H-1B Hiring for Food Scientists and Technologists Shows Minimal Activity
Explore H-1B visa filings for Food Scientists and Technologists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 16 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 16 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $78,319 |
| Salary Range | $37,665 - $160,000 |
| Top Sponsor | MSI Express, Inc. |
| Primary Location | Texas |
Food Scientists and Technologists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 2 filings and an average salary of $84,677. The H-1B market for Food Scientists and Technologists is relatively small, with limited data available for recent fiscal years. The available data suggests a very low number of petitions filed, indicating minimal H-1B hiring in this specific role. Geographic concentration appears to be extremely low, with only a few petitions noted in Illinois and New York.
| Total Filings | 16 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $78,319 |
| Median Salary | $73,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,962 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,642 |
| Minimum Salary | $37,665 |
| Maximum Salary | $160,000 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,962 |
| Median (50th) | $73,590 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,642 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,000 |
| Average | $78,319 |
| Sample Size | 16 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 15 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 16 |
How do H-1B salaries for Food Scientists and Technologists compare to the overall U.S. workforce? Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 OEWS) compared to H-1B LCA filings.
| Percentile | H-1B Salary | U.S. Domestic (BLS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,000 | $49,580 | +9% |
| 25th | $62,962 | $65,240 | -3% |
| Median | $73,590 | $85,310 | -14% |
| 75th | $80,642 | $111,700 | -28% |
| 90th | $140,000 | $141,860 | -1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. H-1B data from DOL LCA filings.
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Express, Inc. | 9 | $70k |
| TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH | 2 | $46k |
| Five Star Corrugated & Display, Inc. | 1 | $106k |
| Barry Callebaut USA LLC | 1 | $140k |
| The Warrell Corporation | 1 | $55k |
| Hissho International, LLC | 1 | $74k |
| Picnic Works Inc. | 1 | $160k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Texas | 4 |
| Illinois | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 2 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 |
| New York | 1 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| Washington | 1 |
Given the extremely limited H-1B data for Food Scientists and Technologists, focus on roles with higher demand and explore alternative visa pathways or direct employment opportunities.
The average H-1B salary for Food Scientists and Technologists is $84,677, with a median of $106,392. The 25th-75th percentile range is $62,962 to $106,392.
Top H-1B sponsors for Food Scientists and Technologists include MSI Express, Inc., Five Star Corrugated & Display, Inc.. A total of 2 employers have filed for this role.
There are 2 H-1B filings on record for Food Scientists and Technologists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Food Scientists and Technologists positions are Illinois (1), New York (1).
Yes, Food Scientists and Technologists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 2 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Food Scientists and Technologists salaries range from $62,962 to $106,392. The median salary is $106,392.
The approval rate for Food Scientists and Technologists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The total number of petitions is extremely low, making it difficult to establish significant trends.
The data for FY2024 and FY2025 is limited to a single petition each, offering no predictive power.
Given the extremely limited H-1B data for Food Scientists and Technologists, focus on roles with higher demand and explore alternative visa pathways or direct employment opportunities.
The salary data (SA, SM, SN, SX) is also based on a very small sample size, limiting its reliability.
The Food Scientists and Technologists occupation (SOC code 19-1012) 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.
Food Scientists and Technologists 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 Food Scientists and Technologists positions is Not Specified (16 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 16 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Food Scientists and Technologists positions show an average offered salary of $78,319, with a range from $37,665 at the entry level to $160,000 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Texas (4 filings) and Illinois (3 filings). According to BLS data, there are approximately 14,370 workers employed in this occupation across the United States.
Career outlook for Food Scientists and Technologists 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 Food Scientists and Technologists 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 Food Scientists and Technologists 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 Food Scientists and Technologists positions, the average offered salary of $78,319 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 11.6%, with 25% 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 Food Scientists and Technologists positions is 100%.
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. Food Scientists and Technologists 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 Food Scientists and Technologists H-1B filings is approximately 35 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Food Scientists and Technologists positions.