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Top Secret Clearance Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GDIT

Data Engineer | Active Top Secret clearance

Yorktown, VA · On-site

$101K - $121K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Top Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret Public Trust/Other Required: None Job Family: Data Science and Data Engineering Job Qualifications: Skills: Amazon Relational Database ...

GDIT

Data Engineer | Active Top Secret clearance

Mechanicsburg, PA

$108K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Top Secret Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret Public Trust/Other Required: None Job Family: Data Science and Data Engineering Job Qualifications: Skills: Amazon Relational Database ...

TekSynap

Cybersecurity Engineer w/Top Secret Clearance

Columbus, OH · On-site

$175K - $230K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Must possess a Top Secret clearance with a favorable NACLC and be eligible for an IT-I (Tier 5/SSBI) Critical-Sensitive clearance. RESPONSIBILITIES * Perform a variety of technical and analytical ...

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How much do top secret clearance jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for top secret clearance in the United States is $134,144.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Top Secret Clearance?

A Top Secret Clearance is the highest level of security clearance granted by the U.S. government. It allows an individual access to information or material that could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed without authorization. Obtaining this clearance involves an extensive background investigation, including checks on personal, financial, and criminal history. Only individuals with a legitimate need to know can be granted this clearance, and it must be renewed periodically.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in roles that require a Top Secret Clearance?

Professionals in positions requiring a Top Secret Clearance often encounter challenges related to maintaining strict confidentiality, adhering to rigorous security protocols, and managing the stress of handling sensitive information. Daily responsibilities typically include safeguarding classified materials, following detailed reporting procedures, and undergoing regular security evaluations. Collaboration may be limited to cleared colleagues, which can sometimes restrict information sharing and require careful coordination. Additionally, the need for ongoing background checks and the potential for sudden re-investigations can add to the pressure of the role.

What is the difference between Top Secret Clearance vs Confidential Clearance?

AspectTop Secret ClearanceConfidential Clearance
Required CredentialsBackground check, polygraph (if applicable), security interviewBasic background check, fingerprinting
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, defense contractors, intelligence agenciesSimilar environments but for less sensitive information
Employer & Industry UsageMilitary, intelligence, national securityGovernment offices, civilian agencies

Top Secret Clearance is a higher level of security clearance than Confidential Clearance, allowing access to more sensitive information. While both require background checks and security interviews, Top Secret Clearance involves more extensive vetting, including polygraphs in some cases. Employers in defense, intelligence, and national security sectors primarily use these clearances, with Top Secret being essential for handling highly classified data.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in roles requiring Top Secret Clearance, and why are they important?

To excel in positions requiring a Top Secret Clearance, individuals must demonstrate reliability, integrity, and a clean personal and professional background, often supported by relevant education or military experience. Familiarity with secure communication systems, classified information protocols, and potentially certifications like Security+ or CISSP is essential. Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are valuable soft skills in these sensitive environments. These qualities are critical because they ensure the protection of national security information and maintain the trust necessary for handling classified material.

What jobs do you need top secret clearance for?

Top Secret clearance is required for jobs involving national security, intelligence, defense contracting, and military roles that handle sensitive information. These positions often involve working with classified data, intelligence analysis, or military operations, and may require additional certifications or background checks.
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Cities with the most Top Secret Clearance job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Top Secret Clearance jobs?

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Top Secret Clearance jobs near you
Infographic showing various Top Secret Clearance job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 19% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $134,144 per year, or $64.5 per hour.

Senior Network Engineer with Top Secret Clearance

TEEMA

Huntsville, AL • On-site

$135K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

Senior Network Engineer – Huntsville, AL (Onsite)
Clearance: Active Top Secret required (SCI eligible; CI Poly upon hire)
Compensation: $135,000–$145,000 depending on experience

Join a mission-focused federal program supporting secure enterprise infrastructure. This role is ideal for a hands-on network engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, improving performance, and building resilient environments.

What You’ll Do

  • Architect and deploy secure network solutions across multiple classification levels

  • Provide advanced (Tier 3) technical support and root-cause analysis

  • Diagnose and resolve complex LAN/WAN issues involving routing protocols such as BGP, EIGRP, GRE, and DMVPN

  • Work with Cisco routing hardware, including ASR platforms

  • Evaluate network designs through feasibility and cost analysis

  • Produce clear technical documentation and system requirements

  • Partner with government and technical teams to support operational needs

Required Background

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline

  • 6+ years designing and implementing enterprise network environments

  • Strong Cisco routing and Layer 2 knowledge (VLANs, STP, MST)

  • Experience troubleshooting complex network infrastructures

  • Active Top Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship

Nice to Have

  • Cisco certifications (CCNA or higher)

  • Cisco Catalyst Center (DNAC) familiarity

  • SD-WAN experience

  • Prior work within federal intelligence environments

This is a fully onsite position in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting critical secure operations.

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About Teema

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

TEEMA is an award-winning, industry-leading recruitment agency dedicated to building meaningful relationships across North America. We achieve this time after time by consistently sourcing, screening, managing and securing top talent tailored to employers’ specific needs. The team that makes this happen consists of hundreds of experienced professional recruiters backed by exceptional, tenured leadership and back-office support. No matter how unique or challenging your hiring needs may be or how misunderstood or undervalued your in-demand skills may be in your current role, we have you covered. Our primary objective is to provide an exceptional recruitment experience for our clients and candidates and an ecosystem that empowers our team to thrive.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Litchfield Park, AZ, US

Social media

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