Cleared Recruiting Resources

The 2026 Security Clearance Compensation Report breaks down cleared compensation by clearance and polygraph level, location, career level, government agency, satisfaction and much more.

In the cleared community, professionals are constantly weighing their options — is being a federal employee or a contractor best? This report not only breaks down the compensation divide across agency, clearance level, experience, location and more, but also includes what cleared professionals value most in their roles and whether they'd consider switching sides.

This report not only breaks down compensation for cleared presidents, CEOs, CTOs, CISOs, and VPs by a variety of factors, but also looks at performance considerations, hours worked weekly, and what keeps this group up at night.

We're diving deeper into the 2025 Compensation Survey results. Get the scoop on the highest-paying cleared occupations of 2025: Intel, IT/Engineering, Logistics, Management and Security.

It may be safe to say that not a lot changes comparing one year to the next in any regard, but what about looking back five years? When looking at 2019 to 2023, security clearance holders have experienced notable (and positive) differences in their compensation.

Learn more about the key differences between Public Trust and security clearances, the challenges involved, and how it aligns with Trusted Workforce 2.0.

Certifications are not only a key recruiting and retention strategy — they can also increase your chances of winning contracts, driving revenue growth. Candidates who hold certifications show a strong commitment to their professional development, which in turn can contribute to the success of your organization.

Inside Special Report: Cleared Engineering and IT Compensation, you'll find how this compensation differs from all cleared professionals drilled down by clearance and polygraph, certifications, location and much more.

We're taking the 2025 Security Clearance Compensation Report and diving deeper—exploring the locations across the country where cleared professionals are earning the most.

We unpack the disconnect between evolving drug norms and static federal clearance guidelines, and what that means for working and recruiting in national security.

Recruiting in National Security breaks down how and why agile recruiting gives national security employers a way to move fast without breaking the rules.

Dive into how employer branding influences cleared professionals from first impression to final offer. Discover how to craft messages that build trust, highlight your mission, and position your company as a place where candidates want to belong.

The 2025 ClearanceJobs Cleared Recruiting Guide is here—your insider look at how cleared recruiting teams are navigating today’s talent battlefield. 

Hiring in the cleared space is mission critical. One overlooked detail can jeopardize a contract, delay access, or put important milestones at risk.

Companies are coming up with innovative solutions to differentiate themselves in this highly competitive environment. Relocation, retention, rehiring, and remote work are essential factors for your recruitment strategy.

Alcohol abuse, misuse, and/or incidents can cause security clearance denial or revocation as alcohol consumption is one of the 13 adjudicative guidelines used to assess clearance eligibility.

ClearanceJobs has identified the current top recruiting problems and addresses how to solve them.

AI is developing fast, and it has a huge opportunity to change the way government hires for cybersecurity roles and staffs its cybersecurity teams.

What are a few things you can do to expedite your hire?

Criteria to consider when writing a description for your security-cleared posting.

Conduct phone interviews more efficiently and uncover qualified security-cleared candidates more quickly.

Add these tactics to your arsenal to move your recruiting from excellent to exceptional.

We enter 2026 with good news and bad news regarding the U.S. security clearance system. Trusted Workforce 2.0 is now in full swing — and that's good. The bad news? Not all organizations have embraced it, creating inconsistency.

Under The Security Executive Agent Directive-3 (SEAD-3) cleared professionals and those in sensitive positions are required to self-report certain events. But what qualifies, how do you report, and what happens afterwards?

The security clearance world doesn’t stand still—and the past six months have proved it. From executive orders shaking up policies to the rollout of NBIS and evolving suitability standards, there is a lot to keep track of.

As FSOs juggle national security demands with business goals, this latest report offers a data-driven look at where they stand today—and where organizations should invest to ensure security teams are equipped to manage risk and support mission success.

ClearanceJobs has compiled a comprehensive security and suitability clearance glossary. Brush up your vocabulary with our Glossary of Security Clearance Terms.