Study: Higher Pay for Arlington Workers with Clearance

(Updated at 3:30 p.m.) As the threat of sequestration looms, government workers’ salaries are under the microscope. A new study suggests that although compensation for professionals with security clearance has dropped in most parts of the country, it’s a different story in Arlington.

According to a study by ClearanceJobs.com, security-cleared professionals across the country experienced a three percent drop in compensation in 2012, with total compensation averaging nearly $88,500. Arlington bucked the nationwide trend and instead experienced a three percent increase, bringing average total compensation to more than $106,100.

The study states, “The compensation gulf between those in the D.C.-metro area and other parts of the U.S. is widening.”

Workers at the CIA received the highest compensation, averaging about $121,400. Those at the Department of State came in second, averaging nearly $108,000. Both entities’ workers experienced about a two percent increase in compensation. NSA employees rounded out the top three at about $107,000, but didn’t see an increase.

Twenty-eight percent of Arlington security professionals reported concern over the possibility of losing contracts or funding. That’s only up two percentage points over the previous year, despite the current worries over possible pay cuts due to sequestration.

ClearanceJobs.com gathered data from more than 16,300 respondents in 29 states and the District of Columbia between October 30, 2012 and January 21, 2013. Participants had to have a current, active federal security clearance and be currently employed to be included in the results.

The study included an interactive map, which is available online, showing the average compensation for security professionals in each state.