The pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest employers of international talent in the United States. Over 57,000 H1B visa sponsorship pharmaceutical jobs are available on Indeed.com, showing the huge demand for skilled workers in this field. The current annual H1B cap is 65,000 visas, with 20,000 additional visas for professionals with master’s or doctorate degrees from U.S. institutions. Many top pharmaceutical companies that sponsor H1B visas actively recruit international professionals to fill critical roles in research, development, and clinical operations.
Table of contents
- Top 8 Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
- How to Get Hired by Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
- Salary Expectations at Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
- Future Trends for Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
Top 8 Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
1. Novartis
Novartis sponsored 209 H1B workers, more than any other pharmaceutical company. The Swiss company runs big research centers in Cambridge, Massachusetts and East Hanover, New Jersey. Their main lab, called NIBR, works on cancer drugs, brain medicines, and eye treatments.
People from other countries work at Novartis on CAR-T therapy projects and gene treatments. The company hires for jobs like Principal Scientist, Research Investigator, and Clinical Research Associate. Entry-level scientists make around $95,000 while senior researchers can earn over $250,000.
Novartis helps workers with visa paperwork and moving to the US. They also help people apply for green cards. The company has offices in many countries, so workers can sometimes get assignments abroad. Many H1B workers at Novartis get promoted to management jobs after a few years.
The company spends billions on research each year. They make drugs for serious diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
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2. Roche and Genentech
Roche and Genentech hired 115 H1B workers. Genentech got 105 of these visas. The company sits in South San Francisco and started in 1976 as the first biotech company. They make cancer drugs like Herceptin and Avastin that doctors use all over the world.
Workers from other countries do research on new cancer treatments and immune system drugs. Genentech has fancy labs with AI computers and gene testing equipment. They hire Research Scientists, Engineers, Data Scientists, and Manufacturing workers. Scientists there make $120,000 to $300,000 per year plus stock options.
The company helps with H1B paperwork and green card applications. Being in the Bay Area means workers live near other biotech companies and Stanford University. Genentech lets people work flexible hours and sometimes from home. They also pay for workers to take time off for research projects.
Genentech makes drugs for cancer, arthritis, and eye diseases. Their labs work on new ways to fight cancer using the body’s immune system. The company works with universities and other research groups. They spend lots of money each year trying to find new medicines. Workers at Genentech often become leaders at other biotech companies.
Roche and Genentech Career Page
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3. AbbVie
AbbVie got 108 H1B visas approved. The company split off from Abbott in 2013 and has offices in North Chicago, California, and Massachusetts. Their biggest drug is Humira, which treats arthritis and other immune system problems. AbbVie makes billions of dollars from this one medicine.
Foreign workers at AbbVie research new treatments for cancer, brain diseases, and eye problems. The company spends over $6 billion yearly on finding new drugs. They hire Research Scientists, Clinical workers, Biostatisticians, and Regulatory Affairs people. Starting pay is around $90,000 and top jobs pay up to $280,000.
AbbVie has lawyers who help with visa applications and green cards. The company has groups for workers from different countries and backgrounds. They pay for training and college classes. Some workers get sent to other AbbVie offices around the world.
The company works on antibody-drug treatments and CAR-T therapy for cancer. AbbVie bought other companies to get new drug research. They test medicines for Parkinson’s disease and different types of cancer. Their research labs work with computers to design new drugs faster. Many workers publish research papers and go to medical meetings.
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4. Amgen
Amgen hired 98 H1B workers and is one of the biggest independent biotech companies. Based in Thousand Oaks, California, with labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Amgen has been making biological medicines for over 40 years. The company considers green card applications after just 6 months of work.
Amgen workers research biosimilar drugs and new cancer treatments. They use something called BiTE technology to help immune cells fight cancer.
Jobs at Amgen include Research Scientists, Process Engineers, Clinical Doctors, and Computer Analysts. Scientists make $110,000 to $275,000 per year plus bonuses and stock. The company pays well because they’re in expensive California. Amgen works with universities and pays for workers to get more education.
The company spends over $4 billion yearly on research. Their labs work on new ways to make protein medicines and gene therapy. Amgen has partnerships with cancer centers and universities around the world. Workers get time off to do special research projects. The company has been around long enough that many former workers now lead other biotech companies.
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5. Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb approved 81 H1B visas. This old company started in 1887 and now focuses on cancer immunotherapy and heart medicines. They have headquarters in New York with research labs in Princeton, New Jersey and Cambridge, Massachusetts. BMS changed how doctors treat cancer with drugs like Opdivo and Yervoy.
These medicines help the immune system fight cancer better than old chemotherapy. BMS also makes treatments for autoimmune diseases and liver problems. Workers from other countries research new cancer drugs, antibody treatments, and cell therapy. The company hires Research Scientists, Clinical Managers, Statisticians, and Medical Liaisons.
Pay at BMS ranges from $95,000 for new workers to $265,000 for senior jobs. The company gives health insurance, retirement money, and stock options. Their lawyers help with H1B applications and green card paperwork. BMS has training programs and mentorship for new workers.
The company tests new cancer drugs that work in different ways. Some attach toxic medicines directly to cancer cells. Others help immune cells find and kill tumors. BMS works with cancer hospitals to test these new treatments. They also research ways to treat heart disease and inflammatory conditions. Many BMS workers move to other pharmaceutical companies or start their own biotech firms.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Career Page
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6. Pfizer
Pfizer sponsored 41 H1B workers. This company has been around for over 170 years and is one of the biggest drug makers in the world. Their main offices are in New York with research labs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California. Most people know Pfizer because they made one of the first COVID-19 vaccines with BioNTech.
Pfizer makes medicines for cancer, vaccines, rare diseases, and common health problems. They spend over $13 billion every year on research. Foreign workers at Pfizer research new cancer treatments, gene therapy, and better vaccines. The company hires Senior Scientists, Clinical Trial Managers, Regulatory Directors, and Computer Specialists.
Scientists at Pfizer make between $100,000 and $270,000 per year. The company also gives bonuses, stock options, and good benefits. Pfizer has legal teams that help with visa paperwork and green cards. Since Pfizer has offices in many countries, workers sometimes get jobs in other places.
The company works on antibody-drug treatments and personalized medicine. Their labs use computers to design new drugs faster. Pfizer buys smaller companies to get new drug research. They work with universities and government agencies on vaccine research. Many workers at Pfizer write research papers and speak at medical conferences. The company trains workers and pays for advanced degrees.
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7. Johnson & Johnson (Including Janssen)
Johnson & Johnson is famous for baby products and Band-Aids, but its Janssen division makes real medicines. The company is divided into three main parts: consumer products; medical devices; and pharmaceuticals. Janssen’s focus areas are drugs that treat mental illness, cancer, and diseases of the immune system in general.
At J&J, foreign workers take a lead on research into new treatments for depression, schizophrenia, and myeloma. Such is at little cost, the labs work on CAR-T cell therapy and other advanced cancer treatments. They hire Research Scientists, Clinical Associates, Regulatory Specialists, and Medical Directors. Entry-level jobs start around $85,000 while senior positions pay over $250,000.
J & J deals with visa applications and the green card process for its staff, and has offices located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. They offer good benefits, including health insurance; retirement plans for saving over the years (they are worth more than carcinogenic agents); stock purchase plans that let employees at J & J buy shares at lower prices than those available to the general public. J&J supports worker training and pays for courses at college.
Johnson & Johnson (Including Janssen) Career Page
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8. Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. sponsored 43 H1B workers. This company is called MSD in other countries but Merck in the US. They’re famous for making vaccines like the HPV vaccine and medicines for diabetes and cancer. Merck has research labs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
The company makes vaccines for children and adults to prevent serious diseases. They also research new cancer treatments and medicines for infections. Foreign workers at Merck develop new vaccines, test cancer drugs, and work on animal health products. They hire for jobs like Vaccine Researcher, Clinical Scientist, Regulatory Affairs Manager, and Data Analyst.
Merck scientists make between $90,000 and $260,000 depending on experience and job level. The company provides health insurance, retirement plans, and stock options. Their legal team helps with H1B paperwork and permanent residency applications. Merck has training programs for new workers and leadership development for experienced staff.
The company spends over $10 billion yearly on research and development. Merck works on new vaccines for diseases like respiratory syncytial virus and cytomegalovirus. Their cancer research focuses on immunotherapy drugs that help the immune system fight tumors. The company also makes medicines for animals through their Merck Animal Health division. Many Merck researchers publish scientific papers and work with government health agencies on vaccine development.
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How to Get Hired by Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
Getting a job with pharmaceutical companies that sponsor H1B visas requires strategic planning. Here are key steps:
Most companies prefer candidates with advanced degrees in relevant fields like chemistry, biology, pharmacy, or biomedical engineering. Having a Ph.D. gives you an advantage since it qualifies you for the additional 20,000 H1B visas reserved for advanced degree holders.
Target your applications to companies with a proven track record of H1B sponsorship. Focus on positions that align with your expertise and the company’s core research areas.
Salary Expectations at Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
H1B visa backers provide pharma job pay ranging from $70,000 to $265,000. Entry jobs usually pay from $70,000 to $90,000 per year. Senior research scientists and management positions can offer you better than $200,000 annually.
Variables that affect pay include your education, experience and specific role. Companies in San Francisco, California or Cambridge, Massachusetts traditionally offer higher wages.
Future Trends for Pharmaceutical Companies That Sponsor H1B Visas
The pharmaceutical industry continues to grow, creating more opportunities for international talent. Areas showing the strongest growth include:
Biotechnology and personalized medicine are driving demand for specialized skills that pharmaceutical companies that sponsor H1B visas actively seek. Gene therapy, immunotherapy, and precision medicine require unique expertise often found in international talent pools.
Digital health and artificial intelligence applications in drug discovery are creating new job categories. Companies need data scientists, bioinformatics specialists, and AI researchers to stay competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Novartis leads with 209 certified workers, followed by Roche/Genentech and AbbVie.
Most prefer Ph.D.s or master’s degrees in relevant scientific fields for research positions.
Research scientists, clinical trial managers, regulatory affairs specialists, and data analysts are common.
The process typically takes 6-12 months from application to approval for successful candidates.
Consider O-1 visas for exceptional ability or EB-2/EB-3 green cards for permanent residency.
Conclusion
Pharmaceutical companies that sponsor H1B visas offer excellent opportunities for international professionals. With companies like Novartis, Roche, and AbbVie leading the way, skilled workers can find rewarding careers in drug development, research, and clinical operations. The industry’s continued growth and need for specialized talent make it an attractive field for H1B visa seekers. Focus on building relevant skills, targeting the right companies, and preparing strong applications to maximize your chances of success with these top pharmaceutical employers.
