Skill Demand Index
Secret Clearance — Demand & Depth Analysis
Based on 6 scored job postings out of 3,786 total. Depth levels reflect actual proficiency tiers, not just keyword presence.
0.2%
Demand Rate
L1
Median Depth
66.7%
Gap Rate
6
Jobs Analyzed
Minimal
Most employers want Secret Clearance at introductory awareness.
Overview
What is Secret Clearance?
Market context for Secret Clearance in the current job market
Secret Clearance is required in 0.2% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current job market. Employers looking for Secret Clearance typically want candidates who can demonstrate real proficiency, not just surface awareness.
What the data shows for Secret Clearance:
- •Required in 0.2% of all scored postings — demand is growing as more employers add it to requirements
- •Employers typically expect L1 depth — foundational knowledge with practical application
- •Most demand comes from Other roles — 33% of all Secret Clearance jobs
What L1 means in practice:
L1 (Minimal) means you can discuss the concept but haven’t used it in production. Many entry-level positions accept this.
This means employers aren't looking for someone who has used Secret Clearance once or twice. They want evidence of professional application — shipped work, measurable outcomes, and the ability to operate independently.
Common skill gaps:
The gap rate of 66.7% means most applicants lack Secret Clearance at the depth employers need. This is a real opportunity for candidates who invest in building genuine proficiency.
Which roles need Secret Clearance most:
Other positions drive 33% of demand. Operations and Data Science / ML also frequently list Secret Clearance as a requirement. Skills commonly paired with Secret Clearance include Microsoft Excel and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.
Depth Level Distribution
Proficiency Distribution
How candidates match Secret Clearance requirements across 6 scored evaluations
Average depth: L1.8·Median depth: L1.0
Salary Correlation
Pay Impact
How Secret Clearance affects compensation based on postings with disclosed salary data
Without Secret Clearance
$139K
Median $130K
977 jobs
Skill Demand Insight
“Secret Clearance appears in 0.2% of all scored jobs.”
From 6 scored job postings
Skill Pairings
Commonly Paired Skills
Other skills that frequently appear alongside Secret Clearance
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
17%
co-occurrence
Role Breakdown
Top Role Categories
Job categories most likely to require Secret Clearance
Gap Analysis
Gap Rate Explained
How often Secret Clearance is identified as a skill gap (L0–L1) in scored applications
High gap rate — most candidates are underqualified
When Secret Clearance appears in a job's requirements, 66.7% of scored applicants received an L0 or L1 (missing or minimal).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Secret Clearance in demand in 2026?
Yes. Secret Clearance appears in 0.2% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current market. Based on 6 analyzed jobs, demand is steady across multiple role types.
What level of Secret Clearance do most jobs require?
The median required depth is L1. Many positions accept basic to intermediate proficiency.
Does knowing Secret Clearance increase salary?
Salary data for Secret Clearance is still accumulating.
What other skills pair with Secret Clearance?
The most common pairings are Microsoft Excel, Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Financial Work Experience, Government Compliance, Earned Value Management (EVM). Strengthening these alongside Secret Clearance improves your fit across more positions.
What roles need Secret Clearance the most?
Top roles: Other, Operations, Data Science / ML, Data Analysis. Other positions have the highest demand at 33% of all Secret Clearance jobs.
How do I improve my Secret Clearance level?
L1→L2: online courses and personal projects. L2→L3: daily professional use and shipped work. L3→L4: mentoring others and optimizing processes. L4→L5: architecture decisions, open source contributions, or published work.
See how you stack up against Secret Clearance job requirements
ShouldApply scores your profile against each skill at the depth level jobs actually need.
Analyze my Secret Clearance gaps →See how your depth compares to what employers actually require
All Skills · Roles · Companies · Browse Jobs