Updated April 2026 · DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure
Research Specialist H-1B Visa Data
SOC Code: 19-4021.00 · 41 LCA filings · 95.1% certified
Research Specialist (SOC code 19-4021.00) shows 41 H-1B Labor Condition Application filings in the latest U.S. Department of Labor disclosure data. Average offered wage on certified LCAs is $71,153, with a median of $69,616; the DOL prevailing wage averages $58,887 for this occupation. The Department certified 95.1% of filings.
Research Specialist is a smaller H-1B role with 41 applications on file. Average wage runs $71,153 versus a prevailing-wage benchmark of $58,887; approval rate runs 95%.
Smaller-volume roles like Research Specialist often reflect specialized skill requirements where U.S. supply is constrained. Howard Hughes Medical Institute leads the filings for this role. For workers evaluating Research Specialist positions, the per-employer data below shows which companies actually sponsor for this role, at what wage levels, and with what approval-rate track records.
Research Specialist H-1B Snapshot
What These Numbers Tell You
Research Specialist is a smaller-volume H-1B occupation by national standards (#92 of 1915) with 41 LCA filings. Lower volume usually means a narrower pool of sponsoring employers concentrated in a few cities — research the specific firms before assuming broad market depth.
Offered wages on certified Research Specialist LCAs average $71,153 — roughly 21% above the average DOL prevailing wage of $58,887. Employers paying meaningfully above prevailing wage typically anchor offers to private market rates rather than the DOL Wage Library minimum, a positive signal for workers benchmarking against U.S. labor market pay.
DOL certified 95.1% of Research Specialist LCA filings — broadly in line with the national distribution. The denial and withdrawal share at this level mostly reflects wage-level disputes, employer-side withdrawals after USCIS questions, and incomplete filings that get corrected and refiled.
Top Employers Filing for Research Specialist
Offered Wage Distribution
Histogram of offered wages on certified LCAs for Research Specialist, by salary band.
How Research Specialist H-1B Data Is Sourced
Filings on this page come from the U.S. Department of Labor's Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) public disclosure database, maintained by the Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Each LCA records the employer, worksite, offered wage, prevailing wage level, and DOL case decision. We aggregate every filing matching SOC code 19-4021.00 into the figures above. Wages are normalized to annual full-time equivalents. Prevailing wages are pulled from the OFLC Wage Library and reflect the DOL-determined floor for the role at the time of filing. For the broader visa picture, see USCIS H-1B statistics. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average H-1B salary for Research Specialist?
The average offered annual wage on certified H-1B LCAs for Research Specialist is $71,153, with a median of $69,616. Across all U.S. metros tracked here, the offered wage typically sits at or above the DOL prevailing wage of $58,887 for this occupation.
What is the prevailing wage for Research Specialist H-1B?
The U.S. Department of Labor's average prevailing wage for Research Specialist (SOC 19-4021.00) is $58,887. Prevailing wages are published in four levels (I–IV) by the OFLC Wage Library based on the role's experience and responsibility tier. Employers must offer at least the level-appropriate prevailing wage on every certified LCA.
How many H-1B applications are filed for Research Specialist?
Employers filed 41 H-1B LCAs for Research Specialist in the most recent DOL disclosure release. 95.1% were certified. Filing volume reflects total LCAs, not unique workers — a single role can be filed multiple times for amendments or extensions.
Which companies sponsor the most H-1Bs for Research Specialist?
The largest H-1B sponsors for Research Specialist by LCA volume are Howard Hughes Medical Institute (12 filings, average wage $95,803, grade A); North Dakota State University (6 filings, average wage $50,473, grade A); Brigham and Women's Hospital (4 filings, average wage $67,680, grade A); Emory University (3 filings, average wage $40,007, grade A); University of Illinois Chicago (3 filings, average wage $72,533, grade A). Each company's full filing history is available on its dedicated page.
Does an LCA filing mean an H-1B was approved?
No. The DOL Labor Condition Application is the first step — it confirms the employer is offering at least the prevailing wage and meeting notice requirements. The H-1B petition itself is filed separately with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov) and is adjudicated independently. This site reports what the public DOL data shows for Research Specialist; it is not legal or immigration advice.
Where does this Research Specialist H-1B data come from?
Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification public disclosure files, downloaded from the Foreign Labor Application Gateway at flag.dol.gov. Public domain, refreshed quarterly.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA Disclosure (public domain). See flag.dol.gov. SOC code 19-4021.00.
Last refreshed 2026-04-13 · 41 Research Specialist filings tracked.
Disclaimer: this site reports what the public DOL data shows. It does not provide legal, immigration, or career advice; consult a licensed attorney or accredited representative for case-specific questions.