Military / Defense Specialist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$42,000
national median salary
$36,000 to $54,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $42,540 for Protective Service Workers, All Other (SOC 33-9099) across the United States, based on 81,500 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$32,470
25th percentile
$35,420
Median
$42,540
75th percentile
$54,910
90th percentile
$74,590
Workers surveyed
81,500
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$41,600
May 2025 release
$42,540
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Protective Service Workers, All Other (SOC 33-9099) rather than Military / Defense Specialistspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 33-9099Highest Paying
$59,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$44,000
Philadelphia, PA
Lowest Paying
$33,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 33-9099. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Military / Defense Specialist salary in the United States at $42,000 in 2026, within a range of $36,000 to $54,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $59,000, while Philadelphia offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Clearance level and technical specialization are the primary salary drivers for defense civilians and contractors.
Military / Defense Specialist salary by city.
Skills that increase Military / Defense Specialist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Military / Defense Specialists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $5,880 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$5,880 per year
≈ +$5,460 per year
≈ +$5,040 per year
≈ +$4,620 per year
≈ +$4,620 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
≈ +$4,200 per year
≈ +$3,780 per year
What you should know.
Clearance level and technical specialization are the primary salary drivers for defense civilians and contractors. TS/SCI with polygraph adds $15,000 to $30,000 over uncleared peers. Intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and systems engineering roles pay the most. Proximity to defense hubs (DC metro, Huntsville, San Diego) concentrates the highest salaries.
Junior defense analysts start at $52,000 to $65,000. Mid-level specialists earn $70,000 to $92,000 after four to six years. Senior program analysts and team leads reach $95,000 to $130,000, with program managers at major defense contractors earning $140,000 to $190,000.
Defense contractors offer 8 to 15% bonuses and retention incentives for cleared personnel. Federal civilian roles (GS/GG scale) provide TSP matching, FERS pension, and locality pay adjustments of 15 to 35%. Deployed positions add hazard and hardship pay of 25 to 35%.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Military / Defense Specialists typically earn $36,000 (15% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Military / Defense Specialist?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about Military / Defense Specialist pay.
Related tools