H-1B Hiring Trends for Political Scientists Show Emerging Growth
Explore H-1B visa filings for Political Scientists. View sponsoring employers, salary data from 100 filings, and approval rates from DOL public records.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total H-1B Petitions | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $100,524 |
| Salary Range | $58,968 - $269,592 |
| Top Sponsor | The Trustees of Princeton University |
| Primary Location | District of Columbia |
Political Scientists is one of the H-1B visa categories with 25 filings and an average salary of $96,337. The demand for Political Scientists on H-1B visas is relatively low, with a limited number of petitions filed. The average salary offered to Political Scientists on H-1B is higher than the median salary, suggesting a premium for specialized skills or experience. There's a significant increase in H-1B petitions for Political Scientists in FY2025, indicating a potential surge in hiring for this role. Geographic concentration is observed in Washington D.C., New York, and California, suggesting these areas are key hubs for this profession.
| Total Filings | 100 |
| Approval Rate | 94% |
| Average Salary | $100,524 |
| Median Salary | $90,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 |
| Minimum Salary | $58,968 |
| Maximum Salary | $269,592 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,120 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,500 |
| Median (50th) | $90,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $153,000 |
| Average | $100,524 |
| Sample Size | 99 |
| Visa Class | Filings |
|---|---|
| H-1B | 96 |
| E-3 AUSTRALIAN | 2 |
| H-1B1 SINGAPORE | 1 |
| H-1B1 CHILE | 1 |
| Education Level | Filings |
|---|---|
| Not Specified | 100 |
| Employer | Filings | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| The Trustees of Princeton University | 7 | $84k |
| Georgetown University | 5 | $100k |
| Columbia University | 4 | $80k |
| Cariina, Inc. | 3 | $110k |
| The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | 3 | $120k |
| Johns Hopkins University | 3 | $72k |
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 2 | $168k |
| University of Washington | 2 | $74k |
| MASA GROUP LLC | 2 | $108k |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | 2 | $60k |
| State | Filings |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 29 |
| New York | 16 |
| California | 12 |
| New Jersey | 7 |
| Massachusetts | 6 |
| Washington | 5 |
| Texas | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| Connecticut | 2 |
Focus on roles in Washington D.C., New York, or California, and highlight any specialized analytical or research skills that align with the increasing demand observed in recent fiscal years.
The average H-1B salary for Political Scientists is $96,337, with a median of $84,000. The 25th-75th percentile range is $77,355 to $98,832.
Top H-1B sponsors for Political Scientists include Georgetown University, Columbia University, The Asian American Foundation, University of Illinois, Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, Inc.. A total of 21 employers have filed for this role.
There are 25 H-1B filings on record for Political Scientists positions. 96.0% were certified.
The top states for H-1B Political Scientists positions are District of Columbia (6), New York (5), California (3), Illinois (2), Connecticut (2).
Yes, Political Scientists is a qualifying occupation for H-1B visa sponsorship. There are 25 approved H-1B petitions for this role in the database.
H-1B Political Scientists salaries range from $56,880 to $269,592. The median salary is $84,000.
The approval rate for Political Scientists H-1B petitions is 96.0%. The total number of H-1B petitions filed for Political Scientists is 25, with 24 approved and 1 denied.
The average salary offered is $96,337, while the median salary is $84,000.
Focus on roles in Washington D.C., New York, or California, and highlight any specialized analytical or research skills that align with the increasing demand observed in recent fiscal years.
The number of petitions filed in FY2025 (19) significantly outpaces previous years (FY2023: 1, FY2024: 5), indicating a strong upward trend.
The Political Scientists occupation (SOC code 19-309400) 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.
Political 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 Political Scientists positions is Not Specified (100 filings), followed by other degree levels.
Across 100 LCA filings tracked by H1BSalaryCheck, Political Scientists positions show an average offered salary of $100,524, with a range from $58,968 at the entry level to $269,592 for senior positions. The largest concentration of H-1B filings for this role is in District of Columbia (29 filings) and New York (16 filings).
Career outlook for Political 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 Political 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 Political 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 Political Scientists positions, the average offered salary of $100,524 exceeds prevailing wages by an average of 19.2%, 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 Political Scientists positions is 94%.
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. Political 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 Political Scientists H-1B filings is approximately 32 months.
Cities with the most H-1B filings for Political Scientists positions.