If you have an active or recently expired security clearance, you possess a highly valuable asset in the private sector. Many companies, especially in defense, cybersecurity, intelligence, and government contracting, actively seek professionals with security clearances.
But simply having a clearance isn’t enough—you need to strategically market it to maximize job opportunities and salary potential. Here’s how to do it.
🔹 1. Understand the Value of Your Clearance
Private sector employers value clearances because they:
✅ Reduce the time and cost of obtaining clearance for new hires
✅ Indicate trustworthiness, reliability, and a clean background
✅ Open doors to sensitive government contracts and defense projects
The most in-demand clearances include:
- Top Secret (TS) / TS-SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information)
- Public Trust
- Secret Clearance
- Polygraph (CI Poly, Full Scope Poly, Lifestyle Poly)
🔍 Companies hiring for cleared roles: Defense contractors (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman), cybersecurity firms, intelligence consultancies, and IT firms supporting federal agencies.
🔹 2. Target the Right Industries & Companies
Your security clearance is especially valuable in high-security industries, such as:
✅ Government Contracting (Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, General Dynamics)
✅ Defense & Aerospace (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, BAE Systems)
✅ Cybersecurity & IT (Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike)
✅ Intelligence & National Security Consulting (SAIC, CACI, MITRE)
🔗 Tip: Search for jobs with keywords like “cleared professional,” “security clearance required,” or “TS/SCI preferred” on job boards like ClearedJobs.net, USAJobs.gov, and LinkedIn.
🔹 3. Highlight Your Clearance on Your Resume & LinkedIn
Your clearance should be one of the first things recruiters see—but you must list it properly.
✅ Best Practices:
✔ Include it in the header (e.g., “John Doe | TS/SCI Clearance | Cybersecurity Expert”)
✔ In your skills section: “Active Top Secret Clearance (TS-SCI)”
✔ In your experience: “Held TS-SCI clearance while leading cybersecurity operations at [Agency]”
🚫 Don’t:
❌ List classified project details
❌ Reveal sensitive information
❌ Mention exact dates of clearance investigations
🔹 4. Use Your Clearance to Negotiate a Higher Salary
Security-cleared professionals earn 10-30% more than their non-cleared counterparts.
📈 Average Salaries for Cleared Professionals (2024 Estimates):
- Secret Clearance: $85K – $120K
- Top Secret: $100K – $150K
- TS-SCI with Polygraph: $125K – $200K+
📝 Tip: If you’re moving into a new industry, use your clearance as a bargaining tool in salary negotiations. Companies often pay a premium for already-cleared candidates.
🔹 5. Keep Your Clearance Active (If Possible)
A security clearance can expire if not used for 2 years. If you’re moving into the private sector, try to:
✅ Apply for cleared jobs immediately to maintain your status
✅ Work with a recruiter specializing in cleared positions
✅ Consider contract roles that allow you to keep your clearance active