Biotech & Pharma Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California

California leads the global biotech and pharmaceutical industry, with over 3,000 companies concentrated in major hubs like South San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Major employers including Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Illumina actively sponsor H-1B visa, O-1 visa, and other work visas for scientists, researchers, and regulatory professionals.

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Overview

Open Jobs1,492+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type83% On-site
Top LocationRedwood City, CA
Most JobsRevolution Medicines, Inc.

Showing 5 of 1,492+ Biotech & Pharma Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California

ADARx Pharmaceuticals
Executive Assistant
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ADARx Pharmaceuticals
New 20h ago
Executive Assistant
ADARx Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, California
Administrative & Office Support
Executive Assistant & Personal Assistant
$110k - $125k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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AbbVie
Director, Search & Evaluation Project Management
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AbbVie
New 23h ago
Director, Search & Evaluation Project Management
AbbVie
South San Francisco, California
Project & Program Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Consulting & Professional Services
Project Management
Business Development
$161k - $305k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Plasmidsaurus
Lab Technician
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Plasmidsaurus
Added 1d ago
Lab Technician
Plasmidsaurus
San Diego, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
On-Site
None

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Bristol Myers Squibb
Associate Director, Program Management
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Bristol Myers Squibb
Added 1d ago
Associate Director, Program Management
Bristol Myers Squibb
San Diego, California
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Program Management
$183k - $221k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Fate Therapeutics Inc.
IT Support Specialist
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Fate Therapeutics Inc.
Added 1d ago
IT Support Specialist
Fate Therapeutics Inc.
San Diego, California
IT Support & Systems Administration
Customer Service & Support
IT Support
Customer Service
$30 - $35/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in California

Healthcare Administration362 jobs
Laboratory Research285 jobs
Project & Program Management284 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences243 jobs
Clinical Trials & Medical Research220 jobs
Project Management211 jobs
Compliance & Legal204 jobs
Clinical Trials193 jobs
Sales151 jobs
Data Science & Analytics139 jobs

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Biotech & Pharma Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor visas in California?

Major visa sponsors include Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Illumina, Moderna, BioMarin, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. These companies regularly file H-1B visa petitions for research scientists, clinical data managers, regulatory affairs specialists, and biostatisticians. Smaller biotech startups in South San Francisco and San Diego also sponsor visas, particularly for specialized roles in drug development and clinical research.

What visa types are most common for biotech and pharma roles in California?

H-1B visas dominate for research scientists, biostatisticians, and regulatory affairs roles requiring bachelor's degrees in life sciences. O-1 visas are common for senior researchers with published papers or patents. TN visas work for Canadian and Mexican nationals in scientific roles, while E-3 visas serve Australian researchers. Clinical roles often qualify for J-1 visa research scholar visas.

Which California cities have the most biotech and pharma sponsorship jobs?

South San Francisco leads with companies like Genentech, Exelixis, and dozens of biotech startups. San Diego follows closely with major research institutes and companies like Illumina and Vertex. Los Angeles has growing biotech clusters, while Thousand Oaks hosts Amgen's headquarters. The San Francisco Bay Area overall contains the highest concentration of sponsored positions.

How to find biotech & pharma visa sponsorship jobs in California?

Use Migrate Mate to filter biotech and pharmaceutical roles by California location and visa sponsorship status. Focus on companies with active H-1B filings visible in Department of Labor disclosure data. Target research institutions like UCSF, Stanford, and Scripps Research, which frequently sponsor international researchers. University career fairs and biotech conferences also connect candidates with sponsoring employers.

Are there special considerations for biotech visa sponsorship in California?

California's high cost of living affects prevailing wage requirements, often making H-1B sponsorship more expensive for employers. The state's strong university pipeline from UC system schools like UCSF and UC San Diego creates competition among international graduates. Many roles require specialized degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related fields that clearly qualify as specialty occupations.

What is the prevailing wage for sponsored biotech & pharma 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.