Hiring in the U.S.: The Employer Guide for Italian Companies
Everything you need to build a U.S. team: the labor market, entry models, recruitment, compensation and benefits, visas for Italian staff, employment law, payroll, management culture and exits.
Key questions before your first U.S. hire
Which strategy?
Sales office, service hub, production or full subsidiary: the strategy drives profiles, location and structure.
Read the guideWhich structure?
EOR, PEO or your own entity: timing, cost and tax risk differ greatly.
Read the guideWhich first leader?
Your first U.S. leader makes the difference: define profile, pay and autonomy before the search.
Read the guideEverything to build and run your U.S. team
Each topic has its own page with in-depth explanations and step-by-step guides.
The U.S. talent market
Why Italian companies are building U.S. teams now, and what the market looks like for skilled talent.
Read the guideSetting up to hire
Entity, registrations, payroll models and the risks of hiring before you are ready.
Read the guideRecruiting in the U.S.
Hiring models, the recruitment process, and the legal rules that apply before day one.
Read the guideCompensation & benefits design
How to build competitive U.S. offers and what U.S. candidates expect.
Read the guideBringing Italian staff to the U.S.
Visas and transfers for Italian managers, specialists and founders.
Read the guideU.S. employment law essentials
The rules that most often surprise Italian employers.
Read the guidePayroll & employer taxes
What a U.S. employee really costs, and how payroll works.
Read the guideLeading Americans from Italy
Management, communication and retention across two business cultures.
Read the guideTerminations & exits
How to end employment lawfully and with minimal risk.
Read the guideState-by-state guide
Minimum wages, taxes, leave and key rules compared across 14 key states.
Read the guideBenefits & health insurance
Health plans, 401(k), ACA duties and what a competitive package costs.
Read the guideItaly–U.S. tax, treaty & secondments
Permanent establishment, social security, secondments and tax residency.
Read the guideGlossary & checklists
98 U.S. HR terms explained, plus the essential practical checklists.
Read the guidePractical guides
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hire a U.S. manager?
For a senior role through retained search, typically 4+ weeks from briefing to signed offer, plus the candidate's notice (usually 2 weeks in the U.S.).
Can we hire in the U.S. without a U.S. entity?
Yes, through an Employer of Record (EOR) that legally employs staff on your behalf. It's the fastest route for the first hires, but review permanent establishment risk with an adviser.
How much does a U.S. employee cost beyond salary?
As a rule of thumb, the fully loaded cost is 1.25 to 1.4 times base salary, including payroll taxes, health insurance, 401(k), insurance and payroll costs.
Can we send an Italian manager to the U.S.?
Yes, usually on an E-2 visa (if the U.S. company is at least 50% Italian-owned) or an L-1 (after at least a year with the group). Allow preparation time and use an immigration attorney.
Do Italian employment contracts apply in the U.S.?
No. U.S. employers use short at-will offer letters and an employee handbook. Executives may negotiate an employment agreement.
What does Cygic do for us?
We define profile, pay and location with you, run the search in the U.S., plan the timing, connect you with trusted immigration attorneys for visas and support onboarding and retention.
Let's build your U.S. team together
Cygic Recruitment hires managers and professionals across the United States for Italian and international companies: from market-entry strategy to search, onboarding and retention.
Information reviewed October 2026. General information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change frequently and vary by state; consult qualified professionals.