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Smithsonian Institution: H-1B salaries and sponsorship
Smithsonian Institution filed 32 labor condition applications for H-1B and related visas in fiscal years 2023–2026; certified: 32. Median offered salary: $87,420.
Does Smithsonian Institution sponsor H-1B visas?
Smithsonian Institution filed 32 labor condition applications in fiscal years 2023–2026, the latest submitted on Feb 13, 2026. An LCA is the first step of an H-1B petition, so the employer has sponsored or prepared to sponsor H-1B workers; it does not guarantee sponsorship for any particular job. Check the employer's own job listings.
Salaries by job title
| Job title | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Analyst | 3 | $100,035 |
| Education Specialist | 2 | $54,576 |
| Deputy Director | 2 | $170,226 |
| Museum Specialist | 2 | $84,942 |
| Museum Curator (Art) | 2 | $83,682 |
| Research Biologist | 2 | $106,990 |
| Visual Information Specialist (Exhibitions/Graphic Designer) | 2 | $69,923 |
| Research Entomologist | 1 | $64,012 |
| Information Technology Specialist (Gallery Technology) | 1 | $63,609 |
| Museum Curator | 1 | $112,015 |
| Director of the National Museum of African Art | 1 | $300,000 |
| Supervisory Information Technology Specialist | 1 | $153,000 |
| Post-Doctoral Research Fellow | 1 | $82,017 |
| Advancement Associate | 1 | $55,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 1 | $82,764 |
| Associate Director for Digital Strategy and Engagement | 1 | $195,000 |
| Geologist (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow) | 1 | $82,764 |
| Research Ecologist | 1 | $121,485 |
| Post Doctoral Fellow | 1 | $71,452 |
| Assistant Under Secretary for Research Programs & Partnershi | 1 | $220,000 |
| Conservator | 1 | $90,239 |
| Director, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | 1 | $216,000 |
| Education Technician (Research) | 1 | $72,254 |
| Director of Individual Giving (Gift Officer) | 1 | $124,189 |
Applications by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 6 | $88,014 |
| FY2024 | 12 | $99,618 |
| FY2025 | 13 | $82,764 |
| FY2026 | 1 | $124,189 |
Prevailing wage levels
The Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for each occupation and area, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). The employer picks the level that matches the job's requirements.
Where the jobs are
Occupations
- Curators8
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists3
- Financial and Investment Analysts3
- Museum Technicians and Conservators2
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health2
- Natural Sciences Managers2
- Set and Exhibit Designers2
- Art Directors1
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects1
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners1
Latest applications
| Job title | Base salary | Location | Submitted | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director of Individual Giving (Gift Officer) | $124,189 Level II | New York, NY | Feb 13, 2026 | Mar 23, 2026 | Certified |
| Deputy Director | $199,430–$295,700 E-3 · Level IV | Washington, DC | Aug 29, 2025 | Feb 12, 2026 | Certified |
| Visual Information Specialist (Exhibitions/Graphic Designer) | $69,923 Level III | Washington, DC | Jul 14, 2025 | Oct 20, 2025 | Certified |
| Visual Information Specialist (Exhibitions/Graphic Designer) | $69,923 Level III | Washington, DC | Jul 10, 2025 | Oct 20, 2025 | Certified |
| Education Technician (Research) | $72,254 Level II | Washington, DC | Jul 7, 2025 | Sep 11, 2025 | Certified |
| Research Biologist | $74,584 Level II | Edgewater, MD | May 9, 2025 | May 27, 2025 | Certified |
| Director, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | $216,000 Level III | Cambridge, MA | May 5, 2025 | Jun 1, 2025 | Certified |
| Education Specialist | $54,576 E-3 · Level I | New York, NY | Mar 7, 2025 | May 8, 2025 | Certified |
| Museum Specialist | $70,685 Level II | Hillcrest Heights, MD | Mar 6, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 | Certified |
| Museum Curator (Art) | $84,601 Level III | Washington, DC | Feb 27, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 | Certified |
| Conservator | $90,239 Level IV | Washington, DC | Feb 19, 2025 | Mar 4, 2025 | Certified |
| Museum Curator (Art) | $82,764 Level II | Washington, DC | Dec 12, 2024 | Dec 23, 2024 | Certified |
| Research Biologist | $139,395 Level III | Front Royal, VA | Nov 22, 2024 | Nov 30, 2024 | Certified |
| Assistant Under Secretary for Research Programs & Partnershi | $220,000 Level IV | Washington, DC | Oct 18, 2024 | Dec 1, 2024 | Certified |
| Geologist (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow) | $82,764 Level II | Washington, DC | Sep 6, 2024 | Oct 14, 2024 | Certified |
| Research Ecologist | $121,485 Level III | Front Royal, VA | Aug 30, 2024 | Sep 8, 2024 | Certified |
| Museum Specialist | $99,200 Level II | Washington, DC | Jun 4, 2024 | Jun 17, 2024 | Certified |
| Advancement Associate | $55,000–$88,926 Level I | Washington, DC | Apr 30, 2024 | Jul 17, 2024 | Certified |
| Postdoctoral Research Fellow | $82,764 Level I | Front Royal, VA | Apr 22, 2024 | Jun 1, 2024 | Certified |
| Associate Director for Digital Strategy and Engagement | $195,000 Level II | Washington, DC | Apr 12, 2024 | Jul 15, 2024 | Certified |
| Investment Analyst | $100,035 Level II | Washington, DC | Feb 8, 2024 | Mar 17, 2024 | Certified |
| Investment Analyst | $100,035 Level II | Washington, DC | Jan 18, 2024 | Mar 18, 2024 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Post Doctoral Fellow | $71,452 Level II | Edgewater, MD | Jan 11, 2024 | Mar 4, 2024 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Investment Analyst | $100,035 Level II | Washington, DC | Jan 10, 2024 | Mar 18, 2024 | Certified |
| Deputy Director | $141,022–$282,100 E-3 · Level IV | Washington, DC | Dec 11, 2023 | Feb 12, 2024 | Certified |
| Post-Doctoral Research Fellow | $82,017 Level I | Edgewater, MD | Dec 7, 2023 | Dec 18, 2023 | Certified |
| Supervisory Information Technology Specialist | $153,000 Level IV | Washington, DC | Sep 22, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Museum Curator | $112,015 Level IV | Washington, DC | May 4, 2023 | Jul 15, 2023 | Certified |
| Education Specialist | $54,576 E-3 · Level I | New York, NY | Apr 19, 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Certified |
| Research Entomologist | $64,012 Level II | Washington, DC | Dec 9, 2022 | Jan 5, 2023 | Certified |
| Information Technology Specialist (Gallery Technology) | $63,609 Level II | New York, NY | Dec 7, 2022 | Dec 19, 2022 | Certified |
| Director of the National Museum of African Art | $300,000 Level IV | Washington, DC | Aug 3, 2021 | Oct 1, 2021 | Certified, then withdrawn |
Salaries are the lower end of the wage offered on each application, converted to a yearly amount; statistics use certified full-time applications only. An LCA is not a visa approval and one LCA can cover several positions. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, fiscal years 2023–2026 (latest decision Jun 30, 2026).