Research Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

Illinois is one of the strongest states for research assistant visa sponsorship, anchored by world-class institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Argonne National Laboratory. Chicago leads in sponsored positions, with additional opportunities in Evanston and Champaign-Urbana across life sciences, social sciences, and engineering research.

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Overview

Open Jobs92+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type100% On-site
Median Salary$50K
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsLoyola University Chicago

Showing 5 of 92+ Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship jobs

Loyola University Chicago
Research Assistant I
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Loyola University Chicago
New 6h ago
Research Assistant I
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, Illinois
Laboratory Research
$16/hr - $20/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Endeavor Health
Research Assistant-Dermatology
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Endeavor Health
Added 4d ago
Research Assistant-Dermatology
Endeavor Health
Skokie, Illinois
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Laboratory Research
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
$18/hr - $27/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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University of Chicago
Clinical Sr. Research Assistant
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University of Chicago
Added 2w ago
Clinical Sr. Research Assistant
University of Chicago
Hyde Park, Illinois
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Laboratory Research
Healthcare Administration
Public Health & Informatics
Data Science & Analytics
Clinical Trials
Public Health
Data Science
Not listed
On-Site
Associate's

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Rush University Medical Center
Clinical Research Assistant
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Rush University Medical Center
Added 2w ago
Clinical Research Assistant
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Laboratory Research
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
$18/hr - $26/hr
On-Site
High School

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Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Behavioral Research Assistant
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Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Added 1mo ago
Behavioral Research Assistant
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Research & Academia
Laboratory Research
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
Not listed
On-Site
High School

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See all 92+ Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship

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Research Assistant Job Roles in Illinois

Research & Academia48 jobs
Laboratory Research43 jobs
Teaching & Instruction43 jobs
Clinical Trials31 jobs
Higher Education31 jobs
Clinical Trials & Medical Research29 jobs
Healthcare Administration26 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences17 jobs
Data Science7 jobs
Data Science & Analytics7 jobs

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Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for research assistants in Illinois?

Universities are the dominant sponsors for research assistant roles in Illinois. The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Chicago have consistent track records of sponsoring international researchers. Beyond academia, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory regularly sponsor research staff. Some pharmaceutical and biotech firms in the Chicago metro area also sponsor for research-focused roles.

Which visa types are most common for research assistant roles in Illinois?

H-1B is the most common visa for research assistant positions that require a relevant bachelor's or advanced degree and qualify as specialty occupations. J-1 exchange visitor visas are widely used at Illinois universities for short-term or postdoctoral research arrangements. OPT and STEM OPT allow international students already in Illinois to work as research assistants without employer sponsorship during their authorized period.

How to find research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters research assistant roles in Illinois by visa sponsorship status, saving you from manually screening hundreds of postings. University career portals at institutions like UChicago and Northwestern list lab and research positions directly, but Migrate Mate aggregates sponsored openings across employers in one place, which is especially useful when you're targeting Illinois specifically.

Which cities in Illinois have the most research assistant sponsorship jobs?

Chicago has the highest concentration of sponsored research assistant positions, driven by UChicago, UIC, Rush University Medical Center, and private research organizations. Evanston is significant due to Northwestern University's research output. Champaign-Urbana is a major hub through the University of Illinois system, particularly for engineering, computer science, and agricultural research. Smaller clusters exist near Argonne and Fermilab in the western suburbs.

Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for research assistant visa sponsorship?

Illinois research assistants sponsored on H-1B visas must be paid at or above the prevailing wage for their role and location as determined by Department of Labor standards. University-employed research assistants often fall under cap-exempt H-1B rules, meaning positions at qualifying institutions are not subject to the annual lottery. This cap-exempt status is a meaningful distinction for international candidates weighing Illinois academic employers against private-sector options.

What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research assistant jobs in Illinois?

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.

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