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Research Associate -86% 5-Year Decline

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Top Sponsor: Northwestern University (22 filings)
Highest Pay: Chestnut Hill, MA ($112,000)
Official Federal Category: 19-1042.00 - Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Market Demand i
C
FY 2026
2023 B
2024 B
2025 B
Certified Volume i
258
Approved in FY 2026
National Median Salary i
$71,512
Typical yearly pay
PERM Conversion i
2.70%
Transition to residency
Top Paying Market i
Chestnut Hill, MA
Median pay: $112,000
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Algorithmic Intelligence Brief

An automated market review of the Research Associate role.

Reliable Industry Demand: C

The demand for Research Associate professionals continues to show good industry demand. Grounded in 258 recent labor filings, this career achieves a stable C grade on our H1B Index.

Low Client Focus

If you want to avoid outside contract work, this is a great choice. 99.2% of these jobs are direct company roles.

Experienced Salary Growth

Workers who stay in this career path see strong salary growth over time. Reaching the senior expert level usually boosts the starting pay by about +42%.

Strict Visa Reviews

Work visas for these workers face frequent pushback. With a success rate of 71.3%, expect strict government reviews on your paperwork.

Distributed Work Options

Geographic flexibility is an underlying perk of this profession. 5.0% of people functioning in this exact role successfully sustain remote setups across separate state lines.

Role & Industry Structure

Federal classifications for this position.

Job Status: Companies mostly use full-time contracts, structuring 95.3% of these jobs around a standard work week.

Primary Sectors: Most of these jobs are in the Educational Services industry (83.3%), while Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services accounts for 11.6%.

Wage Insights: Most professionals across the country earn around $71,512, while the absolute maximum reported pay reaches $200,000.

Minimum Education: Companies in cities like Chestnut Hill, MA successfully process permanent residency using a Bachelor's degree for everyone.

10-Year Median Salary Trajectory

Comparing national base compensation growth for Research Associates. 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)138$67,626
Qualified (Level II)68$75,624
Experienced (Level III)26$81,683
Fully Competent (Level IV)9$95,931

Acquisition & Geographic Distribution

Talent pipeline metrics and top hiring locations for Research Associates.

Talent Pipeline

Fresh Hires (83.3%)Transfers/Poached (16.7%)

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 Associates.
Sponsoring EmployerLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian SalaryMinimum Salary
Northwestern University22$89,898$72,147$56,484
Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania21$101,046$76,000$66,000
Harvard University12$104,104$82,834$54,200
The University Of Virginia11$76,400$63,500$56,500
Michigan State University10$75,000$62,700$51,000
The University Of Texas At Austin10$150,575$79,500$64,481
Weill Cornell Medical College8$95,749$77,357$65,749
Johns Hopkins University7$79,188$68,000$65,000
Mayo Clinic7$99,769$91,204$77,961
Cornell University6$124,610$69,740$62,000
Oregon State University5$70,896$66,667$55,848
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill5$77,854$69,000$64,375
University Of Maryland Baltimore5$135,000$81,510$78,409
Fermi Forward Discovery Group, Llc4$112,800$71,916$66,700
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center4$90,000$80,000$80,000
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University4$80,000$64,026$52,000
University Of Utah4$92,458$85,550$80,549
Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/Slac National Accelerator Lab4$102,293$80,000$79,914
The University Of Texas At Dallas4$70,000$60,548$55,619
Indiana University4$69,731$58,661$54,517
Brookhaven National Laboratory4$89,250$86,616$77,250
The University Of Southern California3$95,000$53,269$50,149
Boston College3$112,000$112,000$110,062
Baruch S. Blumberg Institute3$60,000$53,000$53,000
University Of Pittsburgh3$65,000$65,000$59,056
Texas A&M University3$50,802$50,352$46,296
University Of Oregon3$89,332$89,332$78,438
Case Western Reserve University2$67,626$60,813$54,000
Fermi Research Alliance, Llc2$107,307$65,000$65,000
Beckman Research Institute Of The City Of Hope2$76,410$76,227$76,045
University Of Colorado Denver / Anschutz2$65,000$62,462$62,462
Ut Southwestern Medical Center2$66,000$57,341$48,682
Van Andel Research Institute2$65,933$61,966$58,000
University Of South Florida2$80,000$77,500$75,000
University Of Cincinnati2$77,126$68,433$59,740
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute2$63,000$62,400$61,800
Wayne State University2$64,667$64,334$64,000
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station2$51,792$51,792$51,792
The Children'S Hospital Of Philadelphia2$101,379$70,023$65,374
Nyu Grossman School Of Medicine2$65,749$64,302$62,855
Purdue University2$82,217$77,931$73,646
North Carolina State University2$62,115$62,058$62,000
Chapman University1$78,125$78,125$78,125
Jefferies Llc1$170,000$140,000$140,000
Institute For Women'S Policy Research1$87,000$70,000$70,000
Institute For China-America Studies1$60,000$60,000$60,000
Florida Institute For Human And Machine Cognition1$59,536$59,535$59,535
Georgetown University1$61,918$61,918$61,918
College Of Menominee Nation1$68,661$68,661$68,661
Duquesne University1$83,200$83,200$83,200
Dupage Medical Technology, Inc.1$117,998$117,998$117,998
Clemson University1$95,951$95,951$95,951
Drexel University1$66,581$66,581$66,581
Aqr Capital Management, Llc1$200,000$200,000$200,000
Albany Medical College1$70,503$70,503$70,503

Top Worksite Cities

A granular breakdown of compensation across different US geographic markets.
Worksite CityStateLCA CountMaximum SalaryMedian Salary
PhiladelphiaPA24$101,379$75,356
New YorkNY20$185,000$80,000
EvanstonIL12$83,366$71,466
BaltimoreMD12$135,000$74,928
CharlottesvilleVA11$76,400$63,500
ChicagoIL11$117,998$72,761
East LansingMI10$75,000$62,700
AustinTX9$150,575$80,000
BataviaIL7$112,800$66,706
CambridgeMA6$97,812$72,659
BostonMA6$103,000$93,180
Chapel HillNC5$77,854$69,000
IthacaNY5$124,610$69,740
CorvallisOR4$70,896$66,670
PittsburghPA4$83,200$65,000
Menlo ParkCA4$102,293$80,000
BloomingtonIN4$69,731$58,661
BlacksburgVA4$80,000$64,026
UptonNY4$89,250$86,616
RichardsonTX4$70,000$60,548
Salt Lake CityUT4$92,458$85,550
Los AngelesCA3$95,000$53,269
AuroraCO3$75,000$58,000
Chestnut HillMA3$112,000$112,000
WashingtonDC3$102,622$70,000
RochesterMN3$95,931$91,204
DoylestownPA3$60,000$53,000
Grand RapidsMI2$65,933$61,966
DetroitMI2$64,667$64,334
ClevelandOH2$67,626$60,813
JacksonvilleFL2$91,204$84,582
GainesvilleFL2$89,332$89,332
TroyNY2$63,000$62,400
West LafayetteIN2$82,217$77,931
TampaFL2$80,000$77,500
RaleighNC2$62,115$62,058
DuarteCA2$76,410$76,227
DallasTX2$66,000$57,341
HoustonTX2$76,249$63,526
ClemsonSC1$95,951$95,951
CincinnatiOH1$59,740$59,740
BurlingtonVT1$70,000$70,000
BoulderCO1$90,476$90,476
AlbanyNY1$70,503$70,503
AugustaGA1$42,765$42,765
ColumbiaSC1$60,000$60,000
College StationTX1$50,352$50,352
FreemontCA1$51,792$51,792
FremontCA1$51,792$51,792
GalvestonTX1$40,503$40,503
District Of ColumbiaDC1$60,000$60,000
EugeneOR1$78,438$78,438
ColumbusOH1$50,732$50,732
LubbockTX1$82,888$82,888
LouisvilleKY1$61,008$61,008

Historical Compensation Averages

Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.
Fiscal YearMaximumMedianAverageMinimum
2026$200,000$70,503$71,800$24
2025$185,000$70,000$70,416$17
2024$215,000$67,218$68,537$17
2023$485,000$65,000$65,464$15
2022$680,000$62,500$63,279$18
2021$180,000$60,000$60,589$15
2020$170,100$58,633$59,080$16
2019$425,000$55,868$58,290$15
2018$519,581$54,142$57,672$15
2017$475,000$51,834$54,369$11
2016$425,000$50,000$52,738$13

Live LCA Filing Ledger (FY 2026)

Raw, unedited federal disclosures showing individual labor applications filed.
Decision DateEmployerLocationBase PayWage LevelStatus
Dec 30, 2025Harvard UniversityPalo Alto, CA$104,104Level IICertified
Dec 30, 2025Tufts UniversityBoston, MA$70,000Level ICertified
Dec 30, 2025Dupage Medical Technology, Inc.Chicago, IL$117,998Level IVCertified
Dec 29, 2025Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD$68,400Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025Bay Area Environmental Research InstituteMoffett Field, CA$91,520Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025The University Of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$53,269Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025The University Of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$74,000Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025Ut Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX$48,682Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$78,000Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025The University Of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA$63,500Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC$62,115Level ICertified
Dec 29, 2025University Of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$135,000Level IIICertified
Dec 26, 2025Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL$73,678Level IIICertified
Dec 26, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$101,046Level IVCertified
Dec 26, 2025Brookhaven National LaboratoryUpton, NY$77,250Level ICertified
Dec 24, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$81,995Level ICertified
Dec 24, 2025Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL$72,761Level IIICertified
Dec 24, 2025Northwestern UniversityChicago, IL$71,532Level ICertified
Dec 24, 2025Bor Usga Obo Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA$42,765Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 23, 2025Institute For Women'S Policy ResearchWashington, DC$70,000Level ICertified
Dec 23, 2025The University Of IowaIowa City, IA$71,512Level ICertified
Dec 23, 2025Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA$74,318Level ICertified
Dec 23, 2025Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA$72,805Level IICertified
Dec 23, 2025Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York, NY$82,192Level IICertified
Dec 22, 2025Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew York, NY$80,000Level IICertified
Dec 22, 2025Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR$70,896N/ACertified
Dec 22, 2025Oregon State UniversityMadison, WI$55,848N/ACertified
Dec 19, 2025Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY$68,445Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 19, 2025University Of Maryland BaltimoreBaltimore, MD$80,563Level ICertified
Dec 19, 2025The University Of Texas At AustinPort Aransas, TX$76,814Level IIICertified
Dec 19, 2025University Of South CarolinaColumbia, SC$60,000Level ICertified
Dec 19, 2025University Of North Carolina At Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC$72,000Level IICertified
Dec 18, 2025Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York, NY$65,749Level ICertified
Dec 18, 2025North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC$62,000Level IICertified
Dec 18, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$74,672Level IICertified
Dec 18, 2025Mayo ClinicJacksonville, FL$77,961Level IIICertified
Dec 17, 2025Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LlcBatavia, IL$77,126Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 17, 2025Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LlcBatavia, IL$77,126Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 17, 2025Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$83,366Level IIICertified
Dec 17, 2025Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$67,933Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025University Of Texas Medical BranchGalveston, TX$40,503Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$61,008Level ICertified
Dec 17, 2025Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI$72,301Level IIICertified
Dec 17, 2025Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/Slac National Accelerator LabMenlo Park, CA$80,000Level ICertified
Dec 16, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$92,000Level ICertified
Dec 16, 2025Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York, NY$83,628Level IICertified
Dec 16, 2025Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNew York, NY$74,714Level IICertified
Dec 16, 2025Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA$83,200Level ICertified
Dec 16, 2025The University Of Texas El PasoEl Paso, TX$64,987Level IICertified
Dec 16, 2025Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA$112,000Level IICertified
Dec 16, 2025Florida Institute For Human And Machine CognitionPensacola, FL$59,535Level ICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 16, 2025Harvard UniversityBoston, MA$103,000Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 16, 2025Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA$97,812Level IICertified - Withdrawn
Dec 15, 2025University Of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI$65,000Level ICertified
Dec 12, 2025Trustees Of The University Of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA$83,970Level IVCertified

Role Specific Intelligence (FAQ)

Common questions and insights about the Research Associate role.

What are the Green Card chances for Research Associate candidates?
Yes, employers filed 7 Green Card (PERM) applications for workers in this exact position to retain their talent long-term.

What is the average salary for Research Associate roles?
The median wage calculates to $71,512 for this profession, with junior candidates usually beginning near $67,626.

Which company sponsors the most H-1B visas for Research Associate roles?
Northwestern University acts as the leading sponsor for this position, submitting 22 total applications.