Research and Development Scientist H-1B salaries — 50 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 8
- Filings · FY2025
- $92k
- Median base · FY2025
- $75k–$116k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Cambrex Charles City
- Top sponsor · 4 all-time
Research and Development Scientist: 50 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $92k across 8 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $75k and $116k. The biggest sponsors are Cambrex Charles City, Agilent Technologies, Nanoshell Research Institute; most filings are in Charles City, IA.
How much does a Research and Development 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. $92k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Research and Development Scientist sponsorship changed?
4 certified filings in FY2016 → 4 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 4 | −50% | $67k |
| FY2025 | 8 | +100% | $92k |
| FY2024 | 4 | −20% | $90k |
| FY2022 | 5 | +25% | $75k |
| FY2021 | 4 | −33% | $84k |
| FY2020 | 6 | +50% | $67k |
| FY2019 | 4 | +33% | $71k |
| FY2018 | 3 | −62% | $72k |
| FY2017 | 8 | +100% | $66k |
| FY2016 | 4 | — | $88k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Research and Development 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 | Cambrex Charles City | 4 | $67k |
| 2 | Agilent Technologies | 3 | $97k |
| 3 | Nanoshell Research Institute | 3 | $55k |
| 4 | Natural Polymer International | 3 | $47k |
| 5 | Fordoz Pharma | 2 | $51k |
| 6 | Soil Net | 2 | $85k |
| 7 | Nationwide Children S Hospital | 2 | $75k |
| 8 | Ardent Mills | 2 | $72k |
| 9 | Medical 21 | 2 | $100k |
| 10 | Pharmvista Gummy | 2 | $61k |
Where are H-1B Research and Development Scientist jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles City, IA | 4 | $67k |
| 2 | Santa Clara, CA | 3 | $97k |
| 3 | Plano, TX | 3 | $47k |
| 4 | East Hanover, NJ | 2 | $61k |
| 5 | East Windsor, NJ | 2 | $51k |
| 6 | Belleville, WI | 2 | $85k |
| 7 | Columbus, OH | 2 | $75k |
| 8 | Denver, CO | 2 | $72k |
| 9 | New York, NY | 2 | $60k |
| 10 | Plymouth, MN | 2 | $100k |
Common questions about Research and Development Scientist H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Research and Development Scientist?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Research and Development Scientist is $92k (FY2025), from 8 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $68k and $95k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Research and Development Scientists?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Research and Development Scientist are Cambrex Charles City, Agilent Technologies, Nanoshell Research Institute.
- Where are most H-1B Research and Development Scientist jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Research and Development Scientist roles are Charles City, IA, Santa Clara, CA, Plano, TX.
- Does a certified LCA mean Research and Development 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.
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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 →