Research Investigator H-1B salaries — 438 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 40
- Filings · FY2025
- $72k
- Median base · FY2025
- $70k–$77k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- University of Michigan
- Top sponsor · 278 all-time
Research Investigator: 438 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $72k across 40 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $70k and $77k. The biggest sponsors are University of Michigan, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Bristol- Myers Squibb; most filings are in Ann Arbor, MI.
How much does a Research Investigator 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. $72k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Research Investigator sponsorship changed?
25 certified filings in FY2016 → 44 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 44 | +10% | $74k |
| FY2025 | 40 | −15% | $72k |
| FY2024 | 47 | +27% | $71k |
| FY2023 | 37 | +3% | $66k |
| FY2022 | 36 | −20% | $64k |
| FY2021 | 45 | +10% | $68k |
| FY2020 | 41 | −29% | $64k |
| FY2019 | 58 | +71% | $63k |
| FY2018 | 34 | +10% | $60k |
| FY2017 | 31 | +24% | $58k |
| FY2016 | 25 | — | $78k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Research Investigators?
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 | University of Michigan | 278 | $65k |
| 2 | The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center | 44 | $58k |
| 3 | Bristol- Myers Squibb | 28 | $108k |
| 4 | E I DU Pont de Nemours And | 11 | $98k |
| 5 | Takeda Development Center Americas | 10 | $103k |
| 6 | Dupont Specialty Products USA | 8 | $116k |
| 7 | Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials | 7 | $122k |
| 8 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | 7 | $65k |
| 9 | The Population Council | 6 | $75k |
| 10 | Corteva Agriscience | 6 | $110k |
Where are H-1B Research Investigator jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor, MI | 275 | $65k |
| 2 | Houston, TX | 44 | $58k |
| 3 | Wilmington, DE | 14 | $103k |
| 4 | Princeton, NJ | 12 | $117k |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | 12 | $96k |
| 6 | New Brunswick, NJ | 11 | $108k |
| 7 | Marlborough, MA | 10 | $121k |
| 8 | New York, NY | 8 | $75k |
| 9 | Cold Spring Harbor, NY | 7 | $65k |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | 6 | $110k |
Common questions about Research Investigator H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Research Investigator?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Research Investigator is $72k (FY2025), from 40 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $60k and $83k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Research Investigators?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Research Investigator are University of Michigan, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Bristol- Myers Squibb.
- Where are most H-1B Research Investigator jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Research Investigator roles are Ann Arbor, MI, Houston, TX, Wilmington, DE.
- Does a certified LCA mean Research Investigator 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 →