H-1B Hiring for Astronomers Shows Strong Upward Trend, Concentrated in Key States
Explore H-1B visa filings for Astronomers. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 96% |
| Average Salary | $90,685 |
| Salary Range | $63,232 - $257,537 |
| Top Sponsor | Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy |
| Primary Location | Maryland |
Astronomers is one of the H-1B visa categories with 50 filings and an average salary of $89,949. Hiring for Astronomers shows a significant increase in recent fiscal years, particularly FY2025, indicating growing demand. The majority of positions are concentrated in a few key states, with California, Maryland, and New York being the top employers. While the number of positions is relatively small compared to broader tech roles, the upward trend suggests a specialized but expanding field. The average salary for H-1B Astronomer roles is competitive, aligning with the high skill requirements of the profession.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 96% |
| Average Salary | $90,685 |
| Median Salary | $83,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,018 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $63,232 |
| Maximum Salary | $257,537 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,775 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,018 |
| Median (50th) | $83,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $119,355 |
| Average | $90,685 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 98 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 2 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 15 |
| California | 15 |
| Hawaii | 8 |
| Illinois | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 7 |
| New York | 6 |
| Arizona | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 |
| Colorado | 5 |
| Washington | 5 |
Focus your H-1B applications on states like California, Maryland, and New York, and highlight specialized skills in astronomical research and data analysis to align with the increasing demand.
The average H-1B salary for Astronomers is $89,949, with a median of $84,572. The 25th-75th percentile range is $73,000 to $100,000.
Top H-1B sponsors for Astronomers include California Institute of Technology, The Simons Foundation Inc., University of Washington, University of Colorado, University of Maryland College Park. A total of 29 employers have filed for this role.
There are 50 H-1B filings on record for Astronomers positions. 96.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Astronomers positions are California (8), Maryland (7), New York (6), Massachusetts (5), Colorado (4).
Yes, Astronomers is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 50 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Astronomers salaries range from $60,362 to $226,000. The median salary is $84,572.
The approval rate for Astronomers H-1B petitions is 96.0%. FY2025 has seen a dramatic surge in H-1B applications for Astronomers, accounting for the vast majority of recent filings.
California leads in H-1B Astronomer job postings, followed by Maryland and New York, suggesting these states are hubs for astronomical research and development.
Focus your H-1B applications on states like California, Maryland, and New York, and highlight specialized skills in astronomical research and data analysis to align with the increasing demand.
The average salary for H-1B Astronomers is $89,949, with a median of $84,572, reflecting the specialized nature of the role.
The Astronomers occupation (SOC code 19-201100) 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.
Astronomers 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 Astronomers positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Astronomers positions show an average offered salary of $90,685, with a range from $63,232 at the entry level to $257,537 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Maryland (15 filings) and California (15 filings).
Career outlook for Astronomers 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 Astronomers 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 Astronomers 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 Astronomers positions, the average offered salary of $90,685 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 21.1%, with 83% 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 Astronomers positions is 96%.
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. Astronomers 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 Astronomers H-1B filings is approximately 30 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Astronomers positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | Maryland | 10 |
| Cambridge | Massachusetts | 7 |
| Berkeley | California | 5 |
| Boulder | Colorado | 5 |
| Seattle | Washington | 5 |
| New York | New York | 5 |
| Chicago | Illinois | 4 |
| Pasadena | California | 4 |
| Tucson | Arizona | 3 |
| Hilo | Hawaii | 3 |