ClearanceJobs Releases Annual Compensation Report for Security Cleared Talent

Rhea-AI Summary

DHI Group, Inc. (NYSE: DHX) announced the release of its 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report, indicating that the average total compensation for security clearance professionals was $101,395 in 2021. The report highlights a demographic shift in the cleared workforce, showing a 6% decrease in baby boomers and a corresponding increase in millennials. Technical roles now command higher salaries, with IT-Software professionals earning an average of $129,756. The report also notes a growing trend towards remote work options within the national security sector.

Positive

• Average total compensation for security clearance professionals is $101,395.
• IT-Software professionals are the highest-paid cleared workers with an average salary of $129,756.
• 52% of respondents hold at least one industry certification, earning an average of $13,000 more than non-certified counterparts.

Negative

• Slips in job and salary satisfaction reported among security clearance professionals.
• A 3% decrease in the number of respondents working in the D.C. metro area.

CENTENNIAL, Colo., March 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DHI Group, Inc. (NYSE: DHX) announced today that ClearanceJobs, its leading career marketplace for security-cleared professionals in the defense industry and national security, has released its 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report.

Security clearance total compensation averaged $101,395 in 2021. The ClearanceJobs annual survey of cleared professionals about key topics around salary and job satisfaction remains a pivotal pulse point in the health of the overall national security sector. The biggest story around the 2021 survey is the generational shifts hitting the cleared workforce – the survey found a 6 percent decrease in the number of baby boomer respondents, and a corresponding 6 percent increase in millennials. The graying of the aerospace industry is affecting both the skills and average age of professionals fueling the defense workforce. Technical careers remain king, garnering nearly $30,000 more than the overall average for all industries and taking over the top spot in cleared compensation across all job categories.

"The 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report truly highlights the myriad factors that contribute to compensation across the national security field, from job category and years of experience to clearance level, and number of technical certifications," said Evan Lesser, Founder and President of ClearanceJobs. "Small shifts in both the industry and individual can have huge impact on compensation, and we see from the survey results that there may be no such thing as the 'average' cleared worker. This is an industry fueled by unique and exceptional skills, and unique and exceptional people."

D.C. Dips and Workforce Shifts
The D.C. metro remains the main market for security cleared professionals with 42 percent of respondents working in D.C., Maryland or Virginia. But geographic mobility is beginning to be more of an option, and D.C. metro respondents dropped by 3 percent in 2021. While the D.C. monopoly may have dipped slightly, it still pays to work inside the Beltway. Respondents within the I-495 corridor had average compensation $21,576 higher than the average for those who worked outside the Beltway.

State	Total Comp
Alabama	$95,626
Arizona	$90,525
California	$103,322
Colorado	$105,174
D.C.	$109,163
Florida	$95,105
Georgia	$86,900
Hawaii	$102,772
Illinois	$94,589
Indiana	$82,203
Kentucky	$80,882
Louisiana	$82,891
Maryland	$106,876
Massachusetts	$113,197
Michigan	$101,830
Missouri	$93,223
Nebraska	$98,193
Nevada	$99,481
New Jersey	$104,935
New Mexico	$95,859
New York	$93,332
North Carolina	$89,928
Ohio	$95,341
Oklahoma	$85,266
Pennsylvania	$89,294
South Carolina	$83,968
Tennessee	$90,103
Texas	$93,285
Utah	$97,494
Virginia	$110,096
Washington	$98,495

The Afghanistan withdraw also created a dip in OCONUS cleared respondents. Afghanistan went from making up 25 percent of overseas cleared workers to just 4 percent. The shift in defense strategy means 97 percent of all cleared respondents now work stateside.

Compensation by Occupation: Cyber and Suits
When it comes to top-paying cleared industries it's clear: suits and cyber are where the money's at. The shift to cyber as the highest-paying occupation became a reality in 2022. Business sales topped the list of cleared occupations in 2021, but for 2022 cyber took over the top-paying slot with IT-Software professionals ($129,756) and Systems Engineers ($129,351) garnering the top spots and Management ($123,773), Data Science ($119,759), and Business Sales ($119,221) rounding out the top 5 highest paid cleared positions.

	Average Total Comp
Aerospace and Aviation	$102,119
Business - HR	$86,177
Business - Legal	$108,163
Business - Sales	$119,221
Business - Support	$74,383
Construction/Facilities	$94,268
Emergency	$93,218
Engineering - Chemical	$91,557
Engineering - Civil	$104,659
Engineering - Electrical	$101,773
Engineering - Mechanical	$102,627
Engineering - Systems	$129,351
Finance	$104,357
Government Contractor	$90,832
Healthcare and Science	$94,075
Intelligence	$103,693
IT - Database	$108,162
IT - Data Science	$119,759
IT - Hardware	$103,395
IT - Security	$114,018
IT - Software	$129,756
IT - Support	$79,989
IT - Tech Writing	$96,633
IT - QA and Test	$105,482
Linguist	$93,505
Logistics	$81,046
Management	$123,773
Military and Law Enforcement	$111,476
Security	$82,318
Trainer/Instructor	$94,141
Visual and Creative	$90,405

It also pays to be a triple threat – combining skills, experience and certifications is the key to higher compensation in the cleared industry. More than half (52 percent) of respondents reported having at least one industry certification and cleared and certified workers earned an average of $13,000 more than their non-certified counterparts.

Can You Go Remote in National Security?
For years it was assumed you couldn't work remote and work in national security. But 46 percent of respondents said remote or hybrid work environments would remain in place post-COVID. Respondents who said remote work wasn't on the table weighed in on what would make going back to the office better. Most respondents said extra vacation and more vacation days were the best way to lure them back to the office. Gone are the days of the office buffet, however, more respondents cited they would rather receive nothing than on-site food or snacks.

Respondents reported slight decreases in both job and salary satisfaction in 2021, but when it came down to what would help shift the needle toward a happier worker, higher compensation and more training options were top on the list. For those who worry that the lure of commercial sector remote work options will force cleared workers out, it's worth noting that while 29 percent of respondents said remote work would increase their job satisfaction, a similar figure (27 percent) said a more meaningful mission would.

"The shifts we saw in our 2022 Compensation Report are all relatively small," noted Jill Hamilton, editor of ClearanceJobs. "But what we've seen is that small shifts – in demographics or sentiment – can have a major impact on our very limited pool of cleared candidates. The devil truly is in the details, as well as the opportunity. It's incredibly important for both employers and federal government agencies to understand how the workforce is changing, from the rise in millennial workers to the dips in D.C. metro respondents."

The Security Clearance Compensation report includes cleared compensation by state, occupation, education, security clearance level and other criteria.

Access The 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report:

• The 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report
• Journalists: Email lindy.kyzer@clearancejobs.com for an ungated link

Report Methodology

The 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Survey was administered online by ClearanceJobs from September 17, 2021 and December 31, 2021. In 2021, there were 52,028 survey participants, an increase of 14% over the 2020 survey. After excluding survey respondents without a security clearance, unemployed, active-duty military, students, those whose compensation was below $18,000 or above $300,000, and finally incomplete or duplicate questionnaires, there remained 24,089 usable responses in 2021. Survey results are compared to the 20,548 usable responses captured in 2020 that followed the same parameters.

About ClearanceJobs 
ClearanceJobs is the largest security-cleared career marketplace specializing in defense and intelligence jobs for professionals with security clearance. ClearanceJobs is committed to connecting security-cleared professionals and employers in a secure and private environment to fill the jobs that safeguard our nation. ClearanceJobs is a DHI Group, Inc. brand.

About DHI Group, Inc.
DHI Group, Inc (NYSE: DHX) is a provider of AI-powered career marketplaces that focus on technology roles. DHI's two brands, Dice and ClearanceJobs, enable recruiters and hiring managers to efficiently search for and connect with highly skilled technologists based on the skills requested. The Company's patent-pending algorithms manage over 100,000 unique technology skills. Additionally, our marketplaces allow technology professionals to find their ideal next career opportunity, with relevant advice and personalized insights. Learn more at www.dhigroupinc.com.

Investor Contact
Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers
MKR Investor Relations, Inc.
212-448-4181
ir@dhigroupinc.com

Media Contact
Lindy Kyzer
Director of Content & PR, ClearanceJobs
cjmedia@clearancejobs.com

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SOURCE DHI Group, Inc.

FAQ

What does the 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report say about salaries for security-cleared professionals?

The report indicates that the average total compensation for security clearance professionals was $101,395 in 2021.

How much do IT-Software professionals make according to the 2022 report?

IT-Software professionals are the highest-paid cleared workers, earning an average of $129,756.

What demographic shifts were noted in the 2022 Security Clearance Compensation Report?

The report noted a 6% decrease in baby boomers and a corresponding 6% increase in millennials in the cleared workforce.

Is remote work becoming more common in the national security field?

Yes, 46% of respondents indicated that remote or hybrid work environments would remain post-COVID.

How does certification affect compensation in the security clearance industry?

Those with industry certifications earned an average of $13,000 more than their non-certified counterparts.