H-1B Hiring for Biochemists and Biophysicists Shows Geographic Concentration and High Salary Potential
Explore H-1B visa filings for Biochemists and Biophysicists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $75,358 |
| Salary Range | $50,170 - $212,500 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Michigan |
| Primary Location | Michigan |
Biochemists and Biophysicists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 10 filings and an average salary of $78,153. H-1B hiring for Biochemists and Biophysicists is highly concentrated in a few states, with Michigan leading significantly. The average salary offered to H-1B holders in this role is notably higher than the median salary for all workers. There's a substantial gap between the highest and lowest salaries, indicating a wide range of experience and responsibility levels.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 100% |
| Average Salary | $75,358 |
| Median Salary | $65,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,960 |
| Minimum Salary | $50,170 |
| Maximum Salary | $212,500 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,484 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 |
| Median (50th) | $65,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,960 |
| 90th Percentile | $122,680 |
| Average | $75,358 |
| Sample Size | 100 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
How do H-1B salaries for Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 | $56,484 | $64,890 | -13% |
| 25th | $58,000 | $78,730 | -26% |
| Median | $65,000 | $103,650 | -37% |
| 75th | $76,960 | $134,460 | -43% |
| 90th | $122,680 | $168,900 | -27% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. H-1B data from DOL LCA filings.
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | 69 | $63k |
| Twist Bioscience Corporation | 3 | $132k |
| University of Idaho | 3 | $52k |
| Atlas Data Storage, Inc. | 2 | $133k |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | 2 | $90k |
| Incyte Corporation | 2 | $125k |
| Howard University | 2 | $59k |
| Cognizance Technologies LLC | 2 | $150k |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | 2 | $108k |
| Mosaic Biosciences, Inc. | 2 | $100k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 69 |
| California | 9 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Massachusetts | 3 |
| District of Columbia | 3 |
| Idaho | 3 |
| Texas | 3 |
| Delaware | 2 |
| Colorado | 2 |
| New York | 1 |
Focus your H-1B job search on Michigan and be prepared to negotiate salary, as the compensation for experienced professionals in this field can be significantly higher.
The average H-1B salary for Biochemists and Biophysicists is $78,153, with a median of $63,120. The 25th-75th percentile range is $58,000 to $98,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Biochemists and Biophysicists include University of Michigan, Atlas Data Storage, Inc., MeiraGTx Holdings PLC. A total of 3 employers have filed for this role.
There are 10 H-1B filings on record for Biochemists and Biophysicists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Biochemists and Biophysicists positions are Michigan (7), California (2), New York (1).
Yes, Biochemists and Biophysicists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 10 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Biochemists and Biophysicists salaries range from $54,840 to $140,000. The median salary is $63,120.
The approval rate for Biochemists and Biophysicists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. Michigan accounts for the vast majority of H-1B positions in this field.
The average salary for H-1B employees ($78,153) is 23.7% higher than the median salary for all workers ($63,120).
Focus your H-1B job search on Michigan and be prepared to negotiate salary, as the compensation for experienced professionals in this field can be significantly higher.
The salary range is extensive, from $54,840 to $140,000, suggesting diverse roles and seniority.
The Biochemists and Biophysicists occupation (SOC code 19-1021) 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.
Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Biochemists and Biophysicists positions show an average offered salary of $75,358, with a range from $50,170 at the entry level to $212,500 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (69 filings) and California (9 filings). According to BLS data, there are approximately 34,520 workers employed in this occupation across the United States.
Career outlook for Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists positions, the average offered salary of $75,358 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 27.2%, 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists 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. Biochemists and Biophysicists 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 Biochemists and Biophysicists H-1B filings is approximately 35 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Biochemists and Biophysicists positions.