Research Specialist II H-1B salaries — 123 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 18
- Filings · FY2025
- $60k
- Median base · FY2025
- $50k–$94k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- The Trustees of Princeton University
- Top sponsor · 48 all-time
Research Specialist II: 123 certified H-1B LCAs since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $60k across 18 filings, with the middle 50% of offers between $50k and $94k. The biggest sponsors are The Trustees of Princeton University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Curators of the University of Missouri; most filings are in Princeton, NJ.
How much does a Research Specialist II 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. $60k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has Research Specialist II sponsorship changed?
9 certified filings in FY2016 → 12 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 12 | −33% | $72k |
| FY2025 | 18 | +29% | $60k |
| FY2024 | 14 | +17% | $54k |
| FY2023 | 12 | +50% | $50k |
| FY2022 | 8 | −43% | $52k |
| FY2021 | 14 | 0% | $55k |
| FY2020 | 14 | +56% | $55k |
| FY2019 | 9 | +13% | $53k |
| FY2018 | 8 | +60% | $57k |
| FY2017 | 5 | −44% | $50k |
| FY2016 | 9 | — | $45k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B Research Specialist IIs?
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 | The Trustees of Princeton University | 48 | $48k |
| 2 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 22 | $90k |
| 3 | The Curators of the University of Missouri | 11 | $46k |
| 4 | Florida International University | 9 | $84k |
| 5 | Brandeis University | 5 | $65k |
| 6 | Medical University of South Carolina | 5 | $58k |
| 7 | Texas a M University | 3 | $55k |
| 8 | Clemson University | 3 | $54k |
| 9 | Loyola University Chicago | 2 | $45k |
| 10 | Childrens Hospital Los Angeles | 2 | $50k |
Where are H-1B Research Specialist II jobs located?
Worksite cities with the most certified filings for this title, all years.
| # | City | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton, NJ | 48 | $48k |
| 2 | Columbia, MO | 11 | $46k |
| 3 | Miami, FL | 9 | $84k |
| 4 | Charleston, SC | 6 | $45k |
| 5 | New York, NY | 5 | $105k |
| 6 | Waltham, MA | 5 | $65k |
| 7 | College Station, TX | 5 | $56k |
| 8 | Stanford, CA | 4 | $76k |
| 9 | Boston, MA | 3 | $90k |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | 2 | $89k |
Common questions about Research Specialist II H-1B salaries
- What is the median H-1B salary for a Research Specialist II?
- The median certified H-1B base salary for Research Specialist II is $60k (FY2025), from 18 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $47k and $72k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B Research Specialist IIs?
- The top H-1B sponsors for Research Specialist II are The Trustees of Princeton University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Curators of the University of Missouri.
- Where are most H-1B Research Specialist II jobs located?
- The top worksite locations for H-1B Research Specialist II roles are Princeton, NJ, Columbia, MO, Miami, FL.
- Does a certified LCA mean Research Specialist II 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 →