Physicist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Physicist roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree in physics or a closely related field. Many positions are at national laboratories, research universities, and defense contractors that have established sponsorship pipelines. No lottery exemption exists unless the employer is a cap-exempt institution.

Find Physicist Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs133+
Top Visa TypeTN
Work Type91% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsMcLaren Health Care

Showing 5 of 133+ Physicist jobs

Medical Physicist
We won't show you this job again
New 23h ago
Medical Physicist
Cardinal Health
Casper, Wyoming
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
Allied Health
Radiology / Imaging
$150k - $253k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Staff Physicist
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Staff Physicist
Summit Health
Clifton, New Jersey
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
$188k - $235k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

Nuclear Medicine Physicist
We won't show you this job again
Added 2d ago
Nuclear Medicine Physicist
CDL Nuclear Technologies
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
Remote (US)
Master's
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Physicist PhD 1
We won't show you this job again
Added 4d ago
Physicist PhD 1
Loma Linda University Health
Loma Linda, California
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
$96 - $129/hr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Open Rank Physicist
We won't show you this job again
Added 6d ago
Open Rank Physicist
City of Hope
Duarte, California
Nursing
Medical Specialists
Healthcare Administration
$89 - $149/hr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See all 133+ Physicist Jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Physicist roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 133+ Physicist Jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Physicist roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding Physicist Jobs

Align your degree field precisely

Sponsorship hinges on your degree matching the specific physics subfield in the job description. A general physics PhD supports most roles, but a materials science or engineering degree may draw an RFE if the position title is 'Physicist.' Pull the O*NET profile to confirm acceptable degree fields before applying.

Target cap-exempt employers strategically

National laboratories like Argonne, Brookhaven, and Fermilab, plus research universities, are cap-exempt H-1B employers. That means no annual lottery wait. Filter your search on Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history in physics and research roles.

Verify prevailing wage tier before negotiating

Physics roles span four DOL wage levels. A postdoctoral researcher and a senior staff scientist at the same lab may fall under different tiers. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your specific job title and work location before you receive an offer so you know which tier your role realistically supports.

Request your LCA before your start date

Your employer must file a certified Labor Condition Application with DOL before submitting the H-1B petition to USCIS. For physics roles at large institutions, internal routing through legal and HR can add weeks. Confirm your employer has started the LCA process at least 60 days before your intended start date.

Disclose security clearance requirements early

Many federal physics positions require DOE or DoD security clearances, which are unavailable to most nonimmigrant visa holders. Ask during the screening call whether the role requires a clearance now or in the future, since a clearance requirement discovered after an offer can void sponsorship entirely.

Account for EB-2 PERM timing if planning long-term

Physics roles typically qualify for EB-2 green card sponsorship, but PERM labor certification requires the employer to run a recruitment process first. For applicants from India or China, priority date backlogs can extend timelines significantly. Start the PERM conversation with your employer within your first H-1B period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a physics role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?

Yes. Physics is a recognized specialty occupation under USCIS criteria because a bachelor's degree in physics or a directly related field is a standard industry requirement for the position. Roles at national laboratories, universities, and private research firms regularly receive H-1B approval. Applied physics or interdisciplinary roles may need additional documentation linking the degree field to the specific job duties.

Which visa types are available to international physicists seeking U.S. jobs?

H-1B is the most common path for physicists at private employers. Cap-exempt institutions such as research universities and national laboratories can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery. J-1 visa is widely used for postdoctoral researchers but carries a potential two-year home residency requirement. O-1A is available to physicists with significant publications, awards, or demonstrated recognition in their field.

Where can I find employers that sponsor physicist roles?

Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified H-1B LCA sponsorship history, searchable by role and location. Filtering for research and physics positions lets you identify which institutions and companies have an active track record of sponsoring international candidates, saving time compared to applying speculatively.

Does a foreign physics degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship?

USCIS accepts foreign degrees if they are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher in physics or a closely related field. A three-year bachelor's from many countries may require a credential evaluation to confirm equivalency. Some employers also accept a combination of a lower degree plus progressive work experience to meet the specialty occupation standard under USCIS guidelines.

Can a physics PhD qualify for an O-1A visa instead of H-1B?

A PhD alone does not qualify you for O-1A, but the research output that typically accompanies a physics doctorate often does. USCIS evaluates O-1A on evidence such as peer-reviewed publications, citations, conference presentations, judging or reviewing peers' work, and critical employment at a distinguished institution. Physicists with strong publication records in competitive journals frequently meet multiple O-1A criteria without needing an extraordinary prize.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Physicist jobs?

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.