2025 has already earned a place in the books as a chaotic time for national security and defense contracting. Widespread layoffs across agencies and government contractors have left many professionals rethinking their careers. Budgets have tightened, but counterintuitively, demand for cleared talent remains high, even as things shift in demand and timing. As institutions dig in for long-term investments, some jobs have become more critical than ever.
Top 10 National Security Jobs in 2025
This list is based on the latest data from the ClearanceJobs’ platform. If you’re thinking about making a move, or pivoting into national security, these are the jobs that drew consistent demand in 2025.
1. Helpdesk Support (all levels)
These are the frontline technicians who handle day-to-day user issues: password resets, connectivity problems, software or hardware troubles. In a world increasingly reliant on secure networks, helpdesk staff ensure everything runs smoothly. Given budget constraints and leaner IT teams, companies are still hiring helpdesk roles because they’re cost-effective and often serve as entry points to more advanced cleared positions. Expect to be on the client site for many of these roles.
2. Data Scientist / Data Analyst
Agencies and contractors are collecting more data than ever. Data scientists and analysts parse, wrangle, and interpret that data to produce actionable insights. According to career-field guidance for intelligence careers, data science methods such as big data analytics, machine learning, predictive analytics, and data operations play a central role in supporting national security missions.
3. Intelligence Analyst (all levels and locations)
For professionals cleared to work in intelligence, analyst roles remain a mainstay. Intelligence analysts evaluate data from political, social, technological, and military domains to offer assessments of adversary intentions, emerging threats, and global developments. Demand remains high across regions, especially as global instability drives a need for real-time, high-quality intelligence.
4. Financial Analyst
Even in national security, money matters. Financial analysts support budgeting, cost analysis, contract oversight, and financial forecasting. For defense contractors and agencies alike, having skilled analysts ensures contracts are cost-effective and compliant.
5. Cybersecurity Specialist / Analyst
Cybersecurity professionals defend networks, monitor for intrusions, patch vulnerabilities, and respond to incidents. According to recent data, the median pay for information security analysts in 2024 was about $124,910 and demand is projected to grow 29% through 2034. That upward trajectory reflects the growing sophistication of cyber threats targeting government, defense contractors, and supply chains.
6. IT Technician
Beyond helpdesk support, IT technicians manage infrastructure: networks, servers, user endpoints , keeping an organization’s IT backbone functioning. As agencies migrate services, modernize, or tighten compliance, these roles help maintain operational continuity.
7. Remote Jobs — Data Entry, Customer Service, Testers
With more agencies and contractors still allowing some remote or hybrid work post-pandemic and post-layoffs, there remains demand for specific remote support roles. Those can include data entry, customer service, or user-acceptance testers. Their flexibility, lower cost, and remote nature make them attractive, especially when budgets are constrained and physical footprint is being reconsidered.
8. Facility Security Officer (FSO)
FSOs are crucial in the defense industrial base. They ensure organizations comply with the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) and other regulations, manage personnel and facility clearances, oversee classified contract security, and act as a liaison between companies and government agencies like Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). They maintain secure facilities, manage access control, handle clearance paperwork, and ensure handling of classified information follows strict protocol. Given ongoing compliance requirements and contract accountability, companies remain keen to fill these roles even when cutting elsewhere.
9. System Administrators
System administrators (sysadmins) keep networks, servers, and infrastructure running. In national security contexts, they ensure stable, secure environments where classified systems, databases, and tools function without interruption. As agencies and contractors rely more heavily on cloud services, hybrid infrastructures, and secure collaboration tools, sysadmin roles remain in demand.
10. Project / Program Manager
Managing program delivery on time, on budget, and securely is more important than ever. Project and program managers in national security help oversee large contracts, coordinate teams, ensure compliance and deliverables, and serve as the glue between technical teams, contract requirements, and government oversight. Their leadership is especially valuable in a period of disruption, where stability and oversight matter.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next in 2026 and Beyond
As the current U.S. administration shifts national security priorities, including supply-chain resilience, domestic manufacturing, technology modernization, and AI adoption, we expect new or expanded roles to emerge. Here’s what’s likely on the horizon:
◊ AI-focused intelligence and analysis roles.
Expect positions dedicated to machine-learning aided intelligence gathering, predictive analytics for threat forecasting, and automated data processing. Analysts who can combine domain knowledge with data science and AI fluency will be especially valuable.
◊ Cyber threat hunting and AI-driven cybersecurity roles.
As adversaries increasingly use AI tools, defenders will need people versed in AI-based detection, anomaly detection, automated threat response, and secure AI deployment.
◊ Compliance and oversight specialists in emerging tech.
As agencies adopt new tools, demand will rise for professionals who understand both security and regulatory compliance. That could mean more Facility Security Officers or similar compliance roles, but focused on high-tech contexts.
◊ Remote / distributed operations management.
With a shift toward remote work and distributed contracting, there may be more demand for project managers, sysadmins, and support staff specialized in hybrid or remote defense-contract environments.
◊ Data governance, privacy, and secure data-sharing roles.
As data becomes even more central, roles centered on responsibly handling, sharing, protecting, and analyzing data will grow.
In short, 2026 may see a surge of hybrid roles that combine traditional national-security functions with data science, AI, cybersecurity, and remote operations. The more flexible and tech-savvy a candidate is, especially with AI familiarity, the more likely they are to find opportunity.
