Astronomers H-1B Salaries (2026)
DOL occupation 19-2011 · common titles: Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Associate, Assistant Research Scientist
Short answer
The median H-1B salary for astronomers is $83,262 in FY2026 so far, across 80 certified filings. The middle half earn $73,157 – $101,388, and pay is up 2% since FY2024.
Median
$83,262
FY2026 so far
Filings
80
0.0% of all H-1B filings
Top 10%
$123,388+
90th percentile
Change since FY2024
+2%
$81,404 → $83,262
FY2026 so far · number of filings by salary
Salary distribution
Darker bars hold the middle 50% of filings. Bars are $20k wide; the first and last bars include everything below and above.
DOL prevailing-wage level
Median pay by experience level
Median salary and number of filings at each wage level.
FY2026 so far
By state
| State | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| California | 10 | $83,514 |
| Colorado | 10 | $95,977 |
| Maryland | 10 | $83,262 |
FY2026 so far
Top employers for this job
| Employer | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | 9 | $102,550 |
| National Radio Astronomy Observatory | 6 | $86,753 |
| AURA/Space Telescope Science Institute | 5 | $83,032 |
| Universities Space Research Association | 4 | $77,323 |
| University of Hawaii | 3 | $132,000 |
| University of Michigan | 3 | $92,243 |
| The University of Chicago | 3 | $85,000 |
| Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii | 3 | $83,491 |
| New Mexico State University | 2 | $75,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 | $72,000 |
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Astronomers H-1B salary questions
What is the average H-1B salary for astronomers?
The median is $83,262 across 80 certified H-1B filings in FY2026 so far. The middle half earn $73,157 to $101,388, and the top 10% earn $123,388 or more.
Which state pays H-1B astronomers the most?
Among the 10 states with the most filings, Colorado has the highest median at $95,977 (10 filings).
Which company sponsors the most H-1B astronomers?
University of Colorado, with 9 certified filings in FY2026 so far at a median of $102,550.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification LCA disclosure data, decisions through Jun 30, 2026. Salaries are annualized base wages from the filing and exclude bonus and stock. A certified LCA is not an approved H-1B petition. Updated Oct 4, 2026.