Principal Scientist I H-1B salaries — 98 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 20
- Filings · FY2025
- $115k
- Median base · FY2025
- $105k–$126k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
- Top sponsor · 77 all-time
Principal Scientist I: 98 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $115k across 20 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $105k and $126k. The biggest sponsors are Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Schrodinger, Osram Sylvania; most filings are in Cambridge, MA.
How much does a Principal Scientist I 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. $115k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Principal Scientist I sponsorship changed?
2 certified filings in FY2016 → 14 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 14 | −30% | $113k |
| FY2025 | 20 | +11% | $115k |
| FY2024 | 18 | −5% | $114k |
| FY2023 | 19 | +171% | $109k |
| FY2022 | 7 | −12% | $110k |
| FY2021 | 8 | −11% | $128k |
| FY2020 | 9 | +800% | $83k |
| FY2017 | 1 | −50% | $105k |
| FY2016 | 2 | — | $98k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Principal Scientist Is?
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 | Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research | 77 | $111k |
| 2 | Schrodinger | 8 | $156k |
| 3 | Osram Sylvania | 2 | $98k |
| 4 | Novartis Pharmaceuticals | 2 | $83k |
| 5 | Altria Client Services | 2 | $129k |
| 6 | Meadowhawk Biolabs | 1 | $127k |
| 7 | Frontage Laboratories | 1 | $107k |
| 8 | Alcami Carolinas | 1 | $103k |
| 9 | Roche Molecular Systems | 1 | $113k |
| 10 | Charles River Laboratories | 1 | $114k |
Where are H-1B Principal Scientist I jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | 60 | $108k |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | 12 | $116k |
| 3 | New York, NY | 7 | $156k |
| 4 | Emeryville, CA | 6 | $112k |
| 5 | Exeter, NH | 3 | $98k |
| 6 | Marlborough, MA | 1 | $127k |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $140k |
| 8 | Glenwood, NY | 1 | $156k |
| 9 | Exton, PA | 1 | $107k |
| 10 | Durham, NC | 1 | $103k |
Common questions about Principal Scientist I H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Principal Scientist I?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Principal Scientist I is $115k (FY2025), from 20 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $96k and $127k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Principal Scientist Is?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Principal Scientist I are Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Schrodinger, Osram Sylvania.
- Where are most H-1B Principal Scientist I jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Principal Scientist I roles are Cambridge, MA, San Diego, CA, New York, NY.
- Does a certified LCA mean Principal Scientist I 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.
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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 →