Leveraging Your Military Security Clearance

There are three primary levels of security clearance, each granting access to increasingly sensitive information:

This is the most important thing to understand: you have a limited window to use your clearance after leaving the military.

• After separation from military service, your clearance goes into inactive status
• Your clearance eligibility remains on record for 24 months (2 years)
• During this 24-month window, a new employer can "reactivate" your clearance relatively quickly — typically in days or weeks rather than months
• After 24 months without a sponsor, your clearance is archived and essentially expires. Getting it back requires starting the investigation process over

Reinvestigation Cycles

Under the traditional system:

• Secret: Reinvestigation every 10 years
• Top Secret: Reinvestigation every 5 years

Under the new Trusted Workforce 2.0 framework (being implemented by DCSA), periodic reinvestigations are being replaced by Continuous Vetting (CV), which uses automated records checks and inter-agency information sharing to monitor cleared personnel in real time rather than conducting one-time deep investigations every 5–10 years.

If You Are Still in the Military or Recently Separated

• Ask your unit security manager or Facility Security Officer (FSO) to check your status in DISS (Defense Information System for Security — the system that replaced JPAS)
• Your clearance status, investigation dates, and eligibility level are all recorded in DISS

If You Are Already Separated

• Submit a Privacy Act request to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)
• You can submit requests via mail, fax, or email to DCSA
• Visit dcsa.mil for current contact information and forms

Important Notes

• DISS is the system of record for DoD security clearances
• Scattered Castles is the separate system for Intelligence Community clearances
• These systems do not talk to each other — if you had clearances with multiple agencies, your security officer may need to check both systems
• You cannot look up your own clearance — it must be done by an authorized security professional

1. You receive a conditional job offer from an employer (government agency or defense contractor) that requires a clearance
2. The employer's Facility Security Officer (FSO) submits a request to transfer your clearance to their organization
3. If your clearance is still within the 24-month window and your investigation is current, the transfer can happen in days to weeks
4. If your investigation has expired but you are within 24 months, a new investigation may be needed — but having a prior clearance still speeds up the process

Security clearances command significant salary premiums in the civilian job market:

Average Salaries by Clearance Level

By Role (TS/SCI Holders)

• Software Engineers: ~$147,500 average
• Cybersecurity Professionals: ~$149,400 average (DC area)
• IT Professionals: ~$132,000 average
• Intelligence Analysts: $90,000–$140,000+ depending on experience

Geographic Hotspots

The highest-paying locations for cleared workers are areas with large concentrations of defense and intelligence agencies:

• Washington, DC / Northern Virginia / Maryland — by far the largest market
• Colorado Springs / Denver, CO — NORAD, Space Command, NRO
• San Antonio, TX — NSA Texas, multiple military cyber units
• Huntsville, AL — Army Materiel Command, missile defense
• San Diego, CA — Navy, defense contractors
• Tampa, FL — CENTCOM, SOCOM

Clearance-Specific Job Boards

• ClearanceJobs.com — the largest job board specifically for cleared professionals. You must verify your clearance to create a full profile.
• IntelligenceCareers.gov — official job board for the U.S. Intelligence Community (NSA, CIA, DIA, NGA, NRO)
• USAJOBS.gov — filter by security clearance requirement

General Job Boards with Clearance Filters

Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter all allow you to filter by security clearance. Search for terms like "active clearance," "TS/SCI required," or "must possess Secret clearance."

1. Start job searching before separation. Your clearance is most valuable while it is still active. Use transition programs like SkillBridge to get into a cleared position before your service ends.
2. Do not let it lapse. If you cannot find a cleared job immediately, consider taking even a short-term contract position with a defense contractor to keep your clearance active.
3. Get it on your resume. List your clearance level, type of investigation, and date of last investigation. Never list classified program names or details.
4. Target the right geography. If you are flexible on location, the DC/Virginia/Maryland area has the highest concentration of cleared jobs and the highest pay.
5. Combine clearance with certifications. A TS/SCI clearance paired with certifications like CISSP, Security+, PMP, or AWS certifications can push salaries well into six figures.
6. Use ClearanceJobs.com. It is the go-to platform for cleared employment and many positions are posted there before anywhere else.
7. Know your value. Do not accept an uncleared salary for a cleared position. Your clearance saves the employer tens of thousands of dollars and months of waiting — that has real market value.