Research Scientist/Engineer H-1B salaries — 184 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 35
- Filings · FY2025
- $195k
- Median base · FY2025
- $195k–$212k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Adobe
- Top sponsor · 144 all-time
Research Scientist/Engineer: 184 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $195k across 35 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $195k and $212k. The biggest sponsors are Adobe, Apple, Science and Technology; most filings are in San Jose, CA.
How much does a Research Scientist/Engineer 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. $195k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Research Scientist/Engineer sponsorship changed?
1 certified filings in FY2016 → 42 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 42 | +20% | $175k |
| FY2025 | 35 | −31% | $195k |
| FY2024 | 51 | +920% | $200k |
| FY2023 | 5 | −62% | $210k |
| FY2022 | 13 | −28% | $145k |
| FY2021 | 18 | +125% | $150k |
| FY2020 | 8 | +14% | $127k |
| FY2019 | 7 | +250% | $103k |
| FY2018 | 2 | 0% | $128k |
| FY2017 | 2 | +100% | $82k |
| FY2016 | 1 | — | $125k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Research Scientist/Engineers?
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 | Adobe | 144 | $195k |
| 2 | Apple | 16 | $150k |
| 3 | Science and Technology | 12 | $122k |
| 4 | Servicenow | 3 | $129k |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University | 2 | $91k |
| 6 | Kryptowire | 1 | $141k |
| 7 | Alcatel-lucent Usa Inc Dba Nokia | 1 | $125k |
| 8 | Alcatel-lucent Usa | 1 | $125k |
| 9 | Netflix | 1 | $261k |
| 10 | Intuitive Surgical Operations | 1 | $110k |
Where are H-1B Research Scientist/Engineer jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | 106 | $195k |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | 17 | $175k |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 16 | $175k |
| 4 | Cupertino, CA | 12 | $145k |
| 5 | Mountain View, CA | 9 | $111k |
| 6 | Santa Clara, CA | 3 | $129k |
| 7 | Moffett Field, CA | 3 | $123k |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | 2 | $91k |
| 9 | Culver City, CA | 2 | $143k |
| 10 | Sunnyvale, CA | 2 | $185k |
Common questions about Research Scientist/Engineer H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Research Scientist/Engineer?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Research Scientist/Engineer is $195k (FY2025), from 35 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $153k and $202k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Research Scientist/Engineers?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Research Scientist/Engineer are Adobe, Apple, Science and Technology.
- Where are most H-1B Research Scientist/Engineer jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Research Scientist/Engineer roles are San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA.
- Does a certified LCA mean Research Scientist/Engineer 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 →