SAIC H1B Sponsorship 2026: Salaries, Approval Rate & Process
SAIC — Defense IT, Cybersecurity & Digital Transformation
Does SAIC Sponsor H1B Visas?
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) sponsors approximately 180 H1B petitions annually with an 83% approval rate and $118K average prevailing wage. SAIC is a Fortune 500 defense and government IT contractor specializing in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and AI-enabled systems for the U.S. government. H1B hiring is concentrated in Reston VA (HQ) and the Washington DC metro area.
H1B Sponsorship by Division
Defense Software Engineering
H1B Volume: Very HighSAIC's core H1B driver. Software and DevOps engineers supporting government IT modernization contracts are the primary filers. Well-documented specialty occupations.
Cybersecurity
H1B Volume: HighSAIC's cybersecurity practice supports DoD, DHS, and civilian agency clients. Cybersecurity Engineer roles are strong specialty occupations. Clearance levels vary by program.
AI & Analytics
H1B Volume: Medium-HighSAIC's growing AI and analytics practice creates demand for data scientists and ML engineers with government application experience. Strong specialty occupation documentation.
IT Modernization
H1B Volume: MediumSAIC's government IT modernization programs create demand for cloud and systems architects. Enterprise Architect roles have occasionally faced specialty occupation scrutiny.
SAIC H1B Salary Ranges 2026
| Role | Level | Base Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Senior | $138,000 – $188,000 |
| Software Engineer | Mid | $105,000 – $142,000 |
| Senior Systems Engineer | Senior | $142,000 – $192,000 |
| Data Scientist | Mid-Senior | $135,000 – $178,000 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | Mid | $115,000 – $155,000 |
| Cloud Engineer | Mid | $118,000 – $158,000 |
| ML Engineer | Mid-Senior | $135,000 – $182,000 |
| Cloud Architect | Senior | $148,000 – $198,000 |
Source: USCIS LCA data, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor 2024–2025.
H1B Approval Rate & Key Risks
SAIC Strengths
- • 180+ annual H1B filings across stable government IT programs
- • Growing AI and cloud capabilities creating new high-value H1B roles
- • Stable government contract revenue provides job security
- • DC metro location — large government IT talent market
- • PERM initiated for eligible employees
Risks to Monitor
- • 83% approval rate — below commercial tech
- • $118K average wage — below commercial tech sector
- • Most roles require security clearances — limits H1B candidates
- • Heavy dependence on U.S. government contracts
- • Limited remote work on classified programs
- • SAIC corporate culture is more traditional than commercial tech
SAIC Green Card Sponsorship
SAIC initiates PERM for eligible H1B employees in non-classified and lower-classification programs. The security clearance requirements of SAIC's programs are the primary complication for H1B green card paths. H1B holders should seek lower-classification programs to build a PERM record.
How to Get Hired at SAIC on H1B
Target AI/Data Science and Cloud Engineering Openings
SAIC's AI/ML and Cloud Engineering roles are the most accessible for H1B holders — lower classification requirements and strong specialty occupation documentation.
Apply via saic.com/careers
Reston VA is the primary site. SAIC also has offices throughout the Northern Virginia/DC metro area.
Obtain Security Clearance
H1B holders can obtain Secret clearances with employer sponsorship at SAIC. Starting with lower-classified programs is the recommended path.
Technical Interviews
Software Engineering: standard SWE interviews, government cloud platforms (AWS GovCloud). Data Science: ML modeling, NLP, tabular data. Cybersecurity: network security fundamentals, DoD RMF.
H1B Transfer
Current H1B holders can transfer to SAIC. Premium processing available for non-classified programs.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SAIC sponsor H1B visas?
Yes. SAIC sponsors approximately 180 H1B petitions annually for Software Engineers, Systems Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Engineers, and Cloud Engineers. H1B hiring is concentrated in Reston VA and the Washington DC metro area.
What is SAIC's H1B approval rate?
SAIC's H1B approval rate is approximately 83%. Software Engineer and Data Scientist roles have well-documented specialty occupation status in the government IT context.
What is the average H1B salary at SAIC?
The average H1B prevailing wage at SAIC is approximately $118,000. Senior Systems Engineers earn $142K–$192K. Cloud Architects earn $148K–$198K. Data Scientists earn $135K–$178K.
Does SAIC sponsor green cards?
Yes, for eligible non-classified roles. SAIC initiates PERM for qualifying H1B employees. The clearance requirements of SAIC's programs complicate the green card path for H1B workers.
Is SAIC a good H1B employer compared to Leidos or Booz Allen Hamilton?
SAIC, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton are roughly comparable defense IT H1B employers. Leidos has slightly more AI investment. Booz Allen has stronger consulting culture. SAIC is known for its DoD IT modernization focus. Compensation is similar across all three.