Leidos H1B Sponsorship 2026: Salaries, Approval Rate & Process
Leidos — Defense IT, Intelligence, Cybersecurity & AI
Does Leidos Sponsor H1B Visas?
Leidos sponsors approximately 220 H1B petitions annually with an 83% approval rate and $120K average prevailing wage. Leidos is a leading U.S. defense and intelligence IT services contractor, with growing investments in AI/ML for defense applications. H1B hiring is concentrated in Reston VA (HQ), San Diego CA, and Gaithersburg MD.
H1B Sponsorship by Division
Defense IT & Systems Engineering
H1B Volume: Very HighLeidos's largest H1B driver. Software and systems engineers supporting government IT contracts are the primary H1B filers. These are well-documented specialty occupations with consistent approval.
Cybersecurity & Intelligence
H1B Volume: HighLeidos's cybersecurity and intelligence programs create demand for specialized security professionals. Roles not requiring TS/SCI clearances are most accessible to H1B holders.
AI & Data Science
H1B Volume: HighLeidos's AI division (Leidos AI Lab) is developing AI applications for defense, health, and civil programs. ML Engineer and Data Scientist roles are strong specialty occupations.
Health IT
H1B Volume: MediumLeidos's health division manages large federal health IT programs (CMS, NIH, HHS). Software and data engineers supporting health IT are consistent H1B filers.
Leidos H1B Salary Ranges 2026
| Role | Level | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior | $142,000 – $192,000 |
| Software Engineer | Mid | $108,000 – $145,000 |
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior | $145,000 – $195,000 |
| AI/ML Engineer | Mid-Senior | $138,000 – $185,000 |
| Senior Data Scientist | Senior | $148,000 – $198,000 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | Mid | $118,000 – $158,000 |
| Cloud Engineer | Mid | $118,000 – $155,000 |
| Health IT Engineer | Mid | $108,000 – $142,000 |
Source: USCIS LCA data, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor 2024–2025.
H1B Approval Rate & Key Risks
Leidos Strengths
- • 220+ annual H1B filings across defense and health IT
- • Growing AI/ML investment creating new high-value H1B roles
- • Stable government contract revenue
- • PERM initiated for eligible employees
- • Northern Virginia — large government IT talent ecosystem
- • Health IT division provides diversification from pure defense
Risks to Monitor
- • 83% approval rate — below commercial tech
- • $120K average wage — well below commercial tech sector
- • Most roles require at least Public Trust or Secret clearance
- • Heavy dependence on government contracts — vulnerable to budget cuts
- • Remote work limited on classified programs
Leidos Green Card Sponsorship
Leidos initiates PERM for eligible H1B employees in non-classified and lower-classification programs. Leidos's AI Lab roles may qualify for EB-1A self-petition for ML engineers with strong publication records in defense AI applications.
How to Get Hired at Leidos on H1B
Target AI/ML and Software Engineering Openings
Leidos's AI/ML Engineer and Software Engineer roles offer the best H1B accessibility — these are often lower-classification programs where H1B holders can obtain appropriate clearances.
Apply via leidos.com/careers
Reston VA, San Diego CA, and Gaithersburg MD are primary sites. Leidos recruits at government IT and AI/defense conferences.
Obtain Public Trust or Secret Clearance
H1B holders can obtain Public Trust and Secret clearances with employer sponsorship. Starting with lower-classified programs gives H1B candidates an entry point into Leidos.
Technical Interviews
Software Engineering: standard SWE, system design, cloud platforms (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government). AI/ML: computer vision, NLP, model deployment in resource-constrained environments.
H1B Transfer
Current H1B holders can transfer to Leidos. Premium processing available for non-classified roles.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Leidos sponsor H1B visas?
Yes. Leidos sponsors approximately 220 H1B petitions annually for Software Engineers, Systems Engineers, AI/ML Engineers, and Data Scientists. H1B hiring is concentrated in Reston VA, San Diego CA, and Gaithersburg MD.
What is Leidos's H1B approval rate?
Leidos's H1B approval rate is approximately 83%. Software Engineer and Systems Engineer roles have well-documented specialty occupation status. AI/ML Engineer roles are strongly documentable.
What is the average H1B salary at Leidos?
The average H1B prevailing wage at Leidos is approximately $120,000. Senior Data Scientists earn $148K–$198K. Senior Software Engineers earn $142K–$192K. Defense IT wages trail commercial tech but provide strong job stability.
Does Leidos sponsor green cards?
Yes, for eligible non-classified roles. Leidos initiates PERM for qualifying H1B employees. The clearance requirements of many Leidos programs complicate the green card path.
What clearances can H1B holders get at Leidos?
H1B holders can typically obtain Public Trust and Secret clearances with employer sponsorship. TS and SCI clearances generally require U.S. citizenship, limiting H1B holders to programs at those classification levels.