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Research Scientist H-1B Salary in Philadelphia, PA

Employers have filed 237 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Research Scientist positions in Philadelphia, PA, with a median salary of $74,170. That's 22% lower than the national Research Scientist H-1B median of $94,765 across all U.S. locations, and 19% lower than the Philadelphia, PA all-roles H-1B median of $92,082. Research Scientist ranks #11 among H-1B job titles filed from Philadelphia, PA.

Headline numbers for Research Scientist H-1B roles in Philadelphia, PA, sourced from certified DOL Labor Condition Applications. This pair ranks #1,248 by filing volume out of the 6,873 job × city combinations we track — in the top quartile for Research Scientist hiring.

$74,170
Median Salary
237
Certified Filings
$48,000
10th Percentile
$106,610
90th Percentile

Research Scientist H-1B Salary Range in Philadelphia, PA

The pay distribution for this role spans $58,610 from the 10th to 90th percentile. Half of all offers fall between $58,198 and $91,000, the interquartile range where most experienced Research Scientists land. The median of $74,170 sits 22% lower than the national Research Scientist H-1B median.

10th percentile
$48,000
25th percentile
$58,198
Median
$74,170
75th percentile
$91,000
90th percentile
$106,610
Middle 50% of Research Scientist H-1B salaries in Philadelphia, PA: $58,198 to $91,000

Top Employers Hiring Research Scientists in Philadelphia, PA

THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA is the largest H-1B sponsor for Research Scientist in Philadelphia, PA, with 71 certified filings (30% of local Research Scientist H-1B filings) at a median salary of $65,104. Among the top sponsors, ADARE PHARMACEUTICALS pays the highest median at $85,000. The pay spread across top employers is 70%, so which employer you work for materially affects your offer.

Median Salary Comparison

Pay spread among top employers: 70% ($50,000 at TEMPLE UNIVERSITY--A COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY to $85,000 at ADARE PHARMACEUTICALS)

How This Salary Compares

Two benchmarks worth knowing. The first is the national Research Scientist 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 Research Scientist pays above or below the typical H-1B job in this metro.

vs. National Research Scientist
-22%
22% lower than the national Research Scientist H-1B median of $94,765.
vs. Philadelphia, PA Average
-19%
19% lower than the overall H-1B median in Philadelphia, PA ($92,082).

Research Scientist H-1B Salaries in Other Cities

The other top metros where Research Scientist is an active H-1B role. New York, NY has the most filings (1,699) outside Philadelphia, PA. The highest median among these is Menlo Park, CA at $182,000. Click any city below for local salary percentiles and top sponsoring employers.

City Filings Median Salary
New York, NY 1,699 $100,000
Cambridge, MA 1,264 $108,000
Menlo Park, CA 1,206 $182,000
Redmond, WA 1,013 $149,867
Bellevue, WA 842 $161,378
Mountain View, CA 756 $181,000
Boston, MA 658 $88,000
Seattle, WA 636 $160,000
Stanford, CA 591 $80,000
San Francisco, CA 577 $156,562

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-Research Scientist role here (1,215 filings). The highest-paying role on this list is Assistant Professor at a median of $128,134.

Job Title Filings Median Salary
Senior Consultant 1,215 $88,483
Software Developer 1,001 $93,000
Manager 884 $111,509
Research Associate 768 $65,292
Consultant 610 $79,807
Assistant Professor 555 $128,134
Architect 420 $97,757
Software Engineer 403 $93,600
Systems Analyst 243 $88,485
Senior Systems Analyst 241 $87,984

Key Insights

The median H-1B salary for Research Scientist in Philadelphia, PA is $74,170, based on 237 certified Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. This is 22% lower than the national Research Scientist H-1B median of $94,765 across all U.S. locations. It is also 19% lower than the overall H-1B median of $92,082 in Philadelphia, PA across all job titles.

Salaries span a $58,610 range from the 10th percentile ($48,000) to the 90th percentile ($106,610). The middle 50% of workers earn between $58,198 and $91,000, reflecting variation in experience, specific technical skills, and employer tier.

THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA is the largest H-1B sponsor for this role in Philadelphia, PA, with 71 certified filings at a median salary of $65,104. Among the top employers, ADARE PHARMACEUTICALS pays the highest median at $85,000. The pay spread across top employers is 70%, so which employer you work for meaningfully affects your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions people ask about Research Scientist H-1B roles in Philadelphia, PA, answered directly from 237 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 Research Scientist salary in Philadelphia, PA?

The median H-1B salary for Research Scientist positions in Philadelphia, PA is $74,170, based on 237 certified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

10th percentile
$48,000
25th percentile
$58,198
Median
$74,170
75th percentile
$91,000
90th percentile
$106,610

The salary distribution for Research Scientist roles in Philadelphia, PA shows considerable range: the 10th percentile earns $48,000, while the 90th percentile earns $106,610. This $58,610 spread reflects differences in experience levels, specific technical skills, company size, and seniority.

Compared to the national H-1B median of $130,541, Research Scientist salaries in Philadelphia, PA are 43% lower, reflecting the local cost of living and market demand for this role.

Which companies hire Research Scientists in Philadelphia, PA?

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

These employers represent the largest H-1B sponsors for Research Scientist roles specifically in Philadelphia, PA. THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA leads with 71 filings at a median salary of $65,104. Compensation varies by employer, ranging from $50,000 to $85,000.

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

To obtain an H-1B visa as a Research Scientist 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, 237 H-1B positions for Research Scientists 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.