How many people have access to the government’s most sensitive secrets? The total number of individuals with eligibility to access classified information in 2019 (the last year the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report) was 4.2 million. Within that figure are 1.3 million individuals with a Top Secret security clearance. A CNN report published earlier today argued ‘the number of people with a Top Secret security clearance will shock you.’ We’d argue that it may shock you just how few people are at work today with a Top Secret security clearance.
The nuance of the security clearance process is on display with the figures released by the ODNI and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). It’s not just the total number of individuals with a clearance that matters, but also how many of those individuals are actually using their security clearance, along with how those figures compare with other industries.
There may be 1.3 million individuals with a Top Secret clearance, but there are also 11.4 million (or nearly three times more) individuals working in the restaurant industry, 11.4 million working in construction, and 12.6 million in leisure and hospitality.
The restaurant industry is worth $898 billion, and the aerospace and defense industry is worth roughly $551 billion. While the economic impact is more than half, the workforce to support it is significantly less. The numbers show we have more people staffing our local Taco Bells than our local cleared facilities. Based on sheer numbers to economic impact, the cleared workforce should have room to grow.
Who’s On First
When it comes to who has security clearances, the military is the major driver of security clearances, and makes up the largest (numbers) bucket for all security clearances of any level. A much smaller percentage fall to DoD civilians or contractors.
Eligible and In-Access
We’ve previously broken down how the number of security clearance holders using their eligibility has gone down post-COVID. Regardless of the reason, the market for cleared professionals has significantly outpaced supply throughout the past five years. Several years ago significant delays in security clearance processing times were the cause of issues in fueling a properly sized cleared population. Today, DCSA has busted its backlog and processes security clearances within benchmarks, but due to the smaller in-access talent pool, the number of applicants interested in open cleared positions remains smaller than the supply.
Need-to-Know
The 1.3 million individuals with Top Secret clearances are supporting a wide variety of missions, from the CIA to the Department of Commerce. Just because you have a Top Secret clearance doesn’t mean you have access to any information out there that’s classified Top Secret. Many categories of information fall into a Special Access Program, and would require a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance eligibility.
FAQs
As our chart shows, the federal government grants top secret security clearance to large numbers of government employees and contractors: 1.25 million according to the latest publicly available figures.
How many people have a Top Secret clearance? ›
As our chart shows, the federal government grants top secret security clearance to large numbers of government employees and contractors: 1.25 million according to the latest publicly available figures.
How hard is it to get a Top Secret clearance? ›
A top secret security clearance is a determination by the U.S. government that an individual can access highly sensitive information or data that affects national security. Obtaining a top secret clearance requires passing a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) and can take 6 to 18 months.
Does everyone at the CIA have Top Secret clearance? ›
Because of the classified nature of our work, all CIA applicants must go through a comprehensive security clearance process.
Do all FBI agents have Top Secret clearance? ›
The mission of the FBI is vital to the safety and security of our nation and its citizens. Often, our work is very sensitive in nature. Therefore, all FBI positions require at least a Top Secret Clearance; special agents must be able to obtain a Top Secret SCI Clearance.
What is the average salary for Top Secret clearance? ›
How much does a Top Secret Security Clearance make? As of Apr 14, 2024, the average annual pay for a Top Secret Security Clearance in the United States is $126,833 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $60.98 an hour.
Is having a Top Secret clearance good? ›
TS/SCI clearance can help you to increase your earning potential and qualify for high-level positions in the government, military and private sector.In this article, we'll describe how to get a TS/SCI clearance, followed by the types of jobs that would require such high-level security clearance.
What disqualifies Top Secret clearance? ›
What can disqualify you?
- You are not a U.S. citizen.
- You were dishonorably discharged from the military.
- You are currently involved in illegal drug use.
- You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional.
- You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
“Information 'above Top Secret,' a phrase used by the media, means either Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP). It is not truly 'above' Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret.
What financial disqualifies you from Top Secret clearance? ›
A history of not meeting financial obligations. Deceptive or illegal financial practices such as embezzlement, employee theft, check fraud, income-tax evasion, expense-account fraud, filing deceptive loan statements, and other intentional financial breaches of trust. Inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts.
Yankee White is an administrative nickname for a background check undertaken in the United States of America for Department of Defense personnel and contractor employees working with the president and vice president.
Who has Q clearance? ›
The federal government primarily offers this clearance to outside contractors who need access to specific sites, though it may also be necessary for some positions within the Department of Energy and the military.
What is a Level 5 Top Secret clearance? ›
Tier 5 (Former SSBI or Level 3) – critical sensitive national security position. This investigation makes the staff member eligible for a top-secret clearance. Tier 5+ (Formerly level 4) – a select designation for staff needing TS/SCI security clearances. Only a very select few positions are within this scope.
What level of GS do FBI agents work at? ›
Special agents enter as GL-10 employees on the Law Enforcement Government Pay Scale and can advance to the GS-13 grade level in a field, nonsupervisory role.
How long does a Top Secret clearance last? ›
On the five-year anniversary of the last investigation or the CE enrollment date, an individual will be required to submit a new “Questionnaire for National Security Positions” (Standard Form 86—SF86). If there is new potentially disqualifying information in the new SF86, an investigation will be conducted.
Can family members affect security clearance? ›
Yes. Family members can impact one's ability to receive security clearance. Investigators are looking for activities or behaviors that would allow potential compromise.
Who has the highest clearance in us? ›
Top secret clearance is the highest security clearance level anyone can get. A candidate's responsibilities determine the level of clearance granted. State and local law enforcement officers, for example, usually need confidential or secret clearance.
Is secret clearance easier to get than Top Secret? ›
The process of obtaining a Top Secret clearance involves an extensive background investigation. Confidential and Secret investigations are thorough, but the Top Secret version is the most intensive.
Can you be denied Top Secret clearance? ›
More specific conditions that may endanger your security clearance include: A history of deceptive or illegal financial acts like embezzlement, tax evasion, and fraud; Failure to satisfy your debts; and. Financial problems caused by gambling, drug abuse, or alcohol abuse.
Is Yankee White higher than Top Secret? ›
It is not truly "above" Top Secret, since there is no clearance higher than Top Secret.
