Indian techie in US offered job with $3 hike after internship, calls it ‘insulting’

US job offer leaves Indian techie reconsidering next move. (AI-generated image)

For many Indian students, a Master’s degree in the US is meant to open doors to stable work and long-term growth. Yet for some, the reality after graduation can be far more uncertain. Visa limits, layoffs, and modest offers are forcing difficult choices.

One such case has drawn attention online after an Indian techie shared their frustration over a $3 per hour hike during an internship and the absence of H-1B sponsorship. In a post on Reddit, the graduate described being “stuck in a difficult situation and feeling like coming back”, raising questions about whether to continue in the US or return to India.

The techie, who completed a Master’s degree in Computer Science last year, said they had secured an internship at a multinational company and spent six months gaining practical experience. During this period, they worked on technologies such as Azure and SQL. However, they noted that the work was niche and not closely aligned with their aim of becoming a Software Development Engineer.

“I've been here 6 months and actually learned a lot (Azure, SQL, etc.), but the work itself is fairly niche. Today HR called with ‘good news’: they want to convert me to full-time. But here's the catch: no H1B sponsorship,” the user wrote on Reddit.

According to the post, the company offered to extend the internship until June 2026 and then convert the role into a full-time position from July. The proposed salary increase was $3 per hour above the current internship wage. The techie expressed, “They'll extend my internship until June 2026, then hire me as FT starting July. And with a salary bump of just $3/hour more than my current internship wage. Basically insulting for someone with an MS degree.”

The techie added that the role would carry the title “Business Automation Analyst” rather than “Software Engineer”, which they feared could affect future prospects in technical roles.

“I'm worried this title and compensation will permanently damage my prospects for landing a real SDE role later. Now I'm questioning whether it's even worth staying in the US, or if I should just move back to India and restart my career there,” the user added.

As the post gained attention, responses were divided. Some users felt the company was taking advantage of the graduate’s visa status, while others advised them to remain cautious and focus on staying employed.

One commented, “Clearly the company is taking advantage of your situation, but if you’re learning on the job, then I would recommend staying at the company until you get another offer. The title is just a title! That should not affect your future opportunities.”

Another wrote, “At the moment, it’s not how much you make but rather how to stay in status. Money will follow eventually. Six months is a drop in the ocean.”

Stuck in difficult situation and feeling like coming back by u/trufflecream in returnToIndia

A third user offered a broader view of the market, “It’s genuinely tough to hear news like that when you were hoping for more, but honestly, having a job and an extended internship in this market is something worth holding onto tightly. The job market right now is brutal across the board; even seasoned professionals with 20+ years of experience are going months without seeing interview calls, so everyone, regardless of background, is being extremely cautious. With your F1 status, the stakes are even higher, and the security of continued employment and OPT coverage is not something to take lightly.”

The same user further added, “The $3/hour bump and the title may sting, but you’re still gaining real skills (Azure, SQL) and a paycheck in a market where many MS grads are sitting idle. If moving back to India is genuinely on your mind, there’s nothing wrong with exploring that in parallel - but don’t romanticize it either, the job market there isn’t a walk in the park either, and restarting from scratch has its own challenges. The smartest move right now is to keep what you have, continue building your skills, quietly apply elsewhere, and treat this as a bridge rather than a destination - just don’t burn it before you’ve crossed it.”

The discussion underlines the pressure facing many Indian graduates in the US, where visa limits and a competitive job market leave little room for negotiation. For this techie, the choice now lies between staying on uncertain terms or returning home to begin again.

Disclaimer: The above incident has been reported based on an unverified Reddit post. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims.