H-1B Hiring for Materials Scientists Remains Extremely Limited
Explore H-1B visa filings for Materials Scientists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 47 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 47 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $77,233 |
| Salary Range | $47,840 - $172,640 |
| Top Sponsor | University of Michigan |
| Primary Location | Michigan |
Materials Scientists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 5 filings and an average salary of $105,781. The "Materials Scientists" role shows a very low volume of H-1B applications, with only 5 petitions filed. The vast majority of these petitions (4 out of 5) were filed in FY2025, indicating a recent and nascent trend. Geographically, the demand is highly concentrated, with Michigan and Texas each receiving 2 petitions, and California receiving 1. The data suggests this is a niche area for H-1B employment, with minimal historical or current activity.
| Total Filings | 47 |
| Approval Rate | 98% |
| Average Salary | $77,233 |
| Median Salary | $62,500 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $47,840 |
| Maximum Salary | $172,640 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 |
| Median (50th) | $62,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 |
| Average | $77,233 |
| Sample Size | 47 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 45 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 2 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 47 |
How do H-1B salaries for Materials Scientists 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 | $61,460 | -12% |
| 25th | $55,000 | $79,980 | -31% |
| Median | $62,500 | $104,160 | -40% |
| 75th | $91,000 | $134,140 | -32% |
| 90th | $112,000 | $168,500 | -34% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. H-1B data from DOL LCA filings.
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | 22 | $70k |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 4 | $61k |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | 2 | $141k |
| Kelly Services, Inc. | 2 | $109k |
| University of Nevada, Reno | 2 | $59k |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | 2 | $82k |
| University of Kentucky | 2 | $54k |
| Florida A&M University | 2 | $53k |
| Hi-Tek Professionals, Inc. | 1 | $173k |
| Werewool Inc. | 1 | $125k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 22 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Mississippi | 4 |
| California | 3 |
| Nevada | 3 |
| Colorado | 2 |
| Kentucky | 2 |
| Florida | 2 |
| New Jersey | 2 |
| Maryland | 1 |
H-1B candidates targeting the "Materials Scientists" role should focus on employers in Michigan and Texas, and be aware that this is a highly specialized and nascent field for H-1B sponsorship with very few opportunities.
The average H-1B salary for Materials Scientists is $105,781, with a median of $109,158. The 25th-75th percentile range is $85,000 to $109,158.
Top H-1B sponsors for Materials Scientists include University of Michigan, Kelly Services, Inc., Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab. A total of 3 employers have filed for this role.
There are 5 H-1B filings on record for Materials Scientists positions. 100.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Materials Scientists positions are Michigan (2), Texas (2), California (1).
Yes, Materials Scientists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 5 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Materials Scientists salaries range from $62,232 to $163,358. The median salary is $109,158.
The approval rate for Materials Scientists H-1B petitions is 100.0%. The extremely low petition count (5) makes it difficult to establish robust trends, but the recent spike in FY2025 is notable.
The geographic distribution is highly concentrated in specific states, suggesting limited opportunities nationwide.
H-1B candidates targeting the "Materials Scientists" role should focus on employers in Michigan and Texas, and be aware that this is a highly specialized and nascent field for H-1B sponsorship with very few opportunities.
The role itself is specialized, likely contributing to the low H-1B demand compared to broader STEM fields.
The Materials Scientists occupation (SOC code 19-2032) 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.
Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists positions is Not Specified (47 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 47 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Materials Scientists positions show an average offered salary of $77,233, with a range from $47,840 at the entry level to $172,640 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in Michigan (22 filings) and Texas (4 filings). According to BLS data, there are approximately 8,330 workers employed in this occupation across the United States.
Career outlook for Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists positions, the average offered salary of $77,233 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 21.8%, with 94% 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 Materials Scientists 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. Materials Scientists 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 Materials Scientists H-1B filings is approximately 29 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Materials Scientists positions.
| City | State | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | Michigan | 21 |
| Hattiesburg | Mississippi | 4 |
| Menlo Park | California | 3 |
| Reno | Nevada | 2 |
| Golden | Colorado | 2 |
| Lexington | Kentucky | 2 |
| Tallahassee | Florida | 2 |
| Monmouth Junction | New Jersey | 2 |
| Pearland | Texas | 1 |
| Austin | Texas | 1 |