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Research Scientist -80% 5-Year Decline

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Top Sponsor: Meta Platforms, Inc (44 filings)
Highest Pay: San Jose, CA ($348,500)
Official Federal Category: 15-1221.00 - Computer And Information Research Scientists
Market Demand i
C
FY 2026
2023 B
2024 B
2025 A
Certified Volume i
337
Approved in FY 2026
National Median Salary i
$86,000
Typical yearly pay
PERM Conversion i
2.70%
Transition to residency
Top Paying Market i
San Jose, CA
Median pay: $348,500
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Algorithmic Intelligence Brief

An automated market review of the Research Scientist role.

Consistent Corporate Growth: C

Employers are steadily onboarding Research Scientist candidates to support their operational pipelines. The 337 recent applications establish a reliable C H1B Index rating.

Internal Projects

97.6% of the approved visas are for direct company projects rather than outside staffing jobs.

Seniority Pay Bump

Getting more experience in this role brings a clear pay raise. Moving from an entry-level Research Scientist to a senior position leads to an average salary increase of roughly +211%.

Challenging Approval

Getting a visa approved for this specific job can be difficult. Only 80.4% of labor requests pass the federal checks.

Remote-Friendly Job

A significant volume of modern companies allow Research Scientist professionals to work from anywhere. We verified that 13.9% of these specific visa holders are permanently based in an entirely different state.

Role & Industry Structure

Federal classifications for this position.

Hours & Shifts: Official forms show that 94.1% of people in this job work full-time hours.

Business Categories: Companies in Educational Services provide 53.1% of these jobs. The Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services field provides another 20.5%.

Salary Range: The baseline salary for this career starts around $86,000. However, the growth scales up to $500,000.

Minimum Education: Companies in cities like San Jose, CA successfully process permanent residency using a Bachelor's degree for everyone.

10-Year Median Salary Trajectory

Comparing national base compensation growth for Research Scientists. temporary H-1B medians vs permanent Green Card (PERM).

Top Hiring Employers

Companies sponsoring the most visas for this role.
Company & Median Pay Total Approvals

Top Paying Tech Hubs

Cities ranked by the highest median salaries for this specific role.

National Salary Percentiles i

Distribution of pay across all federal filings.

O*NET Wage Level Economics

Salary breakdown scaled by federal experience classifications.

O*NET Wage Distribution

💡 Click on colored labels to filter.

Wage Levels Breakdown

Experience LevelLCA VolumeMedian Salary
Entry Level (Level I)105$72,000
Qualified (Level II)109$85,000
Experienced (Level III)52$105,550
Fully Competent (Level IV)46$223,995

Acquisition & Geographic Distribution

Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring locations for Research Scientists.

Talent Pipeline

Fresh Hires (67.5%)Transfers/Poached (32.5%)

Green Card (PERM) Conversion i

2.70% of active filings transition to residency.

Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines

Top Sponsoring Employers

A detailed ledger of the companies hiring Research Scientists.
Sponsoring EmployerLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian SalaryMinimum Salary
Meta Platforms, Inc44$302,134$230,702$178,465
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology21$121,430$85,488$74,550
Lawrence Livermore National Security, Llc15$205,938$180,586$156,000
Ut Southwestern Medical Center13$83,000$70,000$62,000
Nvidia Corporation10$356,500$164,403$127,712
Google Llc10$299,998$232,499$190,000
The University Of Virginia10$100,506$69,300$64,000
The Ohio State University9$120,000$95,000$65,948
The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center8$86,000$82,006$67,500
General Hospital Corporation7$152,000$72,000$71,406
University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio7$70,000$65,000$56,100
University Of Texas Medical Branch6$74,500$70,034$68,000
Purdue University6$232,300$100,672$80,000
University Of Illinois6$86,700$85,254$72,010
Administrators Of The Tulane Educational Fund5$84,000$65,000$56,300
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston5$72,010$65,925$64,633
Trustees Of Boston University5$100,000$82,656$63,852
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University5$114,704$100,000$84,800
University Of Pittsburgh5$67,475$59,487$55,000
Nyu Grossman School Of Medicine5$108,652$74,714$74,200
The Research Institute At Nationwide Children'S Hospital4$90,000$80,000$77,000
University Of Oklahoma3$106,756$87,362$76,875
Salesforce, Inc.3$225,077$201,094$164,403
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center3$260,000$71,094$71,094
Case Western Reserve University3$72,006$71,656$55,000
Northeastern University3$102,800$80,000$75,691
Van Andel Research Institute3$80,000$73,500$73,500
Yahoo Holdings Inc.2$201,094$201,094$201,094
University Of Massachusetts Lowell2$86,195$79,323$72,450
Uchicago Argonne, Llc2$190,258$99,992$90,063
The University Of Texas At Arlington2$80,000$74,100$68,200
Xalt Energy Mi, Llc2$105,000$105,000$105,000
Lieber Institute Inc.2$98,426$98,426$98,426
North Dakota State University2$63,000$56,426$53,851
Howard Hughes Medical Institute2$63,856$63,856$63,856
Duke University2$75,254$74,476$73,698
Florida International University2$87,006$74,963$65,000
Ibm Corporation2$247,873$243,163$238,453
Harvard University2$146,754$122,830$98,906
The University Of Chicago2$85,000$82,280$79,560
University Of Chicago2$84,048$84,048$84,048
Virginia Commonwealth University2$70,202$66,156$62,109
Cleveland Clinic Foundation2$115,509$88,870$62,232
Brigham And Women'S Hospital2$120,000$73,203$71,406
California Institute Of Technology2$120,000$103,408$86,816
New York University2$85,000$78,640$72,280
Kelly Services, Inc.2$117,104$117,104$117,104
Johns Hopkins University2$86,275$86,275$86,275
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital2$130,000$75,000$75,000
The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York2$72,000$71,000$70,000
The University Of Alabama At Birmingham2$76,500$73,500$70,500
Research Foundation For The State University Of New York2$79,997$76,998$74,000
Resilitix Intelligence Llc2$93,600$89,981$89,981
Rush University Medical Center2$61,817$60,912$60,006
Pittsburg State University2$71,400$71,400$71,400

Top Worksite Cities

A granular breakdown of compensation across different US geographic markets.
Worksite CityStateLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian Salary
CambridgeMA23$299,998$82,800
New YorkNY20$302,134$180,232
HoustonTX17$93,600$80,000
BostonMA16$140,000$74,702
LivermoreCA15$205,938$180,586
Menlo ParkCA14$302,134$228,800
DallasTX13$83,000$70,000
ColumbusOH12$120,000$90,037
CharlottesvilleVA10$100,506$69,300
BellevueWA8$260,000$218,808
Santa ClaraCA8$356,500$164,403
SunnyvaleCA8$272,459$245,262
Mountain ViewCA8$500,000$215,000
San AntonioTX8$70,000$65,000
ChicagoIL7$163,280$84,048
PittsburghPA7$356,491$61,800
GalvestonTX6$74,500$70,034
West LafayetteIN6$232,300$100,672
New OrleansLA5$84,000$65,000
ClevelandOH5$115,509$71,656
BaltimoreMD4$98,426$92,350
RedmondWA4$299,000$232,390
Grand RapidsMI3$80,000$73,500
Palo AltoCA3$225,077$201,094
NormanOK3$106,756$87,362
San JoseCA3$500,000$348,500
UrbanaIL3$86,700$85,987
SeattleWA3$255,617$240,000
ArlingtonTX2$80,000$74,100
DurhamNC2$75,254$74,476
BurlingameCA2$258,524$258,524
ChampaignIL2$85,509$85,254
BoulderCO2$89,100$86,950
BlacksburgVA2$100,000$97,500
FargoND2$63,000$56,426
AshburnVA2$63,856$63,856
Auburn HillsMI2$105,000$105,000
AustinTX2$180,000$121,200
BirminghamAL2$76,500$73,500
BuffaloNY2$72,000$71,000
Redwood CityCA2$201,094$201,094
WashingtonDC2$117,104$108,552
RichmondVA2$70,202$66,156
Stony BrookNY2$79,997$76,998
TempeAZ2$120,000$95,000
LowellMA2$86,195$79,323
MiamiFL2$87,006$74,963
PasadenaCA2$120,000$103,408
PittsburgKS2$71,400$71,400
LemontIL2$190,258$99,992
BrookvilleNY1$52,915$52,915
AlbanyNY1$80,000$80,000
AltonVA1$114,704$114,704
Fort CollinsCO1$96,400$96,400
FlagstaffAZ1$79,950$79,950

Historical Compensation Averages

Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.
Fiscal YearMaximumMedianAverageMinimum
2026$500,000$82,479$110,505$38
2025$692,000$111,000$133,799$26
2024$692,000$100,000$124,293$25
2023$337,120$94,500$116,456$23
2022$345,800$93,585$111,349$26
2021$280,000$85,323$103,613$23
2020$320,000$88,117$103,488$21
2019$280,000$80,000$92,261$23
2018$900,000$77,250$89,630$23
2017$250,000$70,600$79,348$16
2016$250,000$71,000$77,975$18

Live LCA Filing Ledger (FY 2026)

Raw, unedited federal disclosures showing individual labor applications filed.
Decision DateEmployerLocationBase PayWage LevelStatus
Dec 31, 2025University Of Texas Health Science Center At San AntonioSan Antonio, TX$58,240Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 31, 2025Ut Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX$62,000Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 30, 2025The Methodist Hospital Research InstituteHouston, TX$92,000Level ICertified
Dec 30, 2025Lawrence Livermore National Security, LlcLivermore, CA$162,000Level IIICertified
Dec 30, 2025Intel CorporationSanta Clara, CA$201,094Level IIICertified
Dec 30, 2025Nvidia CorporationSanta Clara, CA$226,933N/ACertified
Dec 30, 2025University Of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH$112,000Level ICertified
Dec 30, 2025General Hospital CorporationSomerville, MA$76,500Level ICertified
Dec 30, 2025Texas A&M Agrilife ResearchCollege Station, TX$80,974Level IICertified
Dec 30, 2025Meta Platforms, IncSunnyvale, CA$214,032Level IICertified
Dec 29, 2025Alljoined, Inc.San Francisco, CA$155,000Level IICertified
Dec 29, 2025Meta Platforms, IncBellevue, WA$215,356N/ACertified
Dec 29, 2025Administrators Of The Tulane Educational FundNew Orleans, LA$64,335Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025The University Of Texas At ArlingtonArlington, TX$68,200Level ICertified
Dec 26, 2025Meta Platforms, IncSunnyvale, CA$258,524Level IVCertified
Dec 26, 2025Nvidia CorporationSanta Clara, CA$127,712Level ICertified
Dec 26, 2025University Of Texas Health Science Center At San AntonioSan Antonio, TX$65,000Level IICertified
Dec 26, 2025Rush University Medical CenterChicago, IL$60,006Level ICertified
Dec 24, 2025W.M. Rice UniversityHouston, TX$75,000Level IICertified
Dec 24, 2025California Institute Of TechnologyPasadena, CA$120,000Level IVCertified
Dec 24, 2025University Of Texas Health Science Center At San AntonioSan Antonio, TX$65,000Level IICertified
Dec 24, 2025Trustees Of Boston UniversityBoston, MA$69,660Level ICertified
Dec 23, 2025Zkbricks IncEmeryville, CA$140,000Level IICertified
Dec 23, 2025Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State UniversityBlacksburg, VA$95,000Level IIICertified
Dec 23, 2025The University Of ChicagoChicago, IL$85,000Level ICertified
Dec 23, 2025Meta Platforms, IncBellevue, WA$211,654N/ACertified
Dec 22, 2025University Of Colorado Denver / AnschutzAurora, CO$66,789Level IIICertified
Dec 22, 2025The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH$95,000Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 22, 2025The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX$86,000Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 22, 2025Meta Platforms, IncRedmond, WA$211,654Level IVCertified
Dec 22, 2025Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyCambridge, MA$75,190Level ICertified
Dec 22, 2025Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyCambridge, MA$74,550Level ICertified
Dec 22, 2025Brigham And Women'S HospitalBoston, MA$71,406Level ICertified
Dec 22, 2025The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX$82,012Level ICertified
Dec 19, 2025Meta Platforms, IncNew York, NY$184,187N/ACertified
Dec 19, 2025Bytedance Inc.San Jose, CA$500,000Level IIICertified
Dec 18, 2025General Hospital CorporationBoston, MA$71,406Level ICertified
Dec 18, 2025Nvidia CorporationRedmond, WA$214,178Level IIICertified
Dec 18, 2025University Of OklahomaNorman, OK$76,875Level IICertified
Dec 18, 2025Meta Platforms, IncBellevue, WA$250,603Level IVCertified
Dec 18, 2025The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX$80,000N/ACertified
Dec 18, 2025The University Of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA$65,000Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 18, 2025The University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX$67,500N/ACertified - Withdrawn
Dec 18, 2025Massachusetts Eye And Ear InfirmaryBoston, MA$72,426Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025General Hospital CorporationBoston, MA$74,403Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyCambridge, MA$100,002Level IVCertified
Dec 17, 2025Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN$102,205Level IIICertified
Dec 17, 2025Meta Platforms, IncNew York, NY$229,501Level IVCertified
Dec 17, 2025Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN$102,205Level IIICertified
Dec 17, 2025Meta Platforms, IncSunnyvale, CA$214,032Level IVCertified
Dec 17, 2025The University Of Texas Health Science Center At HoustonHouston, TX$68,000N/ACertified
Dec 17, 2025North Dakota State UniversityFargo, ND$59,000Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH$100,000Level IVCertified
Dec 17, 2025General Hospital CorporationBoston, MA$72,000Level ICertified
Dec 16, 2025Ut-Battelle, Llc (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)Oak Ridge, TN$126,456Level IICertified - Withdrawn

Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)

Common questions and insights about the Research Scientist role.

What are the Green Card chances for Research Scientist candidates?
Yes, organizations generated 9 recent Green Card sponsorships for this field, processing these workers as long-term staff.

What is the typical base pay for Research Scientist candidates?
The national median salary for Research Scientist professionals is $86,000. Entry-level positions typically start around $72,000.

Where do Research Scientist candidates make the most money?
The top location for this profession is San Jose, CA, posting a median prevailing wage of $348,500.

Which company sponsors the most H-1B visas for Research Scientist roles?
Currently, Meta Platforms, Inc holds the top spot for hiring in this category, generating 44 approved LCAs.