security clearance (secret) developer demand
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How many developer roles ask for security clearance (secret) and what those roles pay — tracked from live job postings.
What do roles requiring security clearance (secret) pay in 2026?
As of September 2026, the typical advertised salary is US$174,400 a year, with most postings between US$164,006 and US$189,284.
That's about 31% more than the typical US software developer earns (US$133,080), per Bureau of Labor Statistics figures from May 2024.
| 25th percentile | US$164,006 |
|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | US$174,400 |
| 75th percentile | US$189,284 |
Advertised base salary, from 75 job postings with pay data, as of September 2026.
How strong is hiring demand for security clearance (secret) in 2026?
Tarmac tracked 52 postings in September 2026, the most recent month we tracked from start to finish.
We're not publishing a month-by-month series yet: the number of postings Tarmac collects each month is still growing, so a month-on-month change would measure our coverage rather than the job market.
Vacancy and salary data includes Adzuna.
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