National Security and Defense Careers

National Security and Defense professionals earn a median salary of $110,000 at entry level, rising to $121,550 at mid-level and $150,634 for senior roles, across 521 postings that disclosed salary (of 670 analyzed). The field is heavily concentrated in the Washington, DC metro area, with the highest demand in Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and McLean, VA. Top skills reflect the intelligence community's core priorities, including intelligence analysis, all-source intelligence analysis, and written and verbal communication, alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Figures last changed: October 2026