industrial mechanics, veterinarians, agronomists, logistics and foreign trade specialists," he said.

On the volume available and its recent trend, he added:

"There are 1,400 new H-1B1 visas for Chileans every year, and since the pandemic the number of visas issued has doubled."

Since the programme began in 2004, close to 15,200 H-1B1 visas have been granted, and nearly 6 in 10 fall within the last five years.

Who is asking

The report notes a shift in who is looking to leave: no longer only the unemployed professional.

"We have received enquiries from professionals who, despite holding a current contract in Chile, are looking for job opportunities abroad," Navarrete said.

"The United States still needs qualified professionals across different specialties, and Chileans have an advantage thanks to the H-1B1 visa," he added.

English remains the filter

The report also flags a concrete constraint: Chile ranks 54th out of 123 countries in the EF EPI English proficiency index. For roles requiring direct interaction with teams and clients in the United States, language level is usually the first real filter — ahead of the degree or the experience.

How Visability supports the process

• Eligibility assessment for the H-1B1 based on degree, experience and the role offered.
• Guidance on finding and validating the US job offer.
• Review of the offered salary against the prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
• Preparation of academic and employment documentation and the consular interview.

Read the full report at 24 Horas: EE.UU. ofrece trabajo para profesionales del área tecnológica: sueldos de hasta $138 millones anuales