User Researcher Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
User researcher roles attract strong H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship because employers classify the work as a specialty occupation requiring a degree in human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, or a closely related field. Most sponsoring employers are mid-to-large tech companies hiring for full-time, on-site or hybrid positions. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Influence the future of CliftonStrengths through research that anchors what we build and why.
As a senior user researcher at Gallup, you'll drive evidence-based product decisions across the CliftonStrengths® platform and adjacent digital experiences. You will partner closely with product, design and engineering teams to ensure we are building the right solutions for the right users, informed by deep research, thoughtful synthesis and strategic judgment.
In this role, you will lead research initiatives end to end, orchestrate cross-functional collaboration, and guide road map and design direction at scale.
- Partner with product and design leaders to define research questions that meaningfully inform strategy and decision-making.
- Lead generative and evaluative research using a range of qualitative and mixed methods, including interviews, diary studies, concept testing, usability testing and surveys in partnership with quantitative researchers.
- Translate ambiguous inputs into clear research plans and learning goals aligned to business priorities.
- Synthesize complex findings into crisp, actionable insights and recommendations.
- Contribute to competitive and market understanding through peer scans, messaging and positioning reviews, segmentation analysis, and solution comparisons.
- Connect user research with Gallup's broader assessment and survey expertise to deepen insight quality and rigor.
- Improve how research is shared and reused by building repositories, templates and lightweight processes that increase accessibility and impact.
- Thoughtfully incorporate AI tools into research workflows, such as synthesis, tagging, transcription, summarization and competitive scanning, to enhance speed, rigor and clarity while maintaining methodological integrity.
- Elevate research standards across teams through coaching, critique and modeling strong research practices.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Strategic insights: You shape product direction by identifying the questions that matter most and translating ambiguity into clarity.
- Influential communication: You confidently and clearly present findings and recommendations that move stakeholders to action, even in complex or ambiguous situations.
- Systems thinking: You see patterns across user behavior, market context and product design, connecting insights to broader strategic opportunities.
- Operational excellence: You independently lead initiatives from planning through synthesis, aligning cross-functional partners without formal authority.
- AI fluency: You leverage emerging AI tools to enhance research workflows and insight generation while maintaining strong methodological judgment.
What You Need
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
- At least six years of professional experience conducting end-to-end user research for a technology-focused company required.
- Demonstrated experience driving research strategy in complex digital products required.
- Experience influencing product and design decisions through evidence-based recommendations required.
- Expertise across a range of qualitative and mixed research methods and the judgment to know when to use each required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
- Experience using AI tools to enhance research workflows and insight generation required.
- Experience in B2B SaaS, platform environments or complex product ecosystems preferred.
- Experience partnering with quantitative researchers, analytics or data science teams preferred.
- Background in assessment, psychometrics, learning sciences or related research domains preferred.
- Experience building scalable research operations, such as repositories, templates or shared rituals preferred.
- A commitment to working on-site at Gallup's San Francisco office at least three days per week required.
About Gallup
At Gallup, we change the world, one client at a time, through extraordinary analytics and advice on everything important facing humankind. Learn more about our work and life at Gallup.
Gallup offers a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and other insurance options; a fully vested 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching; an employee stock ownership program; mass transit reimbursement; family-building benefits; an employee assistance program; and various reimbursements and activities that enhance our associates' wellbeing. We also offer an estimated annual salary range of $120,000-$135,000 for this role. Salaries are based on a variety of factors, including an individual's education, experience and skills.
Gallup is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
To review Gallup's Privacy Statement, please click this link: https://www.gallup.com/privacy. This privacy policy is meant to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage and delete your information. Your application and the information you provide will be processed and stored in the United States.
LI-Hybrid
LI-KR1
INTRODUCTION
Influence the future of CliftonStrengths through research that anchors what we build and why.
As a senior user researcher at Gallup, you'll drive evidence-based product decisions across the CliftonStrengths® platform and adjacent digital experiences. You will partner closely with product, design and engineering teams to ensure we are building the right solutions for the right users, informed by deep research, thoughtful synthesis and strategic judgment.
In this role, you will lead research initiatives end to end, orchestrate cross-functional collaboration, and guide road map and design direction at scale.
- Partner with product and design leaders to define research questions that meaningfully inform strategy and decision-making.
- Lead generative and evaluative research using a range of qualitative and mixed methods, including interviews, diary studies, concept testing, usability testing and surveys in partnership with quantitative researchers.
- Translate ambiguous inputs into clear research plans and learning goals aligned to business priorities.
- Synthesize complex findings into crisp, actionable insights and recommendations.
- Contribute to competitive and market understanding through peer scans, messaging and positioning reviews, segmentation analysis, and solution comparisons.
- Connect user research with Gallup's broader assessment and survey expertise to deepen insight quality and rigor.
- Improve how research is shared and reused by building repositories, templates and lightweight processes that increase accessibility and impact.
- Thoughtfully incorporate AI tools into research workflows, such as synthesis, tagging, transcription, summarization and competitive scanning, to enhance speed, rigor and clarity while maintaining methodological integrity.
- Elevate research standards across teams through coaching, critique and modeling strong research practices.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Strategic insights: You shape product direction by identifying the questions that matter most and translating ambiguity into clarity.
- Influential communication: You confidently and clearly present findings and recommendations that move stakeholders to action, even in complex or ambiguous situations.
- Systems thinking: You see patterns across user behavior, market context and product design, connecting insights to broader strategic opportunities.
- Operational excellence: You independently lead initiatives from planning through synthesis, aligning cross-functional partners without formal authority.
- AI fluency: You leverage emerging AI tools to enhance research workflows and insight generation while maintaining strong methodological judgment.
What You Need
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
- At least six years of professional experience conducting end-to-end user research for a technology-focused company required.
- Demonstrated experience driving research strategy in complex digital products required.
- Experience influencing product and design decisions through evidence-based recommendations required.
- Expertise across a range of qualitative and mixed research methods and the judgment to know when to use each required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
- Experience using AI tools to enhance research workflows and insight generation required.
- Experience in B2B SaaS, platform environments or complex product ecosystems preferred.
- Experience partnering with quantitative researchers, analytics or data science teams preferred.
- Background in assessment, psychometrics, learning sciences or related research domains preferred.
- Experience building scalable research operations, such as repositories, templates or shared rituals preferred.
- A commitment to working on-site at Gallup's San Francisco office at least three days per week required.
About Gallup
At Gallup, we change the world, one client at a time, through extraordinary analytics and advice on everything important facing humankind. Learn more about our work and life at Gallup.
Gallup offers a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and other insurance options; a fully vested 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching; an employee stock ownership program; mass transit reimbursement; family-building benefits; an employee assistance program; and various reimbursements and activities that enhance our associates' wellbeing. We also offer an estimated annual salary range of $120,000-$135,000 for this role. Salaries are based on a variety of factors, including an individual's education, experience and skills.
Gallup is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
To review Gallup's Privacy Statement, please click this link: https://www.gallup.com/privacy. This privacy policy is meant to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage and delete your information. Your application and the information you provide will be processed and stored in the United States.
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LI-KR1
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding User Researcher Jobs
Frame your degree as field-specific, not general
USCIS requires a degree in a specific field related to the role, not just any bachelor's degree. Cognitive psychology, HCI, behavioral science, or information science all map cleanly to user research. A general psychology or communications degree needs stronger supporting documentation.
Target companies with established UX research teams
Companies with dedicated UX or insights functions are far more likely to sponsor than those where research is ad hoc. Employers like large enterprise software firms and consumer tech companies file LCAs regularly and have HR teams experienced with the H-1B process.
Lead with research methods, not job titles, in your resume
Sponsorship decisions often hinge on whether a role qualifies as a specialty occupation. Emphasizing specialized methods like usability testing, diary studies, and conjoint analysis signals the technical depth USCIS expects, reducing the risk of an RFE on specialty occupation grounds.
Understand the H-1B lottery timing before you apply
H-1B registration opens in March for an October start date. If you need sponsorship urgently, prioritize cap-exempt employers like universities and nonprofits, or explore O-1A eligibility if your research portfolio includes published work or awards in your field.
Get your portfolio documented as part of your visa evidence
For O-1A petitions, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or recognition from industry organizations strengthen your case significantly. Even for H-1B, a strong portfolio demonstrating specialized expertise supports the specialty occupation argument in RFE responses.
Ask about sponsorship explicitly and early in the process
Many employers will sponsor but don't advertise it. During initial recruiter conversations, confirm the company files H-1B petitions before investing time in interviews. Browse Migrate Mate to surface roles from employers already active in sponsoring research positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does user researcher qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS has consistently approved user researcher and UX researcher roles as specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, or information science. The key is that the job description must make a degree in a directly related field a genuine requirement, not just a preference. Generic postings that accept any degree in any field create RFE risk.
What degree do I need to get H-1B sponsorship as a user researcher?
A bachelor's degree or higher in human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology, behavioral science, information science, or a closely related field is the strongest foundation. A general psychology or communications degree can still qualify, but your employer will need to demonstrate the specific connection between your coursework and the role's requirements. Three years of relevant work experience can substitute for one year of formal education if your degree doesn't fully align.
Which employers are most likely to sponsor user researchers on an H-1B?
Large enterprise software companies, consumer technology firms, and consulting firms with dedicated UX research practices file the most H-1B visa LCAs for research roles. Universities and government contractors are worth targeting specifically because they're cap-exempt, meaning you can start any time of year without waiting for the October lottery. Browse Migrate Mate to find open user researcher roles filtered by employers with active sponsorship history.
Can I qualify for an O-1A visa as a user researcher?
Yes, if your work stands out within the field. The O-1A requires evidence of extraordinary ability, which for researchers typically means peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations at recognized UX or HCI events, judging or reviewing others' work, or citation of your research by others in the field. Industry awards, speaking invitations, and a high salary relative to peers also contribute. The bar is high but achievable for senior researchers with a strong publication or recognition record.
How does the H-1B lottery affect my job search timeline as a user researcher?
H-1B registration opens each March, and selected petitions allow employment starting October 1. If you're on OPT, you need to apply for the lottery while still authorized to work and ensure your OPT doesn't expire before October. Cap-exempt employers, including universities and certain nonprofits, bypass the lottery entirely and can file anytime. If you miss the lottery cycle, these employers are often the most practical path to maintaining status without a gap in authorization.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored User Researcher 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.