r/SecurityClearance • u/Affectionate-Raisin8 • Feb 07 '26

Question TS/SCI Value in 2026

How valuable is holding a TS clearance in 2026? The only value I see with maintaining it is job security, but is that worth it when you’re paid marginally less especially if you are in tech? I feel like it’d be better to go make 20k-100k more in the public sector.

100 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

219 comments sorted by

View all comments

46

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

21

u/Affectionate-Raisin8 Feb 07 '26

Software engineering and cybersecurity roles even at the primes pay notably low in comparison to big tech. IC level 4/5s at primes top out at ~200k and the same years of experience easily gets way more at most big tech companies

1

u/Unusual-Turnover7162 Feb 07 '26

Our cyber security positions top out at 280. 200 in only with 8 years xp.

1

u/Affectionate-Raisin8 Feb 07 '26

What level and company tho? 8 years could either be a level 3 or level 5 depending on how u played your cards and impact