Best East Coast cities for jobs with security clearance in the defense and intelligence.

1. Best East Coast Cities for Defense
By Tranette Ledford and ClearanceJobs
Average Security-Cleared Earnings
Location Salary
Virginia $98,658
Maryland $94,398
Washington, D.C. $98,542
Source: 2010 ClearanceJobs Compensation Survey
Washington, D.C.
Up and down the east coast, employers are looking to fill shortages in “Even though there are
an ever evolving job market — one driven by the demand for increased improvements in processing
security and high tech skills. This is creating excellent prospects for the backlog of security
transitioning service members and other professionals who hold a clearance applications, those
security clearance. who already hold one have a
The Washington, D.C. region is now so vast it is distinguished as two separate
definite advantage.”
divisions; the D.C./Northern Virginia region and Maryland’s Montgomery
—John Palguta
and Frederick counties. While it’s always been abundant with museums,
Vice President, Partnership for Public Service
theaters, art and history events, the same is true of the job market. In fact,
according to the Partnership for Public Service, the entire region is about to
see a hiring surge. The government plans to take on more than 270,000 new
employees over the next few years — about 40,000 of those in and around
D.C. That trend will directly affect the pool of security cleared job seekers
heading east.
“When there are vacancies, federal agencies want to hire quickly,” said
John Palguta, Vice President, Partnership for Public Service. “Even though
there are improvements in processing the backlog of security clearance
applications, those who already hold one have a definite advantage.”
Hiring trends look particularly good in two sectors; security and protection,
and compliance and enforcement. Given the nature of these sectors, cleared
personnel have a leg up in the competition for jobs in engineering, logistics,
intelligence, program management, administration, finance and network
security. In fact, according to ClearanceJobs 2010 Compensation Survey,
nearly one-quarter of security-cleared professionals working in the Capital
region (Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia) attributed their compensation
increases to changing employers.

2. Northern Virginia
High Growth Areas in Virginia
Across the Potomac, the picture looks just as good. Opportunity is knocking
loudly for security cleared job seekers, as both federal and private sector
businesses often intertwine with defense and security. For example, the
• Contract Intelligence
region has an extensive transportation sector, with two major airports, • Software / Systems / Network
a commuter rail and subway system. The infrastructure surrounding the Engineering
nation’s capitol adds to the need for security clearances and backgrounds in • Cyber Security / Information
engineering, management and network and physical security. Assurance
• Aerospace
Northern Virginia has too many federal facilities to count. But big employers
include the Pentagon, CIA, Fort Myer and Fort Belvoir. Across from the • Modeling & Simulation
Pentagon in Crystal City, military departments and defense contractors
• Acquisition / Procurement
both have a strong presence. More than 600 have offices in Arlington alone,
which also boasts the highest paid workers in the region. Fortune 1000 • Business Development
companies with a presence here also include Booz Allen Hamilton, Computer
• Contract Management
Sciences Corporation, DynCorp International, General Dynamics and CACI
International.
According to Evan Lesser, founder and director of ClearanceJobs, which
“Our number one draw for
matches security-cleared personnel with federal and defense industry hiring
managers, the recession has had minimal impact on security clearance jobs. transitioning service members
is the fact that if you’re security
“Northern Virginia contractors tell ClearanceJobs.com that they are
particularly interested in three skills,” said Lesser. “First, contract
cleared, there’s likely a job match
intelligence professionals are in high demand, despite the government’s for you,”
desire to bring intelligence analysis work in-house. Second, cleared
candidates with Java programming skills remain highly coveted and are some —Chris Gullickson
of the highest paid technology professionals across the country. Finally, with Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance
the government’s focus on cyber-security, job seekers with clearances and
network security certifications like the CISSP and those from GIAC are finding
their pick of jobs here.”
As for quality of life, Northern Virginia has a low unemployment rate and
higher than average salaries. For example, civil service employees in grades
GS 9 through GS 13 can earn between $50,000 and $98,000, while those in
GS 14 and above earn six figure incomes. Private sector employees of equal
experience can command even higher salaries.
While the housing industry slumped over the last few years, the Northern
Virginia Association of Realtors puts the median price of homes sold in
October, 2009 at $356,000.
Southern Virginia
Heading southeast, the Hampton Roads region is marked by strong ties to
the defense industry. Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach help
make up what is now the seventh largest metro area in the nation. Military
installations and supporting businesses employ about 800,000 people,
keeping the region rife with opportunity for those with a security clearance.
Prominent names like Aerotech, Honeywell and Titan Systems dominate the
aerospace sector. Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems lead the ship building
industry. The region is also becoming the epicenter for one of the newest
fields - modeling and simulation. Prompted by the Global War on Terror, the

3. Lockheed Martin Innovation Center was set up in Suffolk. The 50,000 square
foot laboratory serves as the nerve center for net-centric experimentation Highest Cleared Earnings By
and analysis, opening wide the doors for job seekers with high tech skills and Job Category Nationwide
a clearance. Other employers include Capstone and Loyola Enterprises. Old ’10 Earnings
Dominion University is also following suit. It will begin granting undergraduate
Program, Project Manager – $125,784
degrees in modeling and simulation in 2010. Engineering
IT Databases – Admin, Architect, $118,482
“Our number one draw for transitioning service members is the fact or Data
that if you’re security cleared, there’s likely a job match for you,” said IT Program/Project Management $111,642
Chris Gullickson, Business Recruiting Manager, Hampton Roads Economic
IT Software Programming $106,766
Development Alliance. “The second draw is the quality of life.”
Telecommunications Engineering $105,139
Electrical Engineering $104,982
Southern Virginia has a healthy climate and a healthy economy, with housing
prices that have dropped 20 percent in the last year. Another perk — one of Aerospace/Aviation Engineering $103,733
the lowest combined state and local tax rates in the country. Program/Project Manager $103,444
IT Network/Systems Security $99,158
Intelligence Analyst, Linguist, or $90,222
Maryland Interrogator
Maybe the reason Maryland was recently cited as one of the ‘happiest’ Human Resources Generalist/ $87,311
states is due to the fact that jobs abound. Federal opportunities Recruiter
requiring a clearance are available at NSA, the IRS and the Social Security IT Hardware – Admin, Architect, $85,994
Administration. Thousands more are opening up in the state’s military or Support
installations; Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Patuxent River Naval Air IT – Testing/QA $85,733
Station and Andrews Air Force Base, which employs more than 10,000 active IT – Telecommunications $85,661
duty and civilian personnel. Logistics – Supply, Procurement, $85,545
Acquisition
Law Enforcement $76,626
Facility/Personnel Security $68,289
Administrative – Clerical or $65,612
Secretarial
Source: 2010 ClearanceJobs Compensation Survey
Baltimore, MD
While there’s always a demand for security cleared personnel, the Economic
Alliance of Greater Baltimore says there’s currently a growing demand for
those in C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance.) This field is huge and highly technical,
with job prospects and salaries both ranking above average. For example,
an intelligence analyst in Camp Springs, Md. can earn between $106,000 to
$120,000, while a supervisory intelligence analyst earns closer to $130,000.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development puts
Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems at the top of the list for aircraft and
aerospace electronics, with jobs in which a security clearance is an asset
if not a requirement. Ciena and Hughes Network Systems top the list
for communications jobs. But there are plenty of opportunities in state

4. agencies and smaller businesses in fields that include training, simulation,
maintenance, program management, engineering and operations.
As for affordability, the cost of living in Baltimore is a little higher than the
national average, but the rest of the state is comparable. Housing prices run
as low as $170,000, with the median price for 2009 at about $270,000.
Massachusetts
Security-cleared job seekers may want to consider cooler climates in
the north. Massachusetts is now a hotbed of defense contractor activity
generating billions of dollars annually. Key Opportunities in Massachusetts
Four major sectors make up the state’s security-cleared employment • Manufacturing Engineer
map; professional and technical services, defense and homeland
• Software Engineer
security, computer and electronic manufacturing, transportation
and telecommunications. • Supply Chain Associate
• Business Process Analyst
In Massachusetts, research, development, testing and evaluation are
big business with the Defense Department serving as the state’s biggest • Logistics Specialist
customer. This is drawing increasing numbers of defense contractors. Big
• Business Development
hirers of security-cleared workers include Raytheon, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, General Electric Aircraft, Mitre Corp., General Dynamics and • Acquisition Specialist
American Science and Engineering. Hot jobs include software developers, • Operations Manager
systems engineers and technology managers, jobs that command salaries
of around $90,000. The military presence also contributes to the thriving
security-cleared workforce.
“The Hanscom Air Force Base Electronic Systems Center and many
of the contractors that work with it have an extraordinarily large
number of personnel with security clearances due to the sensitive
nature of their mission,” said Mark Sternman, Vice President of Research,
Mass Development.
Other advantages to Massachusetts include a low crime rate, good schools
and good salaries. A senior software engineer can command $88,000 to
$95,000, and advisory software engineers can earn more than $100,000. But
salaries do mirror housing prices, which are historically high. Average home
prices range from $300,000 to $400,000.
All told, the east coast still comes in as the number one market for security
clearance job opportunities. And although many are in the technical
professions, that clearance is just as valuable to those looking for entry level
jobs in clerical and administrative fields, mechanics and maintenance, and
low to mid-level management. ★ ★ ★
4101 NW Urbandale Drive • Urbandale, Iowa 50322 • 1.877.386.3323 • www.clearancejobs.com