Abstract: A foil journal bearing with a dual stiffness spring comprises a housing, a shaft arranged for relative coaxial rotation with respect to the housing, and a single spring layer surrounding the shaft. The single spring layer may have a first linear spring rate and a second linear spring rate wherein the first linear spring rate is formed by first pitch corrugations along a length of the single spring layer and the second linear spring rate is formed by second pitch corrugations along a length of the single spring layer. In an aspect of the invention, the foil journal bearing provides a top foil having first and second ends positioned in a notch in the housing. In an aspect of the invention, the single spring layer maintains a ratio of three of the second pitch corrugations to each of the first pitch corrugations.