Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy — 119 certified H-1B filings (FY2016–FY2026)

9
Filings · FY2025
$114k
Median base · FY2025
Assistant Scientist
Top role · 11 all-time
HI
Top state · 73 all-time
FY

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy filed 9 certified H-1B LCAs in FY2025 (up 29% from the year before), with a median base salary of $114k and the middle 50% of offers between $99k and $122k. That is 15% above the market median for the same job titles. Across all years it has 119 certified filings since FY2016, most often for Assistant Scientist in Hawaii.

How much does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy pay H-1B workers?

Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $114k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.

$0$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

How has Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's H-1B hiring changed by year?

15 certified filings in FY2016 → 2 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy certified H-1B filings and base salary by fiscal year
Fiscal yearFilingsvs prior FYMedian base
FY20262−78%$66k
FY20259+29%$114k
FY20247−12%$100k
FY20238−33%$79k
FY202212+33%$100k
FY20219−18%$100k
FY202011−27%$80k
FY201915−21%$97k
FY201819+58%$110k
FY201712−20%$82k
FY201615—$86k

Which wage levels does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy file?

DOL prevailing-wage levels I–IV approximate experience tiers (I = entry, IV = fully competent). 37% of Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's filings sit at Level III–IV. A heavy I–II skew reads as entry-level or contractor-style hiring; a heavy IV skew as senior in-house roles — and higher levels earn more lottery entries.

Share of 102 filings with a wage level · all years

34%
28%
24%
14%
  • Level I34.3%35
  • Level II28.4%29
  • Level III23.5%24
  • Level IV13.7%14

What jobs does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy sponsor for H-1B?

The most-filed job titles across all years (DOL titles, employer pay-grade codes stripped), with base-salary percentiles.

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy most-sponsored H-1B job titles with base-salary percentiles
Job titleFilingsMedian base
Assistant Scientist11$86k
Associate Scientist8$90k
Assistant Science Operations Specialist6$58k
Assistant Astronomer4$100k
Associate Science Operations Specialist4$73k
Project Manager3$100k
Sr. Software Engineer3$102k
Queue Observer3$61k
Administrative Specialist2$39k
Optical Integration Engineer2$120k

Where does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy hire H-1B workers?

Worksite states on the certified filings, all years. Deeper pink = more filings; hover a state for its figures.

173Certified filings (log scale)
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy H-1B worksite states
StateFilingsMedian base
HI73$90k
AZ35$103k
CO9$100k
MD1$118k
NM1$55k

What has Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy filed recently?

The 50 most recent of 119 certified LCAs: job title, worksite, prevailing-wage level and the offered base salary.

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy recent certified H-1B LCA filings
FYJob titleBase salary
2026Associate Science Operations Specialist$78,000
2026Queue Observer$66,188
2025Adaptive Optics (Ao) Associate Scientist$99,322
2025Assistant Astronomer$109,489
2025Instrument Operations Manager$164,263
2025Mechanical Design Engineer$99,450
2025Associate Science Operations Specialist$79,061
2025Instrumentation Program Scientist$114,174
2025Project Manager$122,423
2025Head of Communications, Education, & Engagement$208,081
2025Software Engineer III$118,403
2024Queue Observer$59,000
2024Assistant Astronomer$100,000
2024Adaptive Optics Assistant Scientist$125,000
2024Associate Scientist$96,390
2024Science Operations Manager$174,000
2024Associate in Research (Science Operations Specialist)$90,000
2024Head of Portfolio Management Office (Pmo)$163,894
2023Assistant Scientist$116,688
2023Science Fellow$70,000
2023Queue Observer$60,858
2023Assistant Science Operation Specialist$61,000
2023Associate Scientist$91,249
2023Astronomer, Assistant$78,989
2023Software Engineer II$86,400
2023Assistant Scientist$89,603
2022Sr. Instrument Systems Engineer$143,000
2022Assistant Astronomer$100,000
2022Instrument Program Manager$100,000
2022Assistant Science Operations Specialist$64,000
2022Adaptive Optics (Ao) Scitentist$95,000
2022Associate in Research / Science Operations Specialist$91,225
2022Instrumentation Program Scientist$113,752
2022Senior Engineer Manager$132,011
2022Associate Science Operations Specialist$72,592
2022Head of Communications, Education, & Engagement$195,123
2022Project Manager$99,744
2022Systems Verification Engineer$75,000
2021Associate Scientist$90,000
2021Assistant Science Operations Specialist$58,000
2021Science Fellow$70,649
2021Web Designer$100,000
2021Head of Portfolio Management Office (Pmo)$133,900
2021Senior Software Engineer$101,420
2021Dm Configuration/Release Engineer$120,819
2021Dkist Chief Science Operations Specialist$149,350
2021Instrument Support Scientist (Assistant Scientist)$95,000
2020Scheduler Scientist$106,605
2020Principal Mechanical Engineer$147,000
2020Astronomer, Assistant$78,989

See all 119 filings →

Common questions about Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's H-1B filings

How much does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy pay H-1B workers?
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's median certified H-1B base salary is $114k (FY2025), from 9 filings. See the full salary distribution and percentiles above.
How many H-1B workers does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy sponsor?
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy has 119 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications on record (FY2016–FY2026).
What jobs does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy sponsor for H-1B?
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's most-sponsored H-1B roles include Assistant Scientist, Associate Scientist, Assistant Science Operations Specialist, Assistant Astronomer.
Where does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy hire H-1B workers?
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy's top H-1B worksite states are HI, AZ, CO, MD.
Does a certified LCA mean an H-1B visa was approved?
No. A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is the Department of Labor attestation an employer must have certified before filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. It records the job, worksite and offered wage, but not whether the petition was filed, selected in the lottery, or approved. Filing counts measure intent to sponsor, not headcount.
What salary do these figures show?
The base annual wage offered on the certified LCA, converted to a yearly amount. Bonus, equity, overtime and benefits are not included, so total compensation is typically higher. Figures are medians and percentiles over certified filings; wages above $5,000,000 a year are excluded as data-entry errors.
What do prevailing-wage levels I–IV mean?
The Department of Labor assigns each LCA an OES wage level from I (entry) to IV (fully competent) for the occupation and area. Under the FY2027 wage-weighted H-1B lottery rule, a higher level earns more selection entries, so an employer's level mix is a proxy for how senior its sponsored roles are.

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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — certified LCA disclosure data through June 2026 (FY2016–FY2026). An LCA is not an approved visa; pay figures are base salary and exclude bonus and equity. Methodology →