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Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy: H-1B salaries and sponsorship
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy filed 39 labor condition applications for H-1B and related visas in fiscal years 2023–2026; certified: 37. Median offered salary: $96,390.
Applications (LCAs)39
Certified37
Employer addressTucson, AZ
H-1B dependent employerNo
Median offered salary$96,390
Middle half of salaries$78,989–$116,688
10th–90th percentile$64,113–$159,156
Does Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy sponsor H-1B visas?
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy filed 39 labor condition applications in fiscal years 2023–2026, the latest submitted on Mar 2, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Queue Observer | 4 | $60,858 |
| Assistant Scientist | 3 | $94,000 |
| Associate Science Operations Specialist | 3 | $78,530 |
| Associate Scientist | 2 | $93,820 |
| Information Systems Engineer I | 2 | $102,186 |
| Science Operations Manager | 2 | $174,000 |
| Assistant Astronomer | 2 | $104,744 |
| Assistant Science Operations Specialist | 2 | $74,530 |
| Software Engineer II | 1 | $86,400 |
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | 1 | $155,997 |
| Astronomer, Assistant | 1 | $78,989 |
| Assistant Science Operation Specialist | 1 | $61,000 |
| Systems Verification Engineer (SVE) | 1 | $77,250 |
| Science Fellow | 1 | $70,000 |
| Kitt Peak Visitor Center Operations Manager | 1 | $106,500 |
| Associate in Research (Science Operations Specialist) | 1 | $90,000 |
| DM Subsystem Scientist | 1 | $134,550 |
| Head of Portfolio Management Office (PMO) | 1 | $163,894 |
| Adaptive Optics Assistant Scientist | 1 | $125,000 |
| Post Doctoral Research Associate | 1 | $80,000 |
| Software Engineer III | 1 | $118,403 |
| Head of Communications, Education, & Engagement | 1 | $208,081 |
| Instrumentation Program Scientist | 1 | $114,174 |
| Project Manager | 1 | $122,423 |
| Adaptive Optics (AO) Associate Scientist | 1 | $99,322 |
| Instrument Operations Manager | 1 | $164,263 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | 1 | $99,450 |
Applications by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 10 | $82,694 |
| FY2024 | 13 | $103,250 |
| FY2025 | 14 | $107,473 |
| FY2026 | 2 | $72,094 |
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
- Astronomers21
- Physicists3
- General and Operations Managers3
- Computer Programmers2
- Mechanical Engineers2
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators2
- Operations Research Analysts2
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians1
- Industrial Engineers1
- Public Relations Managers1
Latest applications
| Job title | Base salary | Location | Submitted | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Science Operations Specialist | $78,000 Level I | Hilo, HI | Mar 2, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 | Certified |
| Queue Observer | $66,188 Level I | Tucson, AZ | Feb 11, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 | Certified |
| Adaptive Optics (AO) Associate Scientist | $99,322 Level II | Hilo, HI | Aug 27, 2025 | Nov 6, 2025 | Certified |
| Assistant Astronomer | $109,489 Level I | Boulder, CO | Aug 22, 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 | Certified |
| Instrument Operations Manager | $164,263 Level III | Makawao, HI | Aug 15, 2025 | Sep 8, 2025 | Certified |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | $99,450 Level II | Tucson, AZ | Jun 24, 2025 | Jul 14, 2025 | Certified |
| Associate Science Operations Specialist | $79,061 Level I | Hilo, HI | Apr 2, 2025 | Aug 29, 2025 | Certified |
| Associate Science Operations Specialist | $79,061 Level I | Makawao, HI | Apr 2, 2025 | Aug 29, 2025 | Withdrawn |
| Instrumentation Program Scientist | $114,174 Level II | Tucson, AZ | Mar 27, 2025 | Sep 26, 2025 | Certified |
| Assistant Science Operations Specialist | $79,061 Level I | Makawao, HI | Mar 26, 2025 | Aug 29, 2025 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Project Manager | $122,423 Level III | Hilo, HI | Mar 25, 2025 | May 15, 2025 | Certified |
| Head of Communications, Education, & Engagement | $208,081 Level IV | Tucson, AZ | Mar 18, 2025 | Sep 1, 2025 | Certified |
| Information Systems Engineer I | $107,473 E-3 · Level III | Hilo, HI | Jan 8, 2025 | Jan 20, 2025 | Certified |
| Software Engineer III | $118,403 Level IV | Annapolis, MD | Dec 18, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | Certified |
| Assistant Science Operations Specialist | $70,000 Level I | Hilo, HI | Oct 25, 2024 | Feb 3, 2025 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Post Doctoral Research Associate | $80,000 Level I | Boulder, CO | Jul 23, 2024 | Aug 20, 2024 | Certified |
| Queue Observer | $59,000 Level I | Tucson, AZ | Jun 12, 2024 | Nov 1, 2024 | Certified |
| Assistant Astronomer | $100,000 Level II | Hilo, HI | May 20, 2024 | Sep 13, 2024 | Certified |
| Adaptive Optics Assistant Scientist | $125,000 Level III | Makawao, HI | May 16, 2024 | Jul 22, 2024 | Certified |
| Associate Scientist | $96,390 Level I | Hilo, HI | Apr 16, 2024 | Oct 1, 2024 | Certified |
| Science Operations Manager | $174,000 Level IV | Makawao, HI | Mar 17, 2024 | Apr 2, 2024 | Certified |
| Science Operations Manager | $174,000 Level IV | Makawao, HI | Mar 11, 2024 | Apr 2, 2024 | Withdrawn |
| Associate in Research (Science Operations Specialist) | $90,000 Level I | Makawao, HI | Mar 8, 2024 | May 12, 2024 | Certified |
| Head of Portfolio Management Office (PMO) | $163,894 Level IV | Tucson, AZ | Jan 30, 2024 | Apr 16, 2024 | Certified |
| Kitt Peak Visitor Center Operations Manager | $106,500 Level III | Tucson, AZ | Nov 15, 2023 | Jan 15, 2024 | Certified |
| Assistant Scientist | $116,688 Level II | Makawao, HI | Sep 5, 2023 | Dec 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Systems Verification Engineer (SVE) | $77,250 Level I | Mesa, AZ | Sep 5, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Science Fellow | $70,000 Level I | Hilo, HI | Jun 30, 2023 | Aug 28, 2023 | Certified |
| Information Systems Engineer I | $96,899 E-3 · Level IV | Hilo, HI | Jun 22, 2023 | Aug 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Queue Observer | $60,858 Level I | Tucson, AZ | Jun 16, 2023 | Aug 14, 2023 | Certified |
| Assistant Science Operation Specialist | $61,000 Level I | Hilo, HI | May 24, 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Queue Observer | $60,858 Level III | Tucson, AZ | May 19, 2023 | Aug 14, 2023 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Associate Scientist | $91,249 Level I | Boulder, CO | Mar 17, 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Principal Mechanical Engineer | $155,997 Level IV | Makawao, HI | Jan 25, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| Astronomer, Assistant | $78,989 Level I | Hilo, HI | Dec 29, 2022 | Apr 1, 2023 | Certified |
| Software Engineer II | $86,400 Level II | Tucson, AZ | Dec 9, 2022 | Apr 3, 2023 | Certified |
| Assistant Scientist | $89,603 Level I | Hilo, HI | Oct 21, 2022 | Feb 3, 2023 | Certified |
| Assistant Scientist | $94,000 Level I | Boulder, CO | May 25, 2021 | Oct 1, 2021 | Certified, then withdrawn |
| DM Subsystem Scientist | $134,550 Level III | Tucson, AZ | Dec 9, 2020 | Apr 2, 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).