What a security clearance is actually worth: cleared pay, by the numbers

A clearance can expand the jobs you can pursue. Putting a dollar value on the clearance alone is harder: cleared and uncleared jobs can differ in duties, location, experience, hours, and access requirements.

Published cleared-pay surveys provide useful benchmarks. They do not, by themselves, show what the same person would earn in an otherwise identical uncleared job. That distinction matters when using a headline average to evaluate an offer.

The verified compensation figures

DHI Group's March 2026 release for the 2026 ClearanceJobs Security Clearance Compensation Report describes compensation earned in 2025. It reports these average total-compensation figures:

These are survey-group averages, not medians or advertised base salaries. The polygraph group and state groups contain different mixes of workers. Source: DHI Group's report announcement.

What the figures do not establish

The report announcement does not provide a matched comparison controlling for occupation, experience, location, and employer to isolate a clearance premium. It therefore does not establish a universal “10–20% more for holding a clearance” rule.

For the same reason, the higher average for polygraph holders does not show that obtaining a polygraph causes that entire pay difference. The work, employers, geography, and experience mix may also differ. A polygraph is an agency requirement and security process, not a credential you buy to increase your salary.

Keep these distinctions in mind when comparing data sources:

• An average can be pulled upward by high earners. It is not interchangeable with a median.
• A survey edition's publication year may differ from the compensation year.
• A live salary calculator may use a different sample or methodology from an annual report.
• Self-reported respondents may not represent the whole cleared workforce.
• Total compensation is not the same as base salary. Check the source's definition before deciding which components to include.

Build a comparison around the actual job

The useful comparison for an offer is a group of roles with similar responsibilities and conditions. Start with the occupation and seniority, then narrow the evidence.

Duties and qualifications

Compare the work you would do, rather than the title alone. A systems administrator, cloud engineer, and security architect can all hold TS/SCI while doing different work. Confirm whether certifications are mandatory, whether you would lead a team, and whether specialized experience is required. Our 8140 guide explains how to check cyber qualification requirements.

Clearance and access requirements

Separate the clearance level, SCI access, and polygraph requirement. Then ask what must be current at hire and what processing remains. Existing eligibility may reduce an employer's staffing delay, but does not guarantee an immediate start or a particular pay increase.

Location and schedule

Compare the actual duty location, on-site schedule, shifts, travel, and relocation terms. A national average is weak evidence for a particular office or work schedule. Treat the survey's state averages as broad context, then look for current ranges for comparable local roles.

Pay components and contingencies

Ask for a breakdown of base pay, target bonus, guaranteed payments, retirement contributions, health coverage costs, and paid leave. Keep guaranteed and variable compensation separate. Also confirm whether the offer depends on a contract award, customer approval, or access processing, and when paid employment starts.

Use the evidence in a hiring conversation

A useful comparison is specific: “These posted roles require similar experience and access at this location, and their base ranges are X to Y. How does your range reflect the scope of this position?” That gives the employer something concrete to address.

Avoid adding a fixed percentage to an uncleared offer or anchoring solely to the highest survey group. For an early-career role that offers clearance sponsorship, weigh the written salary and conditions together with the work and development opportunity. The survey alone cannot tell you whether to accept or reject that offer.

Using ClearMatch for current comparisons

Browse current jobs to compare requirements and any employer-published salary ranges. ClearMatch also uses your profile to help identify relevant roles and explain the fit. A match is not a salary estimate or a guarantee that compensation data is available for every listing.

Use the annual survey for context and the employer's current posting and written offer for the specific opportunity. If a listing omits compensation, request the range before investing heavily in the process.