Personnel Security Specialist labor category
Personnel Security Specialist is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $57–$142/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Personnel Security Specialist does
They are responsible for ensuring that all personnel working on government contracts meet the specific suitability and security requirements dictated by the client agency. In this role, you will review sensitive background investigation documentation, monitor clearance eligibility, and maintain compliance with federal security regulations like the NISPOM. Entry-level positions typically require a high school diploma or associate degree, while higher levels (Level III and IV) often necessitate a bachelor's degree and extensive experience managing complex security programs. As you progress, your responsibilities shift from routine data entry and file maintenance to managing large-scale security operations, auditing compliance for thousands of staff members, and advising corporate leadership on high-level security risks. This position requires extreme attention to detail, high ethical standards, and the ability to interpret evolving federal security policies to keep programs operational and compliant.
Typical Personnel Security Specialist duties
- Manage the end-to-end personnel security clearance process for contractor employees.
- Review and verify background investigation documentation for accuracy and completeness before submission to government agencies.
- Monitor and update employee clearance records within government security databases to ensure continuous eligibility.
- Provide guidance to employees regarding security requirements, reporting responsibilities, and non-disclosure obligations.
- Conduct internal security audits to ensure site compliance with federal security regulations and contractual obligations.
Personnel Security Specialist levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | $57/hr – $103/hr | $70/hr | $60k–$81k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | $85/hr – $142/hr | $118/hr | $102k–$136k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $57/hr – $103/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $70/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $60k–$81k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $85/hr – $142/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $118/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $102k–$136k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 96 rates.
Common certifications: Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Notary Public, SHRM-CP, PHR, Microsoft Office Specialist, ITIL Foundation
Clearance for this labor category
About 16% of Personnel Security Specialist GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Personnel Security Specialist
Sample Personnel Security Specialist resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Managed the security clearance process for a workforce of 500+ employees, maintaining a 98% compliance rate with federal submission timelines.
- Processed over 200 initial security clearance applications and 50 reinvestigation requests annually, reducing average submission turnaround time by 15 days.
- Oversaw a $2M security contract budget and ensured all personnel met specific suitability requirements for sensitive site access.
What level Personnel Security Specialist are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 53 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Personnel Security Specialist. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Personnel Security Specialist labor category: quick answers
Do I need a security clearance to be a Personnel Security Specialist?
Yes, most positions in this field require you to hold or be eligible to obtain a security clearance, as you will be handling sensitive personal information.
How does my military background map to this role?
Experience in military personnel administration, security management, or intelligence support provides a strong foundation for this civilian career path.
Is a bachelor's degree mandatory for all levels?
While entry-level roles often accept experience in lieu of a degree, senior-level and management positions typically require a bachelor's degree to meet contract labor category requirements.
What is the primary difference between Level I and Level IV roles?
Level I roles focus on administrative tasks and data entry, whereas Level IV roles involve strategic program management, policy interpretation, and corporate-level security oversight.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
They are responsible for ensuring that all personnel working on government contracts meet the specific suitability and security requirements dictated by the client agency. In this role, you will review sensitive background investigation documentation, monitor clearance eligibility, and maintain compliance with federal security regulations like the NISPOM. Entry-level positions typically require a high school diploma or associate degree, while higher levels (Level III and IV) often necessitate a bachelor's degree and extensive experience managing complex security programs. As you progress, your responsibilities shift from routine data entry and file maintenance to managing large-scale security operations, auditing compliance for thousands of staff members, and advising corporate leadership on high-level security risks. This position requires extreme attention to detail, high ethical standards, and the ability to interpret evolving federal security policies to keep programs operational and compliant.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Personnel Security Specialist level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator