Merck H-1B Visa Sponsorship Data 2026
Merck filed 134 H-1B labor condition applications in fiscal year 2026, ranking #305 out of 1,000 sponsoring employers in our database — down 24.3% from last year.
Of those filings, 83.6% were certified by the Department of Labor, with a median offered salary of $123,978, below the national H-1B median of $126,403.
47% of Merck's filings were at prevailing-wage Level III or above. Under the 2026 wage-weighted lottery, that translates to an average of 2.5 lottery entries per candidate — meaning its candidates get meaningfully better odds than the typical Level I–II filing.
Merck's most-sponsored roles in FY2026 were Scientist (62 cases), Specialist (29 cases), Associate Principal Scientist (24 cases). Its heaviest H-1B hiring was in NJ (75), PA (42), MA (14).
FY2026 filings
134
Rank #305 nationally
Approval rate
83.6%
112 certified
Median salary
$123,978
National median $126,403
Avg. lottery entries
2.5×
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. 47% of Merck's FY2026 filings were Level III or above, giving its candidates an average of 2.5 entries per filing.
Most-sponsored job titles
| Job title | Filings | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist | 62 | $121,952 |
| Specialist | 29 | $129,511 |
| Associate Principal Scientist | 24 | $145,152 |
| Associate Scientist | 7 | $79,809 |
| Associate Director | 6 | $164,038 |
| Director | 4 | $202,672 |
| Executive Director | 1 | $280,000 |
| Assoc. Scientist | 1 | $80,246 |
Top worksite states
NJ
75 filings
PA
42 filings
MA
14 filings
TX
1 filings
NY
1 filings
CA
1 filings
Year-over-year trend
Merck filed 177 H-1B applications in FY2025 versus 134 in FY2026 — a decrease of 24.3%.
Merck H-1B FAQs
Does Merck sponsor H-1B visas?
Yes. Merck filed 134 H-1B labor condition applications in FY2026, ranking #305 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 Merck's H-1B approval rate?
83.6% of Merck'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 Merck pay H-1B workers?
Merck's median offered salary for H-1B roles in FY2026 was $123,978 (average $130,704). Individual offers vary by role, level, and worksite — the tables above break it down by job title.
Which jobs does Merck sponsor most on H-1B?
Scientist leads with 62 filings in FY2026 at an average offered salary of $121,952. Other frequently sponsored roles are listed in the table above.
Where does Merck hire H-1B workers?
NJ is Merck's top H-1B worksite state with 75 filings in FY2026, followed by PA (42) and MA (14). Worksite reflects where the job is performed, which may differ from headquarters.
What are the H-1B lottery odds at Merck?
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 Merck's FY2026 wage mix, its candidates averaged 2.5 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.