Jobs for OPT Students

OPT gives F-1 graduates up to 12 months of work authorization in a role directly related to their field of study, with STEM graduates eligible for a 24-month extension that brings the total to three years. Most employers who hire OPT students are familiar with the process and require no sponsorship cost during the OPT period itself, making it one of the most accessible entry points for starting your U.S. career.

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Overview

Open Jobs757,331+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type93% On-site
Salary Range$35K – $49K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsStarbucks

Showing 5 of 757,331+ OPT Student jobs

Nice North America LLC
Inside Sales Representative
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Nice North America LLC
New 2m ago
Inside Sales Representative
Nice North America LLC
Kent, Washington
Sales
Account Management
Inside Sales
$21/hr - $23/hr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
High School

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Lennar
Learning Designer
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Lennar
New 3m ago
Learning Designer
Lennar
Bentonville, Arkansas
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Learning & Development
Instructional Design
Corporate Training
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
None
5,001-10,000

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Barfield
Electronics Technician
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Barfield
New 3m ago
Electronics Technician
Barfield
Atlanta, Georgia
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Manufacturing Operations
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
High School
201-500

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Alexandria City Public Schools
Elementary Instructional Specialist
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Alexandria City Public Schools
New 3m ago
Elementary Instructional Specialist
Alexandria City Public Schools
Alexandria, Virginia
Teaching & Instruction
Corporate Training & Learning Development
K-12 Teaching
Curriculum Design
On-Site
5+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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UPM
Product Development Specialist
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UPM
New 4m ago
Product Development Specialist
UPM
Mills River, North Carolina
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Project Management
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does an employer need to do to hire someone on OPT?

During the standard 12-month OPT period, employers have minimal requirements beyond verifying your Employment Authorization Document and ensuring the role is related to your field of study. For the STEM OPT extension, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and complete a Form I-983 training plan with you. This is a much lighter lift than H-1B sponsorship, which is one reason many employers are open to hiring OPT candidates.

How many hours can I work on OPT?

On post-completion OPT, you can work full-time with no weekly hour cap. During the STEM OPT extension, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. Staying above the minimum is important because exceeding the unemployment day limit of 90 days on standard OPT, or 150 combined days across OPT and STEM OPT, can affect your F-1 status.

Can I work for multiple employers on OPT?

Yes, you can work for more than one employer on OPT as long as each role is related to your field of study and the total work aligns with your authorized period. On the STEM OPT extension, each employer must be E-Verify enrolled and you need separate documentation for each position. Reporting all employment to your DSO keeps your records current and your status protected.

Do I need to tell employers I am on OPT when applying?

Most applications ask whether you will need sponsorship now or in the future. On OPT, you do not need immediate sponsorship, but you should be transparent that you may need it later when OPT expires. Being upfront early builds trust and gives employers time to prepare, rather than being surprised at the end of your OPT period when the H-1B conversation becomes urgent.

How do I find employers who are likely to sponsor H-1B after OPT?

The most reliable signal is an employer's history of H-1B LCA filings, which is public data. Targeting companies with a track record of converting OPT hires to H-1B gives you the best chance of long-term stability in the U.S. On Migrate Mate, you can filter by employers with verified sponsorship history so you can focus your search on companies that have made this commitment before.

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