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H-1B data current through FY 2026 Q3

Principal Research Associate H-1B Salary in Philadelphia, PA

Employers have filed 240 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Principal Research Associate positions in Philadelphia, PA, with a median salary of $60,780. That's 1% higher than the national Principal Research Associate H-1B median of $60,000 across all U.S. locations, and 34% lower than the Philadelphia, PA all-roles H-1B median of $92,394. Principal Research Associate ranks #12 among H-1B job titles filed from Philadelphia, PA.

Headline numbers for Principal Research Associate H-1B roles in Philadelphia, PA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,372 by filing volume out of the 7,543 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Principal Research Associate hiring.

$60,780
Median Salary
240
Certified Filings
$53,460
10th Percentile
$70,344
90th Percentile

Principal Research Associate H-1B Salary Range in Philadelphia, PA

The pay distribution for this role spans $16,884 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $56,264 and $65,292, the interquartile range where most experienced Principal Research Associates land. The median of $60,780 sits 1% higher than the national Principal Research Associate H-1B median.

10th percentile
$53,460
25th percentile
$56,264
Median
$60,780
75th percentile
$65,292
90th percentile
$70,344
Middle 50% of Principal Research Associate H-1B salaries in Philadelphia, PA: $56,264 to $65,292

Top Employers Hiring Principal Research Associates in Philadelphia, PA

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY--A COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY is the largest H-1B sponsor for Principal Research Associate in Philadelphia, PA, with 118 certified filings (49% of local Principal Research Associate H-1B filings) at a median salary of $61,428. Among the top sponsors, TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA pays the highest median at $65,500. The pay spread across top employers is 16%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 16% ($56,484 at THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA to $65,500 at TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA)

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Principal Research Associate H-1B median across every U.S. location — a measure of how local cost-of-living and market demand shift pay up or down. The second is the all-roles H-1B median in Philadelphia, PA, which tells you whether Principal Research Associate pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Principal Research Associate
+1%
1% higher than the national Principal Research Associate H-1B median of $60,000.
vs. Philadelphia, PA Average
-34%
34% lower than the overall H-1B median in Philadelphia, PA ($92,394).

Principal Research Associate H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Principal Research Associate is an active H-1B role. Ann Arbor, MI has the most filings (1,023) outside Philadelphia, PA. The highest median among these is Cambridge, MA at $70,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
Ann Arbor, MI 1,023 $58,800
Houston, TX 899 $58,608
Baltimore, MD 799 $61,572
New York, NY 704 $69,492
Atlanta, GA 469 $58,743
Cambridge, MA 272 $70,000
Boston, MA 262 $65,000
Austin, TX 244 $60,000
Indianapolis, IN 179 $58,500
Columbia, MO 166 $50,814

Other H-1B Jobs in Philadelphia, PA

The most common H-1B specialty occupations filed from Philadelphia, PA, ranked by certified filing volume. Senior Consultant is the busiest non-Principal Research Associate role here (1,227 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Assistant Professor at a median of $134,000.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Senior Consultant 1,227 $88,483
Software Developer 1,046 $94,037
Manager 895 $111,509
Research Associate 828 $66,000
Consultant 638 $81,084
Assistant Professor 610 $134,000
Architect 456 $98,280
Software Engineer 441 $94,000
Systems Analyst 249 $88,485
Senior Systems Analyst 242 $88,421

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Principal Research Associate in Philadelphia, PA is $60,780, based on 240 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 1% higher than the national Principal Research Associate H-1B median of $60,000 across all U.S. locations. It is also 34% lower than the overall H-1B median of $92,394 in Philadelphia, PA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $16,884 range from the 10th percentile ($53,460) to the 90th percentile ($70,344). The middle 50% of workers earn between $56,264 and $65,292, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY--A COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Philadelphia, PA, with 118 certified filings at a median salary of $61,428. Among the top employers, TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA pays the highest median at $65,500. The pay spread across top employers is 16%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Principal Research Associate H-1B roles in Philadelphia, PA, answered directly from 240 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Every answer below cites the specific data point it's based on.

What is the average Principal Research Associate salary in Philadelphia, PA?

The median H-1B salary for Principal Research Associate positions in Philadelphia, PA is $60,780, based on 240 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$53,460
25th percentile
$56,264
Median
$60,780
75th percentile
$65,292
90th percentile
$70,344

The salary distribution for Principal Research Associate roles in Philadelphia, PA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $53,460, while the 90th percentile earns $70,344. This $16,884 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $126,302, Principal Research Associate salaries in Philadelphia, PA are 52% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Principal Research Associates in Philadelphia, PA?

The top employers sponsoring H-1B visas for Principal Research Associate positions in Philadelphia, PA are:

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Principal Research Associate roles specifically in Philadelphia, PA. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY--A COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY leads with 118 filings at a median salary of $61,428. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $56,484 to $65,500.

How do I get an H-1B visa as a Principal Research Associate in Philadelphia, PA?

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Principal Research Associate in Philadelphia, PA, you'll need a sponsoring employer. The process involves several steps:

1
Job Offer
2
LCA Filed
3
H-1B Petition
4
Approved
  1. Secure a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa
  2. The employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor
  3. Once the LCA is certified, the employer files an H-1B petition with USCIS
  4. If selected in the H-1B lottery (if applicable) and approved, you can begin work

Based on our data, 240 H-1B positions for Principal Research Associates in Philadelphia, PA have been certified, indicating strong demand for this role. The top sponsors listed above have a track record of successful H-1B sponsorship for this position.