What is the average salary in United States?

The average salary in United States is approximately €65,000 per year. Software engineer salaries range from €45,000 (junior) to €95,000 (senior).

What is the cost of living in United States?

Monthly cost of living in United States is approximately €2,800 for a single person including rent, food, transport, and utilities.

How hard is it to get a visa for United States?

Visa difficulty for United States is rated High. Language requirement: English. Path to permanent residency: 6+ years (employer-sponsored Green Card). Path to citizenship: 5 years after Green Card.

What is the income tax rate in United States?

United States income tax range is 10% to 37% federal + state. On a €60,000 salary (single filer), the effective rate is 16.3% with a net take-home of €50,194. Special expat regime: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion ($126,500 for 2024, adjusted annually).

How long does it take to get United States citizenship?

United States naturalization takes 5–29 months (avg 12). 5 years as permanent resident (3 if married to US citizen) of residence required.

Country profile

United States

Largest economy with high salaries but complex immigration, expensive healthcare, and wide regional variation.

Avg salary: $65,000; ≈ €65,000; 2.9%
Monthly cost: $2,800; 1.8%
Effective tax: 17.0%; 10% to 37% federal + state
Visa difficulty: High
PR timeline: 6+ years (employer-sponsored Green Card)
Citizenship: 5 years after Green Card
Affordability: 193; salary ÷ cost
Est. savings: €20,350/yr; after tax & cost
Happiness: 6.52/10; #24 · Above average

Salary by experience (software engineer)

Junior (0–2yr)

€45,000

Mid (3–7yr)

€65,000

Senior (8+yr)

€95,000

What would you like to know?

Thinking about moving to United States?

Pick a question and we'll crunch the numbers for you.

How much will I save each month?

Simulate your salary, taxes, rent, and monthly budget in United States.

How does it compare to where I live now?

Compare United States with your home country on salary, tax, cost, and more.

What will my take-home pay be?

Enter your salary and see the exact tax breakdown for United States.

What if I want to return home later?

Plan your return or retirement after living in United States.

7-year trends

How United States has changed since 2019

Average salary

CAGR: 3.7%

Monthly cost of living

Visa processing time (days)

Rent index (2020 = 100)

Immigration pipeline

Path to United States citizenship

Residency requirement: 5 years as permanent resident (3 if married to US citizen). Based on USCIS.gov official processing times.

Fastest

5 mo

Average

12 mo

Slowest

29 mo

N-400 filing

0–1 months · avg 0.5 months

Biometrics appointment

1–4 months · avg 2 months

Interview

3–18 months · avg 8 months

Civics test + English test at interview

Oath ceremony

0.5–6 months · avg 1.5 months

Processing varies by USCIS field office. Must pass civics and English tests.

Source: USCIS.gov official processing times · Last updated: 2026-01

Immigration Timeline Details

Detailed processing times, office comparisons, and community data for United States.

Quality of life

Happiness in United States

Ranked #24 globally with a score of 6.52/10. Source: World Happiness Report 2025.

Score breakdown

6.52

out of 10 · Above average

Global rank #24 of 143 countries

Strongest factor

GDP

Weakest factor

Generosity

Tax system

How taxes work in United States

Income tax range: 10% to 37% federal + state. Effective rate on average salary: ~17.0%.

Tax on average salary (€65,000)

Gross annual€65,000

Estimated income tax−€11,050

Annual cost of living−€33,600

Estimated annual savings€20,350

Tax 17%Cost 52%Savings 31%

Savings by experience level

junior — €45,000/yr€4,695/yr saved

mid — €65,000/yr€20,350/yr saved

senior — €95,000/yr€42,115/yr saved

Try the financial planner

Income Tax Brackets (Single Filer)

Income Range	Rate
$0 – $11,600	10.0%
$11,600 – $47,150	12.0%
$47,150 – $100,525	22.0%
$100,525 – $191,950	24.0%
$191,950 – $243,725	32.0%
$243,725 – $609,350	35.0%
$609,350+	37.0%

+ 7.6% social contributions on gross income

Standard deduction: $14,600

Source: IRS.gov · 2026

Tax Notes

Federal tax only — state taxes add 0-13.3% depending on state.
FICA: 6.2% Social Security (capped at $168,600) + 1.45% Medicare (uncapped).
Child Tax Credit: $2,000 per qualifying child under 17.
Standard deduction: $14,600 (single), $29,200 (married filing jointly).
State tax examples: California 1-13.3%, Texas 0%, New York 4-10.9%.

Special Regimes for Expats

• Foreign Earned Income Exclusion ($126,500 for 2024, adjusted annually)

Child allowance: $2,000 per child/year

Compare tax across all countries

Visa routes

Visa options for United States

Available visa categories and who they suit.

H-1B Specialty Occupation

Skilled professionals with bachelor's degree

Annual lottery cap. Employer sponsorship required.

L-1 Intracompany Transfer

Managers and specialists transferring within company

No lottery. Requires 1 year at foreign office.

F-1 Student Visa

Full-time students at SEVP-certified schools

OPT allows 12 months work (36 for STEM).

Useful links

Popular platforms in United States

Sites most expats use for housing, jobs, insurance, banking, and utilities.

🏠

Find a rental

🏡

Buy property

💼

Find a job

🏥

Health insurance

⚡

Set up utilities

🏦

Open a bank account

🏛️

Government & visa

Working here

Job market & language in United States

Language requirement: English

Job market insights

Tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering dominate high-salary roles.
Major hubs: San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Austin, Boston.
Visa sponsorship limits job options significantly.

Healthcare

Employer-based private insurance

Language

English

Housing

Housing in United States

Renting

Credit history and SSN often required for lease applications.
Security deposits typically 1-2 months rent.
Rental markets vary dramatically by city and neighborhood.

Buying

No restrictions on foreign buyers in most states.
Property taxes vary significantly by state and county.
Mortgage pre-approval needed before house hunting.

Safety

Common scams and practical checks

Common scams

Fake university acceptance letters and I-20 fraud.
Social security number phishing targeting international students.
Fraudulent OPT/CPT processing services.

Practical checks

Verify school SEVP certification on ICE website.
Use only university DSO for immigration documents.
Never share SSN via email or phone.

Education

Schools & education in United States

Overview

Public schools are free and assigned by district. Private and charter options vary widely.

Admissions tips

School quality varies enormously by district — research before choosing housing.
Immunization records and proof of address required.
ESL programs available in most public school districts.

Getting settled

First month checklist

Utilities to set up

1Electricity and gas provider setup
2Internet and cable service
3Water and sewage (often through landlord)
4Renter's insurance (often required by lease)

First 30 days

1Apply for Social Security Number
2Open US bank account
3Get state ID or driver's license
4Set up health insurance
5Register for mobile phone plan

Pros and cons

Living in United States

Pros

Highest salaries globally for skilled roles — tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering pay significantly more than Europe
Massive and diverse job market — more opportunities across more industries than any other single country
World-class universities and research institutions — unmatched for career development and networking
Entrepreneurial culture and access to venture capital — the US startup ecosystem is the largest globally
Geographic and cultural diversity — from coastal cities to mountain towns, with varied climates and lifestyles
No language barrier for English speakers — immediate access to all services, media, and professional networks

Cons

Immigration system is complex and slow — H-1B lottery, green card backlogs of 5–15+ years for some nationalities
Healthcare is expensive without employer coverage — a single ER visit can cost thousands of dollars
No universal social safety net — limited paid parental leave, no mandated vacation days, and at-will employment in most states
Gun violence and safety concerns vary significantly by city and neighborhood
Student loan debt and high education costs if pursuing US degrees
Work culture can be intense — longer hours and fewer protections compared to European labor standards

Community data

Community trackers and resources

Immigration timelines, salary surveys, and other data collected by expat communities.

PERM Processing Time Tracker

Tracks PERM labor certification processing times — currently 462–478 days in 2025. Essential for employment-based green card applicants.

Updated with DOL dataPERM Update

USCIS Official Processing Times

Official processing times for all USCIS forms — I-485, I-140, I-130, N-400, and more. Searchable by form type and service center.

USCIS

USCIS Historic Processing Times

Historical processing time data from USCIS going back several years. Useful for spotting trends and planning timelines.

USCIS

Visa Bulletin Tracker

Tracks when immigrant visa numbers become available by preference category and country. Critical for employment-based and family-based green card applicants.

VisaVerge

VisaVerge — Immigration Resources Hub

Curated collection of official government immigration portals for the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Processing time trackers and visa bulletin data.

VisaVerge

Official links

Government & official resources

USCIS State Department Visas USA.gov

Compare United States

Compare United States with other countries side by side.

Financial planner

Calculate your budget, taxes, and savings in United States.