Security & Investigations · Senior
TSCM Specialist Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$70,000
25th percentile
P50
$125,000
Median
P75
$105,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Very Tight
Scarcity: 8/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
30-80
Active candidates nationally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
8% year-over-year
RETENTION
3.8 yr avg tenure
18% annual turnover
TSCM Specialist Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Niche role. GDIT/Echelon job postings $143-195K are reliable anchors. Private sector UHNW rates may exceed gov contractor.
Also Known As
Technical Surveillance Countermeasures Specialist, Bug Sweep Specialist, Counter-Surveillance Technician
What Does a TSCM Specialist Do?
The TSCM Specialist operates providing executive protection, threat assessment, and security operations for high-net-worth families, corporate principals, or private organizations. Professionals in this role typically bring 8 to 14 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 30-80 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives TSCM Specialist Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a TSCM Specialist is $125,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $70,000 to $105,000. Pay variation across this range is primarily driven by principal risk profile, domestic vs. international travel requirements, team size managed, security clearance level, and specialized training in surveillance detection or threat mitigation. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.08% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
TSCM Specialist Career Path
Professionals who move into TSCM Specialist roles most commonly come from military special operations, federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or corporate security departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward director of security for large family offices, corporate security leadership, or independent security consulting. The average tenure in this role is approximately 3.8 years, with an annual turnover rate of 18%.
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