Dallas H-1B Rankings Revealed: Consulting Giants, Universities, And Telecom

A newly refreshed federal database shows that major consulting firms, university medical centers, and telecom giants dominate H-1B visa approvals in Dallas.

The latest figures from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services H-1B Employer Data Hub rank the top 25 employers in Dallas by total H-1B approvals between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. The database was recently updated to include late 2025 approvals that were not previously reflected.

The data show that professional services firm KPMG LLP leads all Dallas-based employers with 2,675 approvals during the five-year period. UT Southwestern Medical Center follows with 1,379 approvals, and Dallas Independent School District with 1,290.

*An asterisk indicates totals that reflect consolidated entries for companies listed under nearly identical names in the federal database.

Telecom giant AT&T Services Inc ranked fourth with 1,204 approvals. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, AT&T secured a $146 million federal contract from the Department of Homeland Security and continued expanding its foreign workforce while conducting domestic layoffs.

Semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments Incorporated placed fifth with 1,040 approvals. The company has faced scrutiny after announcing North Texas layoffs while benefiting from federal CHIPS Act funding and continuing to hire H-1B workers, according to prior reporting by The Dallas Express.

The rankings also highlight the presence of public and nonprofit institutions.

UT Southwestern and Dallas ISD both appear in the top three. A February 14 report by The Dallas Express found that Dallas ISD continued to secure H-1B approvals even after President Donald Trump implemented a $100,000 fee on certain new visa petitions in September 2025. However, it was unclear if the educational institution had actually paid the fee. Trustees previously said the visa was used to fill teaching positions the district considers to be in critical shortage.

The H-1B program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Supporters of the H-1B visa program, including Ohio Republican gubernatorial contender Vivek Ramaswamy, have reportedly argued that it is necessary because “American culture has venerated mediocrity,” and that foreign workers are more suitable for the demands of American employers.

However, some research suggests that H-1B workers are less expensive than their U.S. counterparts.

“On average, H-1B workers earn 16 percent less than comparable natives,” a recent paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research and Harvard economist George J. Borjas reportedly found.

Nationally, about 72% of H-1B visas are issued to workers from India and roughly 12% to workers from China, according to USCIS annual data.

For a broader look at how Dallas employers compare statewide, see The Dallas Express report on the top H-1B employers in Texas.