H-1B Mechanical Engineers in R&D: Limited FY2025 Activity
Explore H-1B visa filings for Mechanical Engineers, R&D. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 52 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 52 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $100,163 |
| Salary Range | $53,000 - $155,738 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Michigan |
| Primary Location | California |
Mechanical Engineers, R&D is one of the H-1B visa categories with 2 filings and an average salary of $91,000. The demand for H-1B Mechanical Engineers in R&D is currently low, with only 2 petitions filed in FY2025. The average salary for this role falls within a broad range, from $66,000 to $116,000, indicating varied experience levels and responsibilities. Geographic concentration is minimal, with petitions filed in Michigan and California, suggesting a scattered distribution of opportunities.
| Total Filings | 52 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $100,163 |
| Median Salary | $100,395 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,707 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $53,000 |
| Maximum Salary | $155,738 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,707 |
| Median (50th) | $100,395 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $132,500 |
| Average | $100,163 |
| Sample Size | 51 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 48 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 4 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 52 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | 16 | $81k |
| Stanford University/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory | 15 | $120k |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | 14 | $113k |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | 5 | $86k |
| TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION | 1 | $60k |
| TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - KINGSVILLE | 1 | $60k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| California | 30 |
| Michigan | 16 |
| Colorado | 4 |
| Texas | 2 |
Focus on developing highly specialized R&D skills and highlight any unique research contributions to stand out in this competitive and niche H-1B market.
The average H-1B salary for Mechanical Engineers, R&D is $91,000, with a median of $116,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $66,000 to $116,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Mechanical Engineers, R&D include University of Michigan, Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab. A total of 2 employers have filed for this role.
There are 2 H-1B filings on record for Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions are Michigan (1), California (1).
Yes, Mechanical Engineers, R&D is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 2 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Mechanical Engineers, R&D salaries range from $66,000 to $116,000. The median salary is $116,000.
The approval rate for Mechanical Engineers, R&D H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The extremely low number of petitions (2) in FY2025 suggests a very niche or emerging demand for H-1B Mechanical Engineers specifically in R&D roles.
The wide salary range ($66k-$116k) implies that employers are willing to pay a premium for specialized R&D skills, but also that entry-level positions might be at the lower end.
Focus on developing highly specialized R&D skills and highlight any unique research contributions to stand out in this competitive and niche H-1B market.
The presence of petitions in both Michigan and California indicates that opportunities, though scarce, are not confined to a single tech hub.
The Mechanical Engineers, R&D occupation (SOC code 17-2144) 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.
Mechanical Engineers, R&D 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions is Not Specified (52 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 52 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions show an average offered salary of $100,163, with a range from $53,000 at the entry level to $155,738 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in California (30 filings) and Michigan (16 filings).
Career outlook for Mechanical Engineers, R&D 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions, the average offered salary of $100,163 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 78.8%, with 96% 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions is 98%.
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. Mechanical Engineers, R&D 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 Mechanical Engineers, R&D H-1B filings is approximately 32 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Mechanical Engineers, R&D positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Menlo Park | California | 27 |
| Ann Arbor | Michigan | 14 |
| Golden | Colorado | 2 |
| Arvada | Colorado | 2 |
| Flint | Michigan | 1 |
| Los Angeles | California | 1 |
| Dearborn | Michigan | 1 |
| COLLEGE STATION | Texas | 1 |
| KINGSVILLE | Texas | 1 |
| Sunnyvale | California | 1 |
Other H-1B job categories related to Mechanical Engineers, R&D, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.