Skip to main content
H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

MERCK SHARP & DOHME H-1B Visa Sponsorship & Salary Data

Yes, MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsors H-1B visas. In FY 2026, MERCK SHARP & DOHME filed 108 H-1B labor condition applications (105 certified) with a median salary of $124,363. Across FY 2020–2026, MERCK SHARP & DOHME has filed 877 total H-1B applications with 840 certified and a lifetime median salary of $114,171, which is 5% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000.

Post-$100K-fee sponsorship status

FY 2026 Q1: 16 certified LCAs

Certifications dated Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025 — the first full quarter after the $100K H-1B fee took effect on September 21, 2025.

Still actively sponsoring
9
14
14
14
14
21
16
FY 2020
FY 2021
FY 2022
FY 2023
FY 2024
FY 2025
FY 2026

FY 2020–2025 Q1 range 6-year Q1 average

Certified H-1B LCAs in Q1 (Oct–Dec) of each fiscal year for MERCK SHARP & DOHME: FY 2020: 9; FY 2021: 14; FY 2022: 14; FY 2023: 14; FY 2024: 14; FY 2025: 21; FY 2026: 16;

MERCK SHARP & DOHME certified 16 H-1B LCAs in FY 2026 Q1 — the first quarter after the $100K H-1B fee took effect on September 21, 2025. The 6-year Q1 baseline (FY 2020–2025) averages 14 certified filings per Q1, so this quarter came in 14% above the historical norm.

Compared to FY 2025 Q1 specifically (21 certified), FY 2026 Q1 is down 24%. The 6-year Q1 range runs from 9 (low) to 21 (peak in FY 2025).

These counts reflect DOL LCA certifications with decision_date in Oct–Dec — a proxy for post-fee sponsorship activity. LCAs do not distinguish cap-subject new hires (fee-exposed) from extensions, transfers, and change-of-status petitions (fee-exempt), so a drop does not cleanly translate to fewer H-1B workers at MERCK SHARP & DOHME.

840
Certified Filings
FY 2020-2026
$114,171
Median Salary
-5% vs national
0%
Denial Rate
0 denied of 877
7
Years of Data
FY 2020-2026

Salary Analysis

Salary Range

  • 10th percentile: $78,333
  • 25th percentile: $96,658
  • Median: $114,171
  • 75th percentile: $130,960
  • 90th percentile: $149,822

Wage Level Distribution

  • Level I (Entry): 85 (10%)
  • Level II (Qualified): 358 (43%)
  • Level III (Experienced): 276 (33%)
  • Level IV (Expert): 117 (14%)

Trend (2020-2026)

  • Starting median: $93,038
  • Current median: $124,363
  • Growth: +34%

Salary & Hiring Visualizations

Salary Distribution

Distribution of H-1B salaries at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B salaries range from $78,333 to $149,822 (10th-90th percentile), with a median of $114,171. This is comparable to the national H-1B median.

Wage Level Distribution

DOL wage levels affect H-1B lottery priority

MERCK SHARP & DOHME files 90% of H-1B positions at Level II or higher. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery, giving MERCK SHARP & DOHME candidates a competitive advantage.

Median Salary Trend

Year-over-year salary changes

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's median H-1B salary increased by +34% from FY 2020 ($93,038) to FY 2026 ($124,363). This strong growth reflects competitive compensation adjustments.

H-1B Filings by Year

Annual hiring activity through H-1B program

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B filings grew by +6% from FY 2020 to FY 2026.

Salary by Job Title

Top roles by filing volume: shape of all filings, middle 50% box, median tick

Senior Data Scientist
34 · $123K
Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics
38 · $126K
Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming
55 · $136K

The highest-volume H-1B role at MERCK SHARP & DOHME is Senior Research Scientist with 314 filings at $111,400 median salary.

Salary by Location

Salary distribution across office locations (sorted by median)

Boston, MA
28 · $93K
West Point, PA
123 · $108K
Kenilworth, NJ
58 · $109K
North Wales, PA
179 · $111K
Rahway, NJ
364 · $115K

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's largest H-1B hub is Rahway, NJ with 364 filings. The highest-paying location is Rahway, NJ at $114,700 median.

Highest Paying H-1B Roles at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Ranked by median salary — Unlike "Salary by Job Title" above which shows the most common roles by filing volume, this section ranks all H-1B positions by their median compensation to highlight the best-paying opportunities.

These are the 6 highest-paying of MERCK SHARP & DOHME's most common H-1B job titles, ranked by median salary. The highest-paying role is Principal Research Scientist at $164,800 median, which is 44% above the company's overall H-1B median of $114,171.

High-paying H-1B roles typically require advanced technical expertise, specialized domain knowledge, or significant leadership responsibility. Factors influencing top-tier compensation include years of experience, educational credentials (PhD, Master's degrees), rare skill combinations, and market demand for specific technologies. The chart under each role shows how pay is spread across its filings—a wide box means pay varies a lot for that title, while a narrow box suggests standardized pay bands. Senior and principal-level positions consistently command premium salaries due to their strategic impact and scarcity of qualified candidates.

Middle 50% of salaries Middle 80% Median Shape of all filings (wider = more common salary) Sample of filings Company median

1

Principal Research Scientist

24 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$164,800
+44% vs company median
2

Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming

55 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$135,500
+19% vs company median
3

Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics

38 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$126,027
+10% vs company median
4

Senior Data Scientist

34 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$122,800
+8% vs company median
5

Senior Research Scientist

314 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$111,400
-2% vs company median
6

Research Scientist

22 H-1B filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

$91,770
-20% vs company median

Salary data based on 840 certified H-1B labor condition applications at MERCK SHARP & DOHME. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, specific role requirements, and location within the company.

Highest Individual H-1B Salaries at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Actual filed salaries — These are the 10 highest individual H-1B salary filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME, representing specific positions (not aggregated medians). These may include executive, highly specialized, or senior leadership roles.

The highest H-1B salary filed at MERCK SHARP & DOHME was $359,800 for a Data Scientist position in Rahway, NJ (FY2024). This is 215% higher than the company's median H-1B salary.

Top H-1B salaries often cluster in high cost-of-living metros like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle where prevailing wages are higher. However, executive and specialized roles can command premium compensation regardless of location. These filings represent the upper bound of H-1B compensation at MERCK SHARP & DOHME—actual total compensation may be significantly higher when including stock grants, bonuses, and benefits. Geographic patterns in top salaries often reflect where companies locate their most senior technical talent and leadership positions.

Rank Job Title Location Salary Level Year
1 Data Scientist Rahway, NJ $359,800 IV FY 2024
2 Data Scientist Rahway, NJ $280,000 IV FY 2026
3 Executive Director, Medical Affairs Onc Rahway, NJ $276,600 IV FY 2025
4 Senior Product Manager Rahway, NJ $261,248 IV FY 2026
5 Executive Director, D&A Strategy Rahway, NJ $243,500 IV FY 2025
6 Executive Director, Medical Affairs Oncology Kenilworth, NJ $208,000 III FY 2022
7 Associate Principal Scientist, Outcomes Research Rahway, NJ $205,067 IV FY 2024
8 Director, IT Account Management Rahway, NJ $201,323 III FY 2022
9 Director, Strategic Planning North Wales, PA $196,539 III FY 2025
10 Director, Global Data Strategy & Business Architecture Kenilworth, NJ $196,000 III FY 2020

These represent the highest individual salary amounts filed in H-1B labor condition applications. Note: H-1B salary data reflects base compensation only and does not include stock options, RSUs, bonuses, or other benefits which can significantly increase total compensation at tech companies.

Detailed Breakdown

H-1B Job Titles at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Senior Research Scientist 314 $111,400
Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming 55 $135,500
Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics 38 $126,027
Senior Data Scientist 34 $122,800
Principal Research Scientist 24 $164,800
Research Scientist 22 $91,770

H-1B Locations for MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Location Filings Median Salary
Rahway, NJ 364 $114,700
North Wales, PA 179 $111,400
West Point, PA 123 $107,600
Kenilworth, NJ 58 $108,763
Boston, MA 28 $93,038
Branchburg, NJ 19 $114,962
Elkton, VA 10 $97,680
Cambridge, MA 9 $122,800
Austin, TX 7 $115,850
South San Francisco, CA 6 $76,461

Recent H-1B Filings at MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Sample of 20 recent certified H-1B labor condition applications. This represents a small fraction of MERCK SHARP & DOHME's 840 total certified filings.

Job Title Location Salary Level Year
Associate Principal Scientist, Chemistry Rahway, NJ $156,000 III FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist North Wales, PA $114,700 II FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist North Wales, PA $114,700 II FY 2026
Associate Principal Scientist, Engineering Rahway, NJ $139,600 III FY 2026
Research Scientist Quincy, MA $94,300 I FY 2026
Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics North Wales, PA $139,600 III FY 2026
Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming North Wales, PA $139,600 IV FY 2026
Senior Specialist, D&A Strategy North Wales, PA $129,709 II FY 2026
Director, Statistical Programming North Wales, PA $187,000 IV FY 2026
Director, Data Analysis Rahway, NJ $187,000 IV FY 2026
Senior Data Scientist Rahway, NJ $126,500 II FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist Rahway, NJ $114,700 IV FY 2026
Senior Software Engineer North Wales, PA $131,997 II FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist Rahway, NJ $114,700 II FY 2026
Data Scientist Cambridge, MA $131,082 II FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist Rahway, NJ $114,700 III FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist Rahway, NJ $117,000 II FY 2026
Senior Research Scientist North Wales, PA $129,854 III FY 2026
Senior Product Manager North Wales, PA $117,000 III FY 2026
Senior Product Manager Rahway, NJ $261,248 IV FY 2026

Data source: U.S. Department of Labor LCA Disclosure Files. Showing most recent certified filings.

Frequently Asked Questions about MERCK SHARP & DOHME H-1B Visas

What is the average H-1B salary at MERCK SHARP & DOHME?

The median H-1B salary at MERCK SHARP & DOHME is $114,171, based on 840 certified filings from FY 2020 to FY 2026. This is 5% lower than the national H-1B median salary of $120,000. Compensation at MERCK SHARP & DOHME reflects their market positioning, with entry-level roles starting around $96,658 and senior positions reaching $149,822 or higher. These figures represent base salaries in LCA filings and may not include bonuses, equity grants, or other compensation common at large employers.

10th %ile Median 90th %ile
$78,333 $114,171 $149,822

Salaries at MERCK SHARP & DOHME range from $78,333 at the 10th percentile to $149,822 at the 90th percentile, showing a $71,489 spread across experience levels and roles. The 25th percentile is $96,658 and the 75th percentile is $130,960.

Does MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsor H-1B visas in 2026?

Yes, MERCK SHARP & DOHME actively sponsors H-1B visas in FY 2026. In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), MERCK SHARP & DOHME filed 108 H-1B labor condition applications with 105 certified and 0 denied, at a median salary of $124,363. Across FY 2020–2026, they have filed 877 total H-1B applications with 840 certified and a 0% lifetime denial rate, demonstrating ongoing commitment to hiring international talent. MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsors positions across multiple job categories and locations, making them a viable option for professionals seeking H-1B visa sponsorship.

H-1B Filing History
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

In the most recent fiscal year (FY 2026), MERCK SHARP & DOHME filed 108 H-1B applications, with 105 certified and 0 denied. Over 7 years of data, MERCK SHARP & DOHME has consistently demonstrated commitment to H-1B sponsorship.

Note: These are Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the Department of Labor, which is a prerequisite for H-1B petitions. The actual number of H-1B petitions filed with USCIS may differ.

What is MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B approval rate?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's LCA (Labor Condition Application) denial rate is 0%, with 0 out of 877 applications denied across all years. This translates to a 100.0% certification rate, which indicates how successfully the company prepares and files H-1B applications. A lower denial rate suggests better compliance with Department of Labor requirements, proper wage documentation, and accurate job classification. Prospective H-1B applicants should consider this approval rate alongside other factors like salary, job role, and location when evaluating MERCK SHARP & DOHME as a potential H-1B sponsor.

Approval vs Denial Rate
100.0% Certified
840 certified 0 denied

This is an excellent approval rate, indicating MERCK SHARP & DOHME has strong H-1B sponsorship practices and typically meets DOL requirements. Applicants can feel confident in the company's H-1B track record.

What jobs does MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsor for H-1B?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsors H-1B visas for various specialty occupation positions requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Based on 840 certified filings, the most commonly sponsored job titles reflect the company's primary business functions and talent needs. These positions typically require specialized knowledge in fields like technology, engineering, finance, or scientific research. Understanding which roles MERCK SHARP & DOHME most frequently sponsors can help job seekers target their applications effectively.

Most common H-1B job titles at MERCK SHARP & DOHME:

Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming
$135,500
Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics
$126,027

The most frequently sponsored role is Senior Research Scientist with 314 filings at a median salary of $111,400. This is followed by Associate Principal Scientist, Statistical Programming (55 filings) and Associate Principal Scientist, Biostatistics.

Where are MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B jobs located?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B positions are distributed across multiple U.S. locations, with concentration in major metropolitan areas and tech hubs. Geographic distribution often reflects company office locations, client sites, and regional market demands. Location significantly impacts H-1B salary due to varying cost of living and local wage requirements. Understanding where MERCK SHARP & DOHME sponsors H-1B workers can help candidates target specific offices and negotiate appropriate compensation for each market.

Top MERCK SHARP & DOHME H-1B locations:

Circle size indicates relative H-1B filing volume

The largest H-1B hub for MERCK SHARP & DOHME is Rahway, NJ with 364 filings at a median salary of $114,700. The highest-paying location is Cambridge, MA at $122,800 median. Salaries range from $76,461 to $122,800 across office locations.

How have MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B salaries changed over time?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's median H-1B salary has increased by +34% from FY 2020 ($93,038) to FY 2026 ($124,363). Tracking salary trends over time reveals how MERCK SHARP & DOHME adjusts compensation to remain competitive in the H-1B labor market. Salary growth typically reflects inflation adjustments, increased demand for specialized skills, and evolving prevailing wage requirements. These historical trends can help applicants understand future salary expectations and negotiate appropriately when considering H-1B opportunities at MERCK SHARP & DOHME.

Median Salary Trend
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Year-by-year breakdown:

  • FY 2022: $99,507 (127 certified)
  • FY 2023: $118,640 (127 certified)
  • FY 2024: $111,400 (145 certified)
  • FY 2025: $122,800 (140 certified)
  • FY 2026: $124,363 (105 certified)

This 34% growth reflects strong compensation adjustments at MERCK SHARP & DOHME, keeping pace with market demands for H-1B talent.

What wage level does MERCK SHARP & DOHME use for H-1B?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME primarily files H-1B applications at Wage Level II, accounting for 43% of their filings. DOL wage levels range from Level I (entry-level, 17th percentile of local wages) to Level IV (expert, 67th percentile). Wage level determines both salary requirements and, under recent H-1B rules, lottery selection priority. Higher wage levels receive preference in the H-1B lottery, making MERCK SHARP & DOHME's wage level distribution an important factor for prospective applicants assessing their chances of H-1B selection.

Wage Level Distribution
I
II
III
IV
I: 10% II: 43% III: 33% IV: 14%

With 90% of positions at Level II or higher, MERCK SHARP & DOHME typically offers competitive wages above entry-level. Higher wage levels receive priority in the H-1B lottery.

How does MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B salary compare to other employers?

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's median H-1B salary of $114,171 is 5% lower than the national H-1B median of $120,000 across all employers and industries. This comparison provides context for evaluating MERCK SHARP & DOHME's competitiveness in attracting H-1B talent. Keep in mind that industry, location, and job function significantly impact salary levels. Tech companies and financial institutions typically offer higher H-1B salaries than other sectors, while salaries in major metros like San Francisco and New York exceed those in smaller markets. Compare MERCK SHARP & DOHME's offerings with similar companies in your field for a more accurate assessment.

vs National H-1B Median
MERCK SHARP & DOHME
$114,171
National
$120,000
-5% below national median

MERCK SHARP & DOHME's H-1B salaries are competitive with industry averages. The 840 total filings indicate active H-1B sponsorship.

How do new H-1B fees and rules affect MERCK SHARP & DOHME's sponsorship?
Estimated H-1B Sponsorship Costs (FY 2025)
I-129 Base Filing Fee $1,655
ACWIA Fee (25+ employees) $1,500
Fraud Prevention Fee $500
Asylum Program Fee $600
H-1B Registration Fee $215
Estimated Total per H-1B $4,470 - $7,275+

Recent H-1B rule changes have increased filing fees and introduced wage-level prioritization in the lottery. MERCK SHARP & DOHME files 10% of positions at Level I, which may face more lottery competition under wage-level prioritization rules.

With 840 certified filings, MERCK SHARP & DOHME invests significantly in H-1B sponsorship. The company's 0% denial rate suggests strong compliance with H-1B requirements and documentation standards.

Note: H-1B regulations are subject to change. Fees shown are estimates based on 2024 USCIS fee schedules. Actual costs may vary based on company size, premium processing, and future rule changes.

Companies Similar to MERCK SHARP & DOHME

Employers with similar H-1B salary ranges and filing volumes.

Loading similar companies...