Lifestyle & Specialty
Which Navy jobs require a security clearance?
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Ratings in the information warfare and intelligence communities require TS/SCI clearances. This includes CTN, CTR, CTI, CTT, IS, IT, and CWT. A security clearance is one of the most valuable assets you carry into the civilian job market.
Clearance levels explained
The Navy uses three main clearance levels: Secret, Top Secret (TS), and Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI). Secret clearance is common across many ratings. TS and TS/SCI are reserved for ratings that handle classified intelligence, communications, and cyber operations. The clearance-required ratings are ranked by civilian salary potential.
Which ratings get TS/SCI
The Cryptologic Technician community (CTR, CTI, CTT, CTM), Intelligence Specialist (IS), Cyber Warfare Technician (CWT, which absorbed the former CTN rating in 2023), and Information Systems Technician (IT) routinely receive TS/SCI clearances. Some submarine ratings (ITR, ITN, ITE, STS, FCA) also receive Top Secret. These clearances are investigated by DCSA and can take 6-12 months to process.
The civilian value of a clearance
A TS/SCI clearance is worth real money in the private sector. Defense contractors, intelligence agencies, and cybersecurity firms actively recruit cleared personnel. Studies show that holding a TS/SCI adds $15,000-$25,000 to annual salary compared to non-cleared positions. The clearance costs the government $50,000+ to investigate, so employers prefer hiring people who already have one.
What can disqualify you
The investigation looks at financial history, criminal record, drug use, foreign contacts, and honesty. Significant debt, recent drug use, or foreign family ties can complicate the process. Being denied a clearance after selecting a clearance-required rating means reclassification to a different rating, which is disruptive. Be honest with your recruiter about any potential issues before choosing a clearance-required rate.
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