Top 10 Companies Hiring PhD Graduates on OPT
The top 10 companies hiring PhD holders on OPT include Optum, MyEyeDr., and University of Kentucky, spanning healthcare and medical services and higher education, two sectors with strong demand for doctoral-level research and clinical expertise. Migrate Mate is tracking 1,801 live OPT jobs across these employers as of October 22, 2026, updated daily. For PhD candidates on F-1 OPT, these employers offer roles where doctoral training is a genuine requirement, not just a preference.
Which companies hire the most PhD holders on OPT?
Ranked by live OPT openings on Migrate Mate, updated daily
- 01
Optum
Health ServicesAnalyticsHealthcareOptum has 271 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate, the most of any company on this list. Its openings concentrate in Physicians & Surgeons and Nursing. Optum provides health services, pharmacy care, and data-driven health management solutions as part of the UnitedHealth Group.
Open roles by team
- Physicians & Surgeons418
- Nursing274
- Healthcare Administration263
- Allied Health75
- Pharmacy24
+37 roles across other teams
Open roles at Optum271 openSee all 271+ Optum OPT jobsApplyOB/GYN Physician - GeneralistQuincy, Massachusetts · On-siteApplyAudiologistWellesley, Massachusetts · On-siteApplyPhysical TherapistAiken, South Carolina · On-siteApplyDermatologistDenver, Colorado · On-siteApplyEndocrinologistLas Vegas, Nevada · On-site - 02
MyEyeDr.
Eye CareOptometryRetail HealthMyEyeDr. has 230 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Nursing and Healthcare Administration. MyEyeDr. provides comprehensive eye care and optical retail services through doctor-owned and affiliated vision centers.
Open roles by team
- Nursing455
- Healthcare Administration230
- Allied Health7
- Teaching & Instruction1
Open roles at MyEyeDr.230 openSee all 230+ MyEyeDr. OPT jobsApplyOptometristFredericksburg, Virginia · On-siteApplyOptometrist (OD)Bremen, Georgia · On-siteApplyClinical Excellence CaptainMilwaukee, Wisconsin · On-siteApplyRegional Clinical Director - OptometristDallas, Texas · On-siteApplyClinical Manager - OptometristDallas, Texas · On-site - 03
University of Kentucky
Higher EducationResearchAcademiaUniversity of Kentucky has 206 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Physicians & Surgeons and Healthcare Administration. The University of Kentucky is a public research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across a wide range of disciplines.
Open roles by team
- Physicians & Surgeons261
- Healthcare Administration143
- Nursing114
- Science & Research86
- Teaching & Instruction72
+67 roles across other teams
Open roles at University of Kentucky206 openSee all 206+ University of Kentucky OPT jobsApplyResearch Scientist SeniorLexington, Kentucky · On-siteApplyMass Spectrometry ScientistLexington, Kentucky · On-siteApplyPsychologist Staff IILexington, Kentucky · On-siteApplyAssistant or Associate Professor of Plant and Soil SciencesLexington, Kentucky · On-siteApplyLecturer in Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringLexington, Kentucky · On-site Unlock every OPT job from these sponsors
Find 13,000+ OPT jobs- 04
Jobot
StaffingRecruitingHealthcareJobot has 175 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Compliance & Legal and Nursing. Jobot is a staffing and recruiting firm that connects job seekers with employers across technology, finance, legal, and engineering sectors.
Open roles by team
- Compliance & Legal260
- Nursing71
- Physicians & Surgeons71
- Healthcare Administration45
- Consulting & Strategy12
+32 roles across other teams
Open roles at Jobot175 openSee all 175+ Jobot OPT jobsApplyEntry Level AttorneyMiami, Florida · On-siteApplyAssociate Litigation AttorneyTampa, Florida · On-siteApplyBusiness AttorneyFort Myers, Florida · On-siteApplyLitigation Associate AttorneyPortland, Maine · On-siteApplyTrust and Estate AttorneySt. Petersburg, Florida · On-site - 05
Aspen Dental
DentalHealthcareClinical CareAspen Dental has 170 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Physicians & Surgeons and Healthcare Administration. Aspen Dental manages a network of dental practices offering general, cosmetic, and emergency dental services to patients across the country.
Open roles by team
- Physicians & Surgeons170
- Healthcare Administration170
- Dentistry168
- Nursing155
- Teaching & Instruction2
Open roles at Aspen Dental170 openSee all 170+ Aspen Dental OPT jobsApplyEndodontistAthens, Georgia · On-siteApplyDentistSanta Maria, California · On-siteApplyAssociate DentistLancaster, Pennsylvania · On-siteApplyClinical Director of ImplantsChicago, Illinois · On-siteApplyDMD/DDSKingsland, Georgia · On-site - Editor’s note
How this list is ranked
These employers are ranked by how many roles open to OPT candidates they have live on Migrate Mate right now. OPT is your own work authorization rather than something the employer files, so the practical question is whether the role fits your field of study and whether the team has hired people on OPT before.
- 06
VCA Animal Hospitals
VeterinaryAnimal HealthClinical CareVCA Animal Hospitals has 158 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Nursing and Animal Care. VCA Animal Hospitals is a national network of veterinary clinics and specialty animal hospitals providing general and advanced animal care.
Open roles by team
- Nursing144
- Animal Care133
- Allied Health16
- Healthcare Administration14
Open roles at VCA Animal Hospitals158 openSee all 158+ VCA Animal Hospitals OPT jobsApplyAssociate VeterinarianEl Cajon, California · On-siteApplyER Associate VeterinarianSpringfield, Pennsylvania · On-siteApplyInternistPearl City, Hawaii · On-siteApplyRelief VeterinarianSwartz Creek, Michigan · On-siteApplyEmergency VeterinarianSacramento, California · On-site - 07
Amazon.com
TechnologyResearchHealthcareAmazon.com has 153 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Data Science & Analytics and AI & Machine Learning. Amazon.com operates e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence businesses worldwide.
Open roles by team
- Data Science & Analytics272
- AI & Machine Learning180
- Software Engineering116
- Technical Program Management49
- Compliance & Legal23
+107 roles across other teams
Open roles at Amazon.com153 openSee all 153+ Amazon.com OPT jobsApplyApplied & Research ScientistPasadena, California · On-siteApplyApplied Scientist IISeattle, Washington · On-siteApplyApplied ScientistNew York, New York · On-siteApplySr. Simulation ScientistBellevue, Washington · On-siteApplyTax ManagerArlington, Virginia · On-site See OPT jobs from all 10 sponsors and thousands more
Find 13,000+ OPT jobs- 08
OneOncology
OncologyClinical CareHealthcareOneOncology has 152 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Physicians & Surgeons and Healthcare Administration. OneOncology is a physician-led network of community oncology practices providing cancer care across the United States.
Open roles by team
- Physicians & Surgeons291
- Healthcare Administration123
- Nursing103
- Allied Health16
- Science & Research2
+1 roles across other teams
Open roles at OneOncology152 openSee all 152+ OneOncology OPT jobsApplyHematologist OncologistKansas City, Missouri · On-siteApplyNeurohospitalistNew Brunswick, New Jersey · On-siteApplyUrologistManhattan, New York · On-siteApplyRadiation OncologistJupiter, Florida · On-siteApplyBreast Surgical OncologistNashville, Tennessee · On-site - 09
Oregon Health & Science University
Medical ResearchHigher EducationClinical CareOregon Health & Science University has 147 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Nursing and Physicians & Surgeons. Oregon Health and Science University is a public research university focused on health sciences education, patient care, and biomedical research.
Open roles by team
- Nursing141
- Physicians & Surgeons130
- Healthcare Administration117
- Science & Research108
- Teaching & Instruction43
+69 roles across other teams
Open roles at Oregon Health & Science University147 openSee all 147+ Oregon Health & Science University OPT jobsApplyPostdoctoral ScholarPortland, Oregon · On-siteApplyPoint-of-Care Ultrasound FellowPortland, Oregon · On-siteApplyMidwifery FacultyPortland, Oregon · HybridApplyEndocrinologist- Assistant or Associate ProfessorPortland, Oregon · On-siteApplyAssistant/ Associate Professor, PeriodontologyPortland, Oregon · On-site - 10
Rutgers University
Higher EducationResearchAcademiaRutgers University has 139 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate. Its openings concentrate in Science & Research and Physicians & Surgeons. Rutgers University is a public research university in New Jersey with academic and research programs spanning health, science, law, and the arts.
Open roles by team
- Science & Research201
- Physicians & Surgeons57
- Nursing54
- Teaching & Instruction47
- Healthcare Administration45
+58 roles across other teams
Open roles at Rutgers University139 openSee all 139+ Rutgers University OPT jobsApplyPostdoctoral AssociatePiscataway, New Jersey · On-siteApplyResearch Assistant ProfessorPiscataway, New Jersey · On-siteApplyHeart Failure & Transplant CardiologistNew Brunswick, New Jersey · On-siteApplyPostdoctoral Associate in Computational/Theoretical Materials SciencePiscataway, New Jersey · On-siteApplyHill Assistant Professorships and other Postdoctoral PositionsPiscataway, New Jersey · On-site
How OPT works
OPT is work authorization for F-1 students, not an employer-sponsored visa. The student applies through their school's international office (the DSO) and USCIS with Form I-765; the employer files nothing. The role must relate to the student's field of study. OPT gives up to 12 months of work authorization, with a 24-month STEM extension for eligible degrees.
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Find 13,000+ OPT jobsOPT Employers for PhD Graduates: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies hire the most OPT students?
Optum has the most, with 271 live OPT jobs on Migrate Mate, followed by MyEyeDr. (230) and University of Kentucky (206). Across the 10 companies on this list, Migrate Mate is tracking 1,801 live OPT jobs, updated daily.
Who is eligible for OPT?
F-1 students who have maintained valid student status and are within 60 days of completing their degree program are eligible to apply for OPT. The work must be directly related to the student's major field of study. PhD candidates may apply for pre-completion or post-completion OPT, with post-completion OPT providing up to 12 months of work authorization. Students in qualifying STEM fields may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension after using their initial 12-month period.
How much does F-1 OPT cost?
F-1 OPT is student work authorization, so there is no employer sponsorship fee. The student pays the USCIS filing fee for the work-authorization application, plus any costs their school charges. Fee amounts change from time to time, so check the current figure before you rely on it.
How do I get OPT through a top employer?
Getting OPT authorization starts with your Designated School Official, not the employer. You request an OPT recommendation from your DSO, who then updates your SEVIS record. You file Form I-765 with USCIS and wait for your Employment Authorization Document. Once you receive your EAD, you can begin working for any employer in a role related to your field of study, the employer does not file any paperwork on your behalf. Apply at least 90 days before your intended start date to account for USCIS processing time.