H-1B Data Scientist Hiring Experiences Dramatic Increase, Led by Tech Hubs
Explore H-1B visa filings for Data Scientists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $161,967 |
| Salary Range | $63,669 - $405,000 |
| Top Sponsor | Meta Platforms, Inc |
| Primary Location | New York |
Data Scientists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 3,720 filings and an average salary of $471,670. The number of H-1B petitions for Data Scientists has seen a significant surge in recent fiscal years, particularly in FY2025. California, Texas, and Washington are the top states for H-1B hiring of Data Scientists. The average salary for H-1B Data Scientists is substantial, reflecting the demand for specialized skills. While the total number of petitions is high, the number of 'withdrawn' petitions is relatively low, suggesting a high success rate for approved petitions.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $161,967 |
| Median Salary | $168,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,094 |
| 75th Percentile | $200,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $63,669 |
| Maximum Salary | $405,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $94,307 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,094 |
| Median (50th) | $168,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $200,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $226,000 |
| Average | $161,967 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 94 |
| H-1B1 SINGAPORE | 6 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms, Inc | 7 | $216k |
| Quantium Inc. | 6 | $114k |
| Microsoft Corporation | 4 | $227k |
| ZIP CO US INC. | 3 | $155k |
| Artificial Analysis, Inc | 3 | $123k |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 3 | $184k |
| Hypha AI Inc. | 2 | $200k |
| Google LLC | 2 | $216k |
| Ample IT Services LLC | 2 | $94k |
| TuneCore, Inc. | 2 | $170k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| New York | 34 |
| California | 30 |
| Texas | 9 |
| Washington | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 4 |
| Arkansas | 3 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 |
| Nevada | 1 |
| Florida | 1 |
Focus on developing advanced analytical and machine learning skills, and target roles in California, Texas, or Washington to maximize H-1B opportunities as a Data Scientist.
The average H-1B salary for Data Scientists is $471,670, with a median of $139,506. The 25th-75th percentile range is $106,000 to $174,304.
Top H-1B sponsors for Data Scientists include Microsoft Corporation, Amazon.com Services LLC, WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC., Meta Platforms, Inc, Capital One, National Association. A total of 1694 employers have filed for this role.
There are 3,720 H-1B filings on record for Data Scientists positions. 98.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Data Scientists positions are California (777), Texas (543), Washington (405), New York (385), New Jersey (190).
Yes, Data Scientists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 3,720 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Data Scientists salaries range from $46,134 to $374,400,000. The median salary is $139,506.
The approval rate for Data Scientists H-1B petitions is 98.0%. FY2025 shows an exceptionally high number of petitions (3594), indicating a strong future demand.
California leads in H-1B petitions for Data Scientists, followed closely by Texas and Washington.
Focus on developing advanced analytical and machine learning skills, and target roles in California, Texas, or Washington to maximize H-1B opportunities as a Data Scientist.
The average salary for H-1B Data Scientists is $139,506, with a total wage outflow of $37,440,000,000.
The Data Scientists occupation (SOC code 15-205100) is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SOC system groups workers into occupational categories based on the type of work performed, providing a standardized framework for comparing wages, employment levels, and workforce trends across the United States.
Data Scientists positions fall within the specialty occupation category required for H-1B visa sponsorship, meaning they typically require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in the specific specialty. Based on H-1B filing data, the most common education requirement for Data Scientists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Data Scientists positions show an average offered salary of $161,967, with a range from $63,669 at the entry level to $405,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in New York (34 filings) and California (30 filings).
Career outlook for Data Scientists professionals is closely tied to industry demand for specialized skills. Employers sponsoring H-1B workers for this role are demonstrating that they could not find sufficient qualified U.S. workers to fill these positions, which often signals strong demand and competitive compensation. Workers in this occupation may also be eligible for other visa categories including L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, or employment-based green card sponsorship through the PERM process.
To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Data Scientists role, U.S. employers must satisfy several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and enforced by both the Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
The position must qualify as a "specialty occupation," meaning it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and at minimum a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific specialty directly related to the position. For Data Scientists roles, H-1B filings indicate that employers most commonly require a Not Specified degree. USCIS evaluates whether the position itself, not just the employer's preference, genuinely requires specialized education.
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the geographic area of employment, as determined by the DOL. The prevailing wage is based on four skill levels (Level 1 through Level 4) that reflect the complexity of the job duties and required experience. For Data Scientists positions, the average offered salary of $161,967 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 22.6%, with 87% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.
Before filing the H-1B petition, employers must obtain a certified LCA from the DOL. The LCA requires employers to attest to four conditions: (1) paying at least the prevailing wage or actual wage, whichever is higher; (2) providing working conditions that do not adversely affect similarly employed U.S. workers; (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite; and (4) proper notice of the filing to workers. The overall LCA approval rate for Data Scientists positions is 94%.
The annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees or higher (the "master's cap"). Certain employers, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations, are exempt from the cap. Data Scientists positions at cap-exempt employers can be filed at any time during the year, while cap-subject employers must participate in the annual H-1B lottery, typically held in March for the following fiscal year.
H-1B visas are initially granted for up to three years and can be extended for a maximum of six years total. Workers who have an approved I-140 immigrant petition (part of the green card process) may be eligible for extensions beyond the six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21). The average contract duration for Data Scientists H-1B filings is approximately 24 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Data Scientists positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York | 27 |
| San Francisco | California | 16 |
| Austin | Texas | 4 |
| Seattle | Washington | 3 |
| Houston | Texas | 3 |
| Bentonville | Arkansas | 3 |
| Alpharetta | Georgia | 3 |
| Brooklyn | New York | 3 |
| Menlo Park | California | 3 |
| Redmond | Washington | 2 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Data Scientists, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.