H1-B row: University of Michigan hiring software developers on $75,000 salary sparks backlash

The University of Michigan is facing backlash over recent H-1B visa job postings for software developers and database administrators, with critics questioning the necessity of hiring foreign workers when American candidates might be available. The controversy was reignited after independent journalist Chris Brunet shared screenshots of the university's job notices on X.

The postings advertised an 'Intermediate Software Developer' position with an annual salary of $72,100 and an 'Intermediate Database Administrator' role with a salary of $75,000. Brunet commented on the listings, stating, "The University of Michigan has filed 2 notices of intent to hire H-1B workers... No American software or database developers were qualified for these positions." These roles were linked to departments on the Ann Arbor campus, including the Office of Medical Student Education and the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine.

Many social media users argued that publicly funded institutions should prioritize domestic workers, especially given the current competitive job market in the U.S. technology and professional sectors. The H-1B visa program itself is designed to allow U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers when domestic candidates are deemed unavailable, with Indian and Chinese nationals forming the majority of H-1B visa recipients.

This is not the first time the University of Michigan has faced such criticism. Brunet had previously highlighted similar H-1B intent notices for positions like Business Analysts, with salaries ranging from $73,000 to $112,763. His reporting also extended to other public universities, citing H-1B notices at Indiana University for roles such as Software Engineer (around $74,000) and Data Analyst (approximately $85,000). In March, documents indicated the University of Michigan's intent to recruit three Business Analysts via the same visa route.

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The University of Michigan has filed 2 notices of intent to hire H-1B workers. Intermediate Software Developer, salary: $72,100. Intermediate Database Administrator, salary: $75,000. No American software or database developers were qualified for these positions.