Working and Finding a Job in the USA – Work Culture, Minimum Wage & Top Industries
The United States is still seen as a huge job market and a place for career growth. Yet once you land there, you quickly notice that the work culture, salaries and job search rules can feel very different from your home country. This guide on worldlya.com walks you through the essentials of working in the USA: how people work, how much they earn, and which industries are really hiring.
Typical work week
Full-time usually means around 40 hours (Monday–Friday), with emails sometimes popping up outside office hours.
Minimum wage snapshot
Federal minimum wage: $7.25/hour (since 2009). Many states and cities set higher local minimums.
Big job engines
Health care, professional & business services, trade / transport / utilities, tech and finance employ tens of millions of workers across the country.
U.S. Work Culture: What It Really Feels Like
Imagine the U.S. workplace as a mix of speed, direct talk and individual responsibility. Friendly on the surface, fast underneath. If you’re coming from a more collective or slower-paced culture, it can feel like jumping onto a moving train.
Communication: direct but (usually) polite
- Managers often say what they think in a clear, straight way. Sugar-coating is limited.
- You’re expected to share your opinion in meetings, not just agree silently.
- Small talk at the start: weekend plans, sports, travel. Then it’s quickly “OK, let’s get to it”.
Time & deadlines
- Punctuality matters. Being late to meetings repeatedly can damage trust.
- American companies love phrases like “ASAP” and “by end of day”.
- Delivering work on time is often more important than being perfectly flawless.
Hierarchy & initiative
U.S. companies can feel both hierarchical and informal. You may call your manager by first name, but you’re also expected to:
- Take ownership of your tasks.
- Suggest ideas instead of waiting for instructions.
- Show how you personally add value.
Work–life balance
Good news and bad news:
- Many office jobs now support remote or hybrid work.
- At the same time, some industries still glorify long hours and “hustle”.
- Paid vacation for new employees can feel short compared to Europe (around 10–15 days in many companies).
Quick tip: watch how your teammates behave. Do they answer emails at night? Take lunch away from their desk? Match the real culture, not just what’s written in the handbook.
Minimum Wage & Pay in the USA: What You Need to Know
One of the biggest surprises for newcomers is how unequal pay can be from one state or city to another. The U.S. has a federal minimum wage, but states and cities can set higher levels.
Federal minimum wage
As of 2025, the federal minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour, and it has stayed at that level since 2009. States are free to go higher, but not lower.
If a worker is covered by both state and federal law, they generally get the higher rate. So where you live in the U.S. has a direct impact on your real earning power.
State examples: why location changes everything
| State / City | Minimum wage (2025) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $7.25/hour | Follows the federal minimum. Cost of living is lower than coastal cities, but pay for low-wage jobs can be tight. |
| Florida | $14.00/hour | State minimum increases step by step. Service jobs in tourism areas often pay around or slightly above this level. |
| California (statewide) | $16.50/hour | One of the highest state minimums. Many big cities (like San Francisco) have even higher city minimum wages. |
| New York City | $16.50/hour | High wages but also very high rent and living costs. Great if your salary really matches the city. |
On paper, a minimum wage in California or New York looks very attractive compared with Texas. In reality, rent, transport, child care and health insurance can easily eat the difference. Always check both the wage and the cost of living for your target city.
Another detail: some jobs, especially in restaurants and bars, pay a very low “tipped minimum wage” and expect tips to make up the rest. If you’re new in town, always ask for your base hourly pay and how tips are shared.
Typical pay vs. minimum wage
In many white-collar roles (tech, finance, engineering, consulting), salaries are well above minimum wage. But there is also a huge share of the workforce in retail, hospitality, logistics, care work and similar fields where pay is closer to the legal minimum and often feels tight, especially in big cities.
Before accepting an offer, compare your expected income with local rent, transport and basic expenses. As a rough rule, many people try to keep rent under 30% of their monthly income, though in places like New York or San Francisco that can be very hard.
Top Industries & In-Demand Jobs in the USA
The U.S. economy is huge and diverse. Still, a few sectors clearly dominate both in number of jobs and in future growth.
Health care & social assistance
Health care is one of the largest and fastest-growing employers in the U.S., adding tens of thousands of jobs every month in recent years. Roles range from doctors and nurses to medical assistants, therapists, lab technicians and back-office staff.
This sector keeps expanding mainly because of an aging population and chronic health conditions, so demand is unlikely to disappear soon.
Professional & business services
This broad category includes IT services, consulting, marketing, legal and engineering services. It employs over 20 million people and tends to offer higher-than-average wages for skilled workers.
If you have strong English, degree-level education and in-demand skills (data, software, finance), this is often one of the best entry points for foreign professionals.
Trade, transportation & warehousing
Think of everything from retail stores to e-commerce warehouses and delivery companies. These industries employ millions and continue to shift with online shopping and logistics technology.
Jobs here can be physically demanding but relatively easier to access for newcomers with limited U.S. experience or qualifications.
Leisure, hospitality & tourism
Hotels, restaurants, theme parks and travel services together make up another giant employer. These jobs can be seasonal and sensitive to economic downturns, but they exist in almost every city.
If you have strong customer-service skills and decent English, it’s a common first step into the U.S. labor market.
Tech, finance & advanced industries
Beyond the big traditional sectors, technology, clean energy, cybersecurity, finance and advanced manufacturing keep growing fast, driven by digitalization and climate policy. Many of the highest-paid roles in the country sit inside these areas, but competition and skill requirements are also much tougher.
How to Find a Job in the USA: Practical Steps
Ever wondered why Americans talk so much about “networking”? In the U.S., who knows you can be almost as important as what you know. Here’s a simple roadmap.
- 1. Clarify your work authorization
If you’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you usually need a visa or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to work legally. Always check your category and limits (employer-specific, location-specific, full-time vs. part-time). - 2. Adapt your CV to the U.S. style
Use a résumé (1–2 pages) instead of a long CV. No photo, no marital status, no date of birth. Focus on results: “Increased sales by 15%” sounds stronger than “Responsible for sales”. - 3. Build a strong LinkedIn profile
Recruiters in the U.S. live on LinkedIn. Use a clear headline (“Software Engineer – Backend – Java & AWS”), add measurable achievements, ask colleagues for short recommendations. - 4. Use the right job boards
General sites like Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs and Glassdoor are a good start. For tech, you might see more roles on sites like Wellfound or Stack Overflow Jobs; for research and universities, look at university career pages directly. - 5. Network with intention
Join local meetups, professional associations, online communities. A short, friendly message like “I’m exploring data roles in Boston, could I ask you 3 quick questions about the market?” works much better than “Please hire me”. - 6. Prepare for behavioral interviews
Expect questions like “Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager”. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and keep your stories focused. - 7. Check the total package, not just salary
In the U.S., benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans (401k), bonuses, stock options and paid time off can dramatically change how good an offer really is.
Small reality check: getting your first U.S. job can take longer than you expect, especially if you’re changing both country and career field. That doesn’t mean you’re not good enough; sometimes you just need more time to get used to the local hiring enviroment.
Visas & Legal Right to Work (Very Short Overview)
This article can’t replace official legal advice, but you should at least know the basic idea: in the U.S., your right to work is tightly connected to your immigration status.
- Temporary workers: Many professionals come on visas like H-1B (specialty occupations), L-1 (intra-company transfer), or others. These are usually employer-sponsored.
- Students & exchange visitors: Some F-1 students can work under OPT or CPT, and J-1 visitors may have specific work options.
- Permanent workers: Some people are sponsored for a green card through employment.
- Work permits (EAD): Certain non-immigrant categories can apply for an Employment Authorization Document, which lets them work for almost any employer while their status is valid.
Always double-check visa rules on official U.S. government pages and, if needed, speak to an immigration lawyer. Recruiters sometimes don’t fully understand your category, so it helps when you do.
Your Rights at Work
The U.S. doesn’t have the same level of worker protection as some European countries, but you still have important rights, including rules on minimum wage, overtime, discrimination and workplace safety.
- Minimum wage & overtime: The U.S. Department of Labor sets federal rules and monitors state minimum wage levels.
- Non-discrimination: Employers generally cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (over 40), disability or genetic information.
- Health & safety: Agencies such as OSHA set safety standards for workplaces.
- Protection for temporary workers: There are specific materials in several languages explaining the rights of foreign temporary workers and how to report abuse.
If something feels wrong – unpaid wages, threats about your visa, unsafe conditions – do not ignore it. In many cases you can speak with a legal aid organization, union, or government hotline without risking your status, especially if you are a victim of exploitation.
Everyday Tips for Starting Work Life in the USA
- Get a Social Security Number (SSN)
Most employers will need this to pay you officially and report taxes. - Open a local bank account
You’ll usually be paid by direct deposit. Some online-only banks are foreigner-friendly. - Track your taxes
The U.S. tax system is complex. Keep your pay stubs, and consider using tax software or a professional, especially in your first year.
- Build credit slowly
Your “credit score” affects everything from renting an apartment to phone plans. A starter credit card used carefully can help. - Understand health insurance
Ask HR to explain your plan: deductible, co-pay, network. A cheap plan with very high deductible can be risky if you get sick. - Learn local etiquette
In many offices people bring snacks on their birthday, mute microphones on calls, and say “Good morning” more than you might expect.
Reality, in one sentence: the U.S. can offer huge opportunities, but success usually comes to people who learn the rules of the local job market – from visas to work culture – and then play that game smartly.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor – Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment by Major Industry Sector
- USCIS – Working in the United States
- USA.gov – Work in the U.S. with a Work Permit (EAD)
- U.S. Department of Labor – Foreign Labor
- BLS – Employment and Wages, Annual Averages (2024)
