How to Get a Cleared Job After the Military (TS/SCI Guide)
Cleared job market playbook: what employers actually pay for a clearance, how long yours stays active, and how to search only cleared postings.
An active TS/SCI clearance adds $15,000–$40,000 to a veteran's first civilian offer. Your clearance stays reciprocity-eligible for 24 months after separation.
What each clearance is worth
- Secret: $5k–$15k premium
- Top Secret: $15k–$25k premium
- TS/SCI: $25k–$40k premium
- TS/SCI + Full-Scope Poly: $40k–$65k premium
Where to search
- ClearanceJobs.com — the gold standard
- ClearedConnections
- USAJOBS (filter: security clearance required)
- Booz Allen, Leidos, CACI, ManTech, SAIC direct sites
How to stay active
- Convert to a cleared contractor within 24 months of separation.
- If you can't, ask a cleared employer to sponsor a periodic reinvestigation.
What kills a clearance
- Financial delinquency (biggest reason)
- Foreign contact reporting failures
- Unreported drug use
Resume language
List clearance at the top: "Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph (last reinvestigation MM/YYYY)." Recruiters filter on this line.
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