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Duke University H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026

Duke University filed 180 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #226 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 32.3% from last year.

Of those filings, 85.0% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $77,854, below the national H-1B median of $126,403.

9% of Duke University's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 1.6 lottery entries per candidate — roughly in line with the broader market.

Duke University's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Postdoctoral Associate (36 cases), Assistant Professor (30 cases), Research Associate (27 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in NC (179), CA (1).

Duke University appears to be a cap-exempt type employer (such as a university, nonprofit research organization, or hospital). Cap-exempt employers can sponsor H-1B workers at any time of year without going through the annual lottery — always confirm directly with the employer's immigration team.

FY2026 filings

180

Rank #226 nationally

Approval rate

85.0%

153 certified

Median salary

$77,854

National median $126,403

Avg. lottery entries

1.6×

Wage-weighted system

H-1B lottery positioning

Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, Level I filings receive 1 entry, Level II get 2, Level III get 3, and Level IV get 4. 9% of Duke University's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 1.6 entries per filing.

Level I
84 (49%)
Level II
70 (41%)
Level III
13 (8%)
Level IV
3 (2%)

Most-sponsored job titles

Job titleFilingsAvg. salary
Postdoctoral Associate36$68,791
Assistant Professor30$199,560
Research Associate27$79,246
Research Associate Senior8$82,958
Research Scholar7$73,853
Biostatistician6$116,666
Research Scientist6$77,765
Research Program Leader5$93,215
Associate In Research5$70,406
Lecturing Fellow5$61,528

Top worksite states

NC

179 filings

CA

1 filings

Year-over-year trend

Duke University filed 266 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 180 in FY2026 — a decrease of 32.3%.

Duke University H-1B FAQs

Does Duke University sponsor H-1B visas?

Yes. Duke University filed 180 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #226 nationally. A labor condition application (LCA) is the required first step before an H-1B petition, so this filing volume is a strong signal of active sponsorship.

What is Duke University's H-1B approval rate?

85.0% of Duke University's FY2026 H-1B filings were certified by the Department of Labor. Note that LCA certification is distinct from USCIS petition approval, but a high certification rate indicates clean, compliant filings.

How much does Duke University pay H-1B workers?

Duke University's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $77,854 (average $99,182). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.

Which jobs does Duke University sponsor most on H-1B?

Postdoctoral Associate leads with 36 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $68,791. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.

Where does Duke University hire H-1B workers?

NC is Duke University's top H-1B worksite state with 179 filings in FY2026, followed by CA (1). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.

What are the H-1B lottery odds at Duke University?

No employer can guarantee lottery selection, but wage levels matter: under the 2026 wage-weighted system, Level I filings get 1 entry while Level IV get 4. Based on Duke University's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 1.6 entries per filing. Higher-wage offers at the same employer carry better odds.

Other top H-1B sponsors

Data source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — Labor Condition Application disclosure data, FY2024–FY2026. An LCA is filed by the employer before an H-1B petition; disclosure data does not indicate USCIS petition outcomes. Last updated: October 2026.