Postdoctoral Research Fellow — H-1B Visa Salary & Sponsorship

Explore H-1B visa filings for Postdoctoral Research Fellow. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 9 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.

9
Total Filings
$77k
Average Salary
$76k
Median Salary
100%
Approval Rate
$60k
Min Salary
$114k
Max Salary

Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B Visa Sponsorship Summary

Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B Visa Sponsorship Summary
MetricValue
Total H-1B Petitions9
Approval Rate100%
Average Salary$76,598
Salary Range$60,000 - $114,275
Top SponsorUniversity of Michigan
Primary LocationMichigan

Salary Statistics for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Total Filings9
Approval Rate100%
Average Salary$76,598
Median Salary$76,200
25th Percentile$60,000
75th Percentile$78,600
Minimum Salary$60,000
Maximum Salary$114,275

Salary Distribution for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

10th Percentile$60,000
25th Percentile$60,000
Median (50th)$76,200
75th Percentile$78,600
90th Percentile$114,275
Average$76,598
Sample Size9

Prevailing Wage Comparison for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

29.9%
Avg Premium Over Prevailing Wage
89%
Filings Above Prevailing Wage
9
Filings with Wage Data

Processing Time for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

8 days
Average Processing
7 days
Median Processing
7–14 days
Range

Workforce Insights for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

44%
New Hire Rate
0%
Continued Employment
11%
Cross-State Placement Rate
9
Total Positions (9 filings)
20 months
Avg Contract Duration

Education Requirements for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Education LevelFilings
Not Specified9

H-1B vs Domestic Salary: Postdoctoral Research Fellow

How do H-1B salaries for Postdoctoral Research Fellow compare to the overall U.S. workforce? Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 OEWS) compared to H-1B LCA filings.

$76,200
H-1B Median Salary
$127,520
U.S. Domestic Median
-40%
H-1B Premium/Discount
14,740
U.S. Workers in Role
PercentileH-1B SalaryU.S. Domestic (BLS)Difference
10th$60,000$88,290-32%
25th$60,000$103,010-42%
Median$76,200$127,520-40%
75th$78,600$157,600-50%
90th$114,275$187,430-39%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. H-1B data from DOL LCA filings.

Top Employers Sponsoring Postdoctoral Research Fellow

EmployerFilingsAvg Salary
University of Michigan8$72k
Entergy Operations, Inc.1$114k

Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B Filings by State

StateFilings
Michigan8
Mississippi1

Recent Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B Filings

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $79k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $79k · Certified - Withdrawn
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $95k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $67k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $60k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $76k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $60k · Certified
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · $60k · Certified
Entergy Operations, Inc.
Port Gibson, MS · $114k · Certified - Withdrawn

Frequently Asked Questions about Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B Sponsorship

What is the average H-1B salary for Postdoctoral Research Fellow?

The average H-1B salary for Postdoctoral Research Fellow is $76,598, with a median of $76,200. Salaries range from $60,000 to $114,275 across 9 DOL filings.

Which companies sponsor Postdoctoral Research Fellow for H-1B visas?

Top H-1B sponsors for Postdoctoral Research Fellow include University of Michigan (8 filings), Entergy Operations, Inc. (1 filings). A total of 2 companies sponsor this role.

What is the H-1B approval rate for Postdoctoral Research Fellow?

The H-1B approval rate for Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions is 100% across 9 filings recorded by the Department of Labor.

What states have the most Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B jobs?

The states with the most H-1B filings for Postdoctoral Research Fellow are Michigan (8 filings), Mississippi (1 filings).

What education is typically required for Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B positions?

Most H-1B petitions for Postdoctoral Research Fellow require at least a Bachelor's degree in a related field. Some positions may require a Master's degree or higher, depending on the employer and specialization level.

About This Occupation

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow occupation (SOC code 17-2161) 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.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow 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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions is Not Specified (9 filings), followed by other degree levels.

Across 9 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions show an average offered salary of $76,598, with a range from $60,000 at the entry level to $114,275 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (8 filings) and Mississippi (1 filings). According to BLS data, there are approximately 14,740 workers employed in this occupation across the United States.

Career outlook for Postdoctoral Research Fellow 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.

H-1B Visa Requirements for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

To sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa in a Postdoctoral Research Fellow 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):

Specialty Occupation Requirement

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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow 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.

Prevailing Wage Compliance

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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions, the average offered salary of $76,598 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 29.9%, with 89% of filings offering above the prevailing wage.

Labor Condition Application (LCA)

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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions is 100%.

H-1B Cap and Exemptions

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. Postdoctoral Research Fellow 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.

Duration and Extensions

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 Postdoctoral Research Fellow H-1B filings is approximately 20 months.

Top Cities for Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cities with the most H-1B filings for Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions.

CityStateFilings
Ann ArborMichigan8
Port GibsonMississippi1

Related Job Titles

Other H-1B job categories related to Postdoctoral Research Fellow, grouped by similar SOC classification codes.

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