Federal Employment | USAJOBS | H-1B | J-1 | NIH | NASA | VA | GS Pay Scale | $40K–$200K+ Salaries
Working for the US government is one of the most stable career paths in the world. For qualified foreign nationals, landing a government job with visa sponsorship is both legal and life-changing. Salaries typically start around $40,000+, with many roles paying $100,000–$200,000+ based on grade, location, and credentials. Beyond pay, federal jobs include healthcare, retirement (FERS pension), paid leave, and structured career progression. This guide covers which agencies sponsor visas, salary expectations by role, visa pathways, and step-by-step application instructions via USAJOBS.gov.
What ‘US Government Visa Sponsorship’ Means
Visa sponsorship means a federal (or federally funded) employer files immigration paperwork so a non-US citizen can work legally in the United States. Sponsorship is used when agencies can’t source skills domestically or need niche language, cultural, or scientific expertise.
Common Visa Pathways
H-1B (Specialty Occupations)
- For: Degree-level roles in IT, engineering, research, healthcare, finance
- Key benefit: Many federal research institutions are cap-exempt (no lottery)
- Duration: 3 years, extendable to 6 years; green card pathway available
J-1 (Exchange Visitor)
- For: Research fellows, physicians in residency, visiting specialists
- Common at: NIH, CDC, university-affiliated research programs
- Note: May have 2-year home residency requirement (waivable in some cases)
O-1 (Extraordinary Ability)
- For: Top experts with notable achievements in science, education, business
- Evidence: Publications, patents, awards, media recognition, significant contributions
EB-2 / EB-3 (Permanent Residency)
- For: Employer-sponsored green cards for advanced-degree or skilled roles
- EB-2: Master’s degree or Bachelor’s + 5 years progressive experience
- EB-3: Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years training/experience
Salary Expectations by Role (2026)
Federal salaries follow the General Schedule (GS) or agency-specific pay scales. Locality pay adjustments can add 15–45% in high-cost areas (DC, San Francisco, New York).
| Role | Grade | Salary Range |
| Admin/Operations (HR, Procurement) | GS-5 to GS-11 | $40,000 – $85,000 |
| Program/Budget Analyst | GS-7 to GS-12 | $48,000 – $100,000 |
| Research Scientist (Entry) | GS-9 to GS-11 | $55,000 – $85,000 |
| Research Scientist (Senior) | GS-12 to GS-15 | $85,000 – $165,000 |
| Software Engineer | GS-11 to GS-14 | $75,000 – $150,000 |
| Cybersecurity Specialist | GS-11 to GS-14 | $75,000 – $155,000 |
| Data Scientist / ML Engineer | GS-12 to GS-14 | $90,000 – $155,000 |
| Civil/Environmental Engineer | GS-9 to GS-13 | $55,000 – $130,000 |
| Physician (VA/HHS) | Title 38 | $120,000 – $350,000+ |
| Registered Nurse (VA) | Title 38 | $65,000 – $120,000 |
| Pharmacist | GS-11 to GS-13 | $90,000 – $140,000 |
| Postdoctoral Fellow (NIH/DOE) | Stipend/AD Scale | $55,000 – $75,000 |
Additional benefits: FEHB health insurance, FERS retirement pension, TSP (401k-equivalent with 5% match), 13–26 paid vacation days, 13 sick days, 11 federal holidays, student loan forgiveness eligibility (PSLF).
Federal Agencies That Commonly Sponsor Visas
Health & Research
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): World’s largest biomedical research agency—thousands of researchers sponsored annually
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Public health research, epidemiology, laboratory science
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Largest US healthcare system—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, researchers
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Regulatory science, medical device/drug review
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Umbrella agency with multiple sponsoring divisions
STEM & Space
- NASA: Aerospace engineering, planetary science, data science, astrophysics
- Department of Energy (DOE) National Labs: Oak Ridge, Argonne, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, Sandia, Fermilab
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Funds research across universities and institutes
- NOAA: Climate science, oceanography, atmospheric research
IT & Cybersecurity
- CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency): Critical infrastructure protection, threat analysis
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Select IT and analytical roles
- Note: Some positions require citizenship—always verify eligibility in job posting
Engineering & Infrastructure
- US Army Corps of Engineers: Civil engineering, water resources, construction management
- Department of Transportation (DOT): Transportation engineering, infrastructure planning
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Environmental science, regulatory compliance, remediation
- Bureau of Reclamation: Water infrastructure, dam engineering
Foreign Affairs & Development
- USAID: International development, humanitarian assistance, policy
- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): Economic development programs
- Department of State: Certain civil service, contractor, and locally employed staff roles
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Create USAJOBS Account
- Visit usajobs.gov and create your account
- Complete your profile thoroughly
- Upload federal-style resume (detailed, 3–5+ pages)
Step 2: Search Strategically
- Use filters: ‘Open to the public,’ salary range, grade (GS-5 to GS-15)
- Keywords: ‘H-1B,’ ‘visa sponsorship,’ ‘foreign national,’ ‘cap-exempt’
- Read ‘Who may apply’ and ‘Requirements’ sections carefully
- Set job alerts for target agencies and roles
Step 3: Tailor Your Resume
- Mirror keywords from the job announcement
- Include: duties, hours/week, dates, supervisor info, accomplishments
- Quantify impact: cost savings, efficiency gains, publications, patents
- Federal resumes are 3–5+ pages—much longer than private sector
Step 4: Prepare Documents
- Transcripts and credential evaluations (for foreign degrees)
- Professional licenses and certifications
- Publications list (for research positions)
- DD-214 (veterans), SF-50 (current/former federal employees)
Step 5: Complete Assessment Questionnaire
- Answer truthfully and consistently with your resume
- Skipping questions can disqualify your application
Step 6: Track & Respond
- Monitor application status in USAJOBS dashboard
- Respond quickly to HR emails for additional info or assessments
- Be patient—federal hiring can take 2–6+ months
Step 7: Interview & Selection
- Prepare for panel interviews (behavioral + technical)
- Reference checks and background investigation
- Security clearance process if required
- Agency HR initiates visa processing upon selection
Where to Find Legitimate Federal Jobs
- gov: Official portal for all federal jobs—free, no middlemen
- NIH Jobs: nih.gov—biomedical research, clinical, administrative
- CDC Careers: gov/jobs—public health, epidemiology, laboratory
- NASA Careers: gov/careers—aerospace, engineering, science
- DOE National Labs: Individual lab career pages (Oak Ridge, Argonne, Los Alamos, etc.)
- VA Careers: va.gov—healthcare, research, administration
- USAID Jobs: gov/careers—international development, policy
Search Keywords to Use
- ‘H-1B,’ ‘cap-exempt,’ ‘visa sponsorship’
- ‘Foreign national,’ ‘international applicants’
- ‘Exchange visitor,’ ‘J-1 eligible’
- ‘Postdoctoral fellow,’ ‘research fellow’
- ‘Title 42’ (NIH/public health positions)
- ‘Open to the public’ (vs. merit promotion/federal employees only)
Avoiding Scams
- Apply ONLY via USAJOBS.gov or official agency career pages
- NEVER pay anyone to ‘guarantee’ a federal job—it’s merit-based and free
- Ignore WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media ‘job offers’
- Federal HR contacts you via official .gov email addresses
- Report suspected fraud to usajobs.gov/Help/Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a US government job if I’m not a citizen?
Yes—if the job announcement permits non-citizens and the role is eligible for a visa category. Some positions (especially involving classified work) require US citizenship. Always check ‘Who may apply.’
Do all federal jobs sponsor visas?
No. Sponsorship is typically limited to hard-to-fill or specialized roles at research agencies, labs, VA hospitals, and select departments. Many routine administrative roles require citizenship.
Will the government pay for relocation?
Sometimes. Relocation assistance depends on agency, grade, location, and budget. Check each vacancy announcement—it will specify if relocation is authorized or negotiable.
Is there a path to a green card?
Often yes. Many federal employers sponsor EB-2 or EB-3 green cards for qualified employees. NIH, VA, and national labs commonly support permanent residency. Discuss timeline with HR after onboarding.
How long does federal hiring take?
Federal hiring typically takes 2–6+ months from application to start date. Security clearance adds time. Be patient but respond quickly to any HR requests.
Start Your Federal Career
US government jobs offer exceptional stability, competitive salaries ($40K–$200K+), comprehensive benefits, and clear pathways to permanent residency. Research agencies like NIH, NASA, DOE labs, and VA hospitals actively sponsor international talent. The key is targeting cap-exempt positions, preparing a proper federal resume, and applying through official channels.
Your Next Steps
- Create USAJOBS account and upload federal-style resume today
- Set saved searches for target roles + ‘visa sponsorship’ keywords
- Shortlist 10 live vacancies and tailor applications to 3–5 this week
- Prepare documents: transcripts, credential evaluations, licenses
- Line up 3 professional references with current contact info
- Study ‘Duties’ and ‘How You Will Be Evaluated’ for interview prep
- Confirm visa pathway, grade/step, and relocation in written offer
Your federal career starts at USAJOBS.gov. Begin your application today.