Lead Scientist H-1B salaries — 92 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 10
- Filings · FY2025
- $117k
- Median base · FY2025
- $82k–$148k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- ST Jude Childrenís Research Hospital
- Top sponsor · 8 all-time
Lead Scientist: 92 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $117k across 10 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $82k and $148k. The biggest sponsors are ST Jude Childrenís Research Hospital, Kimberly-Clark USA, Fusion Energy Solutions; most filings are in Memphis, TN.
How much does a Lead Scientist make on an H-1B?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $117k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Lead Scientist sponsorship changed?
6 certified filings in FY2016 → 7 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 7 | −30% | $102k |
| FY2025 | 10 | 0% | $117k |
| FY2024 | 10 | +100% | $118k |
| FY2023 | 5 | +25% | $84k |
| FY2022 | 4 | −80% | $124k |
| FY2021 | 20 | +186% | $110k |
| FY2020 | 7 | −30% | $106k |
| FY2019 | 10 | +25% | $94k |
| FY2018 | 8 | +60% | $86k |
| FY2017 | 5 | −17% | $70k |
| FY2016 | 6 | — | $94k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Lead Scientists?
The employers with the most certified filings, all years, with their median base salary. Open any employer for its full profile.
| # | Employer | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ST Jude Childrenís Research Hospital | 8 | $125k |
| 2 | Kimberly-Clark USA | 5 | $70k |
| 3 | Fusion Energy Solutions | 5 | $97k |
| 4 | Sabic Innovative Plastics US | 5 | $124k |
| 5 | Nanonc | 4 | $70k |
| 6 | Sabic Americas | 4 | $129k |
| 7 | General Electric Company GE Global Research Center | 3 | $118k |
| 8 | Axosim | 3 | $83k |
| 9 | Catalent Pharma Solutions | 3 | $90k |
| 10 | Aspiring Universe | 3 | $156k |
Where are H-1B Lead Scientist jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | 8 | $125k |
| 2 | Sugar Land, TX | 5 | $136k |
| 3 | Champaign, IL | 5 | $156k |
| 4 | Tempe, AZ | 5 | $97k |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | 4 | $70k |
| 6 | Marlborough, MA | 3 | $110k |
| 7 | Durham, NC | 3 | $84k |
| 8 | New Orleans, LA | 3 | $83k |
| 9 | Roswell, GA | 3 | $70k |
| 10 | Morrisville, NC | 3 | $90k |
Common questions about Lead Scientist H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Lead Scientist?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Lead Scientist is $117k (FY2025), from 10 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $85k and $126k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Lead Scientists?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Lead Scientist are ST Jude Childrenís Research Hospital, Kimberly-Clark USA, Fusion Energy Solutions.
- Where are most H-1B Lead Scientist jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Lead Scientist roles are Memphis, TN, Sugar Land, TX, Champaign, IL.
- Does a certified LCA mean Lead Scientist H-1B visas were 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 does the fiscal year mean here?
- Years are U.S. government fiscal years, October to September: FY2025 runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This matches how the Department of Labor publishes the disclosure files. The most recent year may be partial until its final quarter is released.
Keep exploring
Calculate your H-1B lottery odds →orCheck out the insights →
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 →