[dirkdk]

yeah an obvious way to improve the program is to require the applicant to have much more added value than the average American worker. I would argue that salary is the best but still a very poor indicator. What about fields where the average salary is low like agriculture or areas like North Dakota where the cost of living is low and therefore salaries are low? I think the USCIS should start to calculate these numbers per industry and geographical area

[frankchn]

The Department of Labor does (here is one for Software Developers in the Bay Area: http://www.flcdatacenter.com/OesQuickResults.aspx?area=36084...) and requires that H1B applicants be paid at or above market rate for a given job code and level.