[goatforce5]

I worked in the US on an E3 Visa, which is pretty much like a H1B that is only available to Australians.

As I understand it, both of those require you to be paid at least the 'prevailing wage', and before the job is offered to you:

"This Form ETA-9035 needs to be posted in “two conspicuous locations” at the work site for 10 consecutive days where the H-1B (or H-1B1, or E-3) nonimmigrant will be employed. You must post the entire LCA, including the instructions and the portion containing information on the prevailing and offered wages."

http://www.jackson-hertogs.com/jh/faq/10509.pdf

ie, your employer has to post the fact that they're going to employ someone at a certain wage within the office.

That leads to fun times when your visa is up for renewal and the company is obliged to tell everyone what your wage is.

In my case I believe I was being paid more than some of my roughly-equivalent colleagues and there was some concern that the posting might ruffle some feathers. When I decided i'd had enough of the US and that it was time to move on I was told to pick anywhere in the world and my employer would pay to move me there and set me up so I could keep working for them. I was the complete opposite of an exploited foreign worker.