ClearanceJobs takes a deep dive into compensation, job and salary satisfaction, and the likelihood of changing jobs for cleared professionals in the U.S. southeast region.

West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, as well as Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin

Islands, make up the southeast region. The Atlantic coastline and Gulf of Mexico create cleared career opportunities in emergency planning, space, and undersea drones—making the cleared career opportunities as hot as the temperatures. West Virginia boasts the lowest average housing prices in

the nation. In contrast, Northern Virginia has housing costs nearly three times the national average. Most cities in the southeast land somewhere in between. The Southeastern region is filled with history, almost year-round comfortable weather, and cleared job opportunities. Whether the options are aimed at the blue collar worker, the help desk technician, or the data scientist, the region is rich with cleared opportunities and varied housing options. Work-life balance is not too far out of reach in the Southeast.

LIFE IN THE U.S. SOUTHEAST:CLEARED, COMPENSATED, AND COMFORTABLE

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 2

Compensation by Clearance LevelAll clearance levels are not created equal—even when it comes to compensation. Although compensation is dependent on the role, the higher the clearance, the higher the compensation. And while almost everyone got a pay bump this year, the intel community felt a slight decrease for all those extra hours in the SCIF while everyone else was working from home. While the intel percentage remained stable at 8% of respondents in the Southeast, turnover of higher paid positions and incoming Generation Z in a small community can bring down overall compensation averages. And candidates in the Southeast with a polygraph earned over $12,000 more in 2020 than those without one, proving that it pays to be trusted.

TOTAL COMPENSATION BY CLEARANCE

Southeast Region Total CompensationAverage total compensation in the Southeast is $102,242. Even with a pandemic, this region got a 2.45% bump in pay. Not everyone likes so much sugar in their tea, but sweet compensation is a crowd pleaser. For an area that is continually attractive for businesses, while still offering moderate living prices, cleared candidates can find the best of all worlds down in the southeastern region.

TOTAL COMPENSATION

2019 COMPENSATION 2020 COMPENSATION % CHANGE FROM 2019ConfidentialSecret $83,827 $86,997 3.78%Top Secret $103,406 $106,747 3.23%Top Secret/SCI $109,601 $110,500 0.82%DoE (Q or L) $102,570 $112,873 10.04%Intel $132,698 $132,330 -0.28%DHS $87,612 $97,772 11.60%Public Trust $77,753 $80,152 3.09%Other Government Agency

$96,786 $99,465 2.77%

2019 2020 % CHANGE FROM 2019Average Total Compensation $99,754 $102,202 2.45%

Gray box indicates <50 responses.

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 3

Experience and Education Compensation LevelsIn the Southeast, the higher you go up the career ladder, the higher the increase in salary in 2020. Across the board, everyone got a raise, but leading the charge through the pandemic paid off for respondents with a little more seniority. While middle management and senior level respondents were also hit harder with unemployment this past year, they were also more compensated.

COMPENSATION BY CAREER LEVEL 2019 COMPENSATION 2020 COMPENSATION % CHANGE FROM 2019

Entry Level (less than 2 years experience) $58,257 $59,268 1.74%

Early Career (2+ yrs experience) $68,749 $69,474 1.05%

Mid Level Career (5+ yrs experience) $81,462 $83,644 2.68%

Senior Level Career (10+ yrs experience) $107,794 $111,294 3.25%

Management (Manager/Director of Staff) $129,853 $133,958 3.16%

Executive (SVP, EVP, VP) $175,699 $183,610 4.50%Senior Executive (President, CEO) $162,871 $179,683 10.32%

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R E G I S T E R T O D AY

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 4

Going to college doesn’t always bring in the bigger bucks, but often it can. The Southeast not only has private and public education options up and down the coastline, but they also have a mix of employers with a variety of jobs. Some southeastern states, like Florida have contractors with cleared jobs for blue and white collar workers. With many college options in each state, cleared employees can take advantage of education benefits, while continuing on in their national security work. And in the Southeast, 50% of the respondents have at least one certification, earning the cleared and certified group over $15,000 more each year.

COMPENSATION BY EDUCATION LEVEL

2020 COMPENSATIONHigh School Graduate, Diploma or the Equivalent $76,805Some College Credit, No Degree $85,573Trade/Technical/Vocational Training $84,255Associate Degree $84,254Bachelor’s Degree $100,955Master’s Degree $122,435Professional Degree $141,681Doctorate Degree $143,661I Prefer Not to Answer $119,825

0Percent 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Very or Somewhat Dissatisfied

Neutral

Very or Somewhat Satisfied

Southeast

U.S. Average

57%

22%

Satisfaction with Job

Less Satisfied, More Likely to LeaveGrowth continues to mark the southeastern regions. Whether candidates are drawn to the idea of sitting on a beach in December without freezing after a long day of work or the job opportunities, the region offers many options for candidates. Working in national security provides meaningful, mission-oriented work, but life in the Southeast also provides a pace that contributes to job satisfaction.

21%

56%

23%

21%

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 5

0Percent 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Very or Somewhat Dissatisfied

Neutral

Very or Somewhat Satisfied

Southeast

U.S. Average

54%

20%

Satisfaction with Salary

High Salary Satisfaction Just like job satisfaction, the Southeast is on par with the rest of the country with their feelings about their salary. Compensation in the region can also vary widely. Candidates in Florida report an average total compensation of $93,523, compared to Virginia’s $111,502. High demand for cleared talent also creates a candidate’s market where even professionals with top compensation may think they could get more money elsewhere.

26%

0Percent 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Not at all Likely

Somewhat Likely

Very Likely or Likely

Southeast

U.S. Average

53%

32%

Likelihood of Changing Jobs or Employer in the Next Year

Ready to Move for the Right Opportunity Professionals in the southeast have options and opportunities when it comes to both cities and jobs. However, for now, while dissatisfaction with salary is higher, the Southeast is on par with the rest of the U.S. on their likelihood of jumping to another employer’s ship, with 85% ready to find new work. Only 3% in the Southeastern region are planning for retirement this year, with the rest looking for a promotion, new employer, or a new contract. Employees in the Southeast with zero plans to move to greener pastures pulled in over $17,500 more annually.

15%

53%

21%

53%

31%

16%

26%

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 6

0Percent 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Not at all Likely

Somewhat Likely

Very Likely or Likely

Southeast

U.S. Average

9%

22%

Leaving Cleared Industry in the Next Five Years

Cleared Pros in it for the Mission The southeastern region is very committed to national security, with 69% saying they have zero plans to leave their security clearance behind. While the commercial sector can sometimes pay more, in the Southeast, in particular, the missions are hard to replicate. Candidates in the Southeast understand the power of steady, reliable, and rewarding work.

69%

TOP 5 HIGHEST PAID JOBSNot every high paying position requires higher education and certifications, but degrees and certifications are definitely a factor. While a position in sales takes the top spot in the Southeast, IT roles in software and data science, as well as systems engineering, pay well.

$132,133ENGINEERING - SYSTEMS Aerospace, Avionics, Geospatial,

Modeling, Simulations, Management

$129,225IT - SOFTWARE Development, Web,

Engineering, Management

$123,001IT - DATA SCIENCE Analyst, Statistics, Math,

Mining, Predictive Modeling

10%

24%

66%

$125,953MANAGEMENT

Team Lead, Project Manager, Program Manager, Supervisor

$140,044BUSINESS - SALES Business Development, Account Management

2021 Southeastern Region Market Report 7

Important Information About Our SurveyThe survey for the 2021 Security Clearance Compensation Report was administered online by ClearanceJobs from September 17, 2020 to December 31, 2020. In 2020, there were 45,748 survey participants, an increase of 14% over the 2019 survey. After excluding survey respondents without a security clearance, unemployed, active-duty military, students, those whose compensation was below $18,000 or above $300,000, and incomplete or duplicate questionnaires, there remained 20,548 usable responses in 2020. ClearanceJobs studied the following five regions across the United States: northeast, southeast, midwest, southwest, and west. The southeast region had 8,352 usable responses. Survey results are compared to the 7,496 usable responses captured in 2019 that followed the same parameters.

ConclusionLife in the Southeast is full of year-round sunshine, barbecue flavors, and missions that can’t be replicated anywhere else. While southern hospitality may not be guaranteed, nature trails and historic sites to visit are never lacking. And the mild winters don’t hurt work-life balance. Whether you consider yourself an ACC or an SEC football fan, there are plenty of teams to root for throughout the region. And if giving Uncle Sam your hard-earned money does not bring you joy, Florida and Tennessee offer income tax-free living.

And employees aren’t the only ones flocking to the southeastern region. Major corporations and federal agencies are building their presence. Alabama’s Rocket City is a prime example of national security growth in the works, with the FBI expanding its southern footprint. While the FBI set up shop in Huntsville back in the 1970s, their presence has grown over the years, with plans for more

expansion. The southeastern region offers an environment that’s friendly for businesses and enjoyable for employees. Add the moderate cost of living factor, and it’s a baseball, beaches, and barbecue magnet.

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