Biologist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
California employs more biologists than almost any other state, with major employers spanning biotech firms in the Bay Area and San Diego, federal agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey, and universities such as UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Life sciences hubs in South San Francisco, San Diego's Torrey Pines Mesa, and Sacramento's agricultural research corridor all sponsor international biologists regularly.
Find Biologist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 16+ Biologist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship










See all Biologist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biologist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All Jobs
INTRODUCTION
Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields with dedication, a creative spirit, and a vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties worldwide and are devoted to fostering a community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. Here, you can apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental professionals on work that’s vital to our clients and the communities they serve.
Join a team that’s naturally committed to the environment.
YOUR OPPORTUNITY
Stantec is seeking an entry and mid-level Biologist to join our Environmental Services Practice working within Northern California, to provide as-needed biological support over multiple projects and programs. This position entails authoring biological constraint reports and may include writing other reports, collecting biological data, surveys, habitat assessments, biological monitoring, and/or environmental compliance. The position is to be based out of our Chico, Redding, and Eureka offices. Stantec offers flexible work locations, flexible work hours and a robust compensation and benefits package.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- As a Biologist, you will work in highly variable terrains, environments, and locations, and you may author many reports.
- This position is primarily field based and will include office work, depending upon interest and experience.
- Authoring of biological constraint reports and other technical reports.
- Assist and/or lead field work tasks, as needed, such as nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments, wetland delineation and classification, special status plant and wildlife surveys, and biological compliance monitoring.
- Communicating with your team, team leads, project manager and potentially construction crews, clients, or other stakeholders.
- Preparing daily monitoring and/or field reports.
- Identification and support on environmental permitting.
- Conducting desktop reviews for project impacts or environmental permitting on various projects located throughout California.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of California ecosystems and endangered or protected species.
- Perform linear facility environmental work including utilities.
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Should be familiar with review and analysis of scientific data, maps, and drawings.
- Provide support in delivering high quality work products to multi-disciplinary project teams.
- Strong skills as a self-starter.
- Assist in field work tasks, such as nesting bird surveys, vegetation community assessments, wetland delineations, special-status plant and wildlife surveys, restoration monitoring and construction biological monitoring.
- Independent work is expected, but can also include participation in team lead efforts.
- Strong sense of safety and ability to participate in, uphold and enforce Stantec’s strong safety programs.
- Good driving record and a valid driver's license is required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of 1-5 years of field experience.
- Understanding of Federal and State agency environmental requirements.
- Familiar with compliance monitoring.
- Nesting bird experience.
- Special-status species survey experience.
- Botany experience.
- Wetland delineation experience.
- Construction monitoring experience.
- 10(a)(1)(A) permits.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of a BA/BS degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Fieldwork may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather. Some travel may be required. Ability to lift and move items and equipment up to 50 lbs.
PAY RANGE
-
Locations in MN, OH, VT, & Various CA, NY Areas - $56,800.00 - $82,400.00 Annually
-
Locations in CO, HI, IL, MD & Various CA, NJ Areas - $62,500.00 - $90,600.00 Annually
PAY TRANSPARENCY: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
BENEFITS SUMMARY: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.
EEO STATEMENT
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
Biologist Job Roles in California
See all Biologist Jobs in California
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Biologist Jobs in CaliforniaBiologist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for biologists in California?
California's life sciences sector includes employers with consistent H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship histories for biology roles. Major sponsors include Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, alongside federal research agencies and UC system campuses. Biotech firms concentrated in South San Francisco and San Diego's Torrey Pines Mesa account for a significant share of biologist sponsorship filings in the state.
Which visa types are most common for biologist roles in California?
The H-1B is the most commonly used visa for biologists in California, provided the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as biology, biochemistry, or microbiology. Researchers at universities or nonprofit institutions may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B petitions. The O-1A is an option for biologists with documented extraordinary achievement, such as published research or significant awards.
Which cities in California have the most biologist sponsorship jobs?
San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area generate the highest volume of biologist sponsorship jobs in California. San Diego's Torrey Pines Mesa and Sorrento Valley host dense clusters of biotech employers. The Bay Area's South San Francisco corridor is home to large pharma and biotech companies. Sacramento and Davis also produce roles tied to agricultural biology and state or federal research programs.
How to find biologist visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate filters biologist job listings in California specifically to employers with active visa sponsorship history, saving you from sorting through roles where sponsorship is unclear. You can search by city, subspecialty such as marine biology or microbiology, and employer type. Because California's life sciences market moves quickly, filtering to verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate reduces time spent on applications unlikely to lead to sponsorship.
Are there state-specific or role-specific considerations for biologist sponsorship in California?
California does not impose additional state-level requirements on top of federal visa sponsorship rules, but prevailing wage compliance is closely monitored given the state's high cost of living. Employers must meet DOL wage levels, which in California often reflect the higher end of national ranges for biology occupations. Biologists can check current wage benchmarks using the OFLC Wage Search tool and review occupation requirements through O*NET.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored biologist jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.