In national security, cleared candidates can find the perfect blend of purpose and paycheck. In 2023, these pros saw a sweet 6% pay bump, hitting a new average high of $114,946. For the second year running, 67% got a raise in their base pay.
Why Pay Matters for Recruiting and Retention
Even with a passion for national security, 79% of cleared respondents are still on the lookout for new gigs. While money might not buy happiness, it sure helps with those sky-high housing costs. Companies need to focus on competitive salaries to keep their top talent from jumping ship.
Top 10 Paying Cleared Jobs
According to the 2024 Security Clearance Compensation Report, the cleared industry has some frontrunners when it comes to compensation. The cleared tech industry dominates the category of six-figure salary occupations, with the majority of IT and engineering positions paying over $100,000, on average. While not every tech position pays top dollar, the field consistently delivers higher compensation. And sometimes, the driver is the high security clearance. When the offer comes along to support a contract that requires a Top Secret clearance, you may want to go for the extra scrutiny in order to get the bigger paycheck.
- Systems Engineering -$144,525
- IT – Software – $144,147
- Sales – $143,530
- Management – $136,428
- Data Science – $133,783
- IT – Security – $131,311
- IT – Database – $122,946
- IT – Hardware – $122,002
- QA and Testing – $121,225
- Legal – $120,544
Aiming for Six Figure Salaries
Compensation isn’t everything, but it’s crucial for maintaining a good work-life balance, especially in pricier states. With more candidates asking for flexible work options, figuring out the trade-offs between salary and remote work can be a smart move. Some contractors are already considering remote options whenever possible. The trick is finding what works best for both you and the company. But whether you want to work from home or not, your experience and education should be your main bargaining chips in any salary negotiation.
