Curricular Practical Training (CPT) lets F-1 students take paid work that’s “integral” to their major after one academic year (or sooner for grad programs that require immediate internships). CPT can be part-time (≤ 20 hrs/week) during semesters or full-time in summer, and—unlike OPT—doesn’t eat into your 12-month OPT clock unless you exceed 12 months at full-time.
2. Ten CPT-Friendly Jobs + Average U.S. Pay
| # | Role (Typical Major) | Avg. Hourly Pay* | Résumé Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data-Analyst Intern (CS, Business Analytics) | $32–$39 | “Turned 60 000 rows of sales data into Tableau dashboards used by C-suite.” Glassdoor |
| 2 | UX Tester / Research Assistant (HCI, Psych) | $28–$44 | “Ran 5 usability tests, cut checkout time 18 %.” ZipRecruiter |
| 3 | Social-Science Research Assistant (Econ, Pol-Sci) | $27 | “Cleaned survey data; co-authored conference poster.” Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| 4 | Teaching Assistant (TA) (Any STEM) | $22 | “Delivered weekly MATLAB labs to 40 freshmen.” Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| 5 | IT Help-Desk Associate (IT, IS) | $20–$25 | “Solved 25+ tickets/day; 95 % satisfaction.” |
| 6 | Library Digitalization Aide (Info-Sci, History) | $18 | “Scanned 10 000 archival pages, built searchable index.” |
| 7 | Campus Tour Guide / Student Ambassador (Comm, Marketing) | $17 | “Led 50 campus tours; boosted applications 4 %.” |
| 8 | Graphic-Design Assistant (Design, Media) | $19–$24 | “Designed event posters seen by 5 000 attendees.” |
| 9 | Lab Technician (Bio/Chem) | $23–$28 | “Calibrated HPLC; maintained 100 % sample integrity.” |
| 10 | Social-Media Coordinator (Marketing) | $18–$22 | “Grew TikTok followers from 2 k→15 k in 3 mo.” |
*Median or mid-range figures from Glassdoor, BLS and ZipRecruiter 2024-25 data.
3. On-Campus vs Off-Campus CPT
| Feature | On-Campus | Off-Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Approval speed | 3–5 business days (DSO only) | 2–4 weeks (DSO + academic dean) |
| Paperwork | CPT I-20 | CPT I-20 + employer letter |
| Work relevance | Broad (research, admin) | Must match major |
| SEVIS record | Updated in-house | Employer & job title logged |
4. How to Pitch a CPT Job—3-Line Email Template
Subject: CPT-Eligible Data Analyst Intern – Spring 2026
Hi [Manager],
I’m a master’s student in Business Analytics fluent in SQL & Tableau. I can legally work up to 20 hrs/week under Curricular Practical Training and have prior experience cleaning 1 M-row datasets. Could we discuss a part-time analyst role for the spring term?
— [Name], [University]
5. Common CPT Slip-Ups
- Working before I-20 start date → SEVIS violation.
- More than 20 hrs in week 10 when midterms end → still counts; cap hours.
- Changing employers without a new I-20 → each job needs fresh DSO approval.
6. Quick FAQ
Q: Does part-time CPT reduce my OPT?
No. Only > 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility.
Q: Can I freelance instead of taking payroll jobs?
Only if your school awards credit for freelance work and clients match your major—rare in practice.
Q: Do I need a new SSN for each CPT employer?
No. One SSN suffices; just file a W-4 at the new job.