Security Specialist Jobs in Virginia

Security Specialist jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in defense contracting, federal agency support, and critical infrastructure protection, with openings at every level from entry-level security officer to senior program security officer. The heaviest hiring clusters around Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads metro, and the Richmond area, where employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and ManTech have deep, lasting footprints. The most in-demand specialties are physical security, information security oversight, and personnel security and insider threat programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles140+
Top employerAMERICAN SYSTEMS
Top cityArlington, VA
Cities hiring35
Work type75% On-site
Top industryCybersecurity

Showing 4 of 140+ Security Specialist jobs

Convergint
Security Project Specialist 3
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Convergint
Added 1d ago
Security Project Specialist 3
Convergint
Henrico, Virginia
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Success
$38 - $45/hr
Remote (US)
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Serco
Senior Industrial Security Specialist
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Serco
Added 1d ago
Senior Industrial Security Specialist
Serco
Crystal City, Virginia
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security & Protective Services
$100k - $135k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Serco
Personnel Security Specialist - Mid
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Serco
Added 1d ago
Personnel Security Specialist - Mid
Serco
Crystal City, Virginia
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security & Protective Services
$60k - $95k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Amazon.com
Data Center Security Specialist, DC Security AMER East
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Amazon.com
Added 1d ago
Data Center Security Specialist, DC Security AMER East
Amazon.com
Manassas, Virginia
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Success
$28.89 - $50.52/hr
10,000+

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See All 140+ Security Specialist Jobs in Virginia

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Security Specialist Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Reston
12 jobs
Quantico
10 jobs
Springfield
10 jobs
Chantilly
6 jobs
Alexandria
6 jobs
Norfolk
5 jobs
Sterling
5 jobs
Crystal City
5 jobs

Security Specialist Job Market in Virginia

A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • AMERICAN SYSTEMS
    AMERICAN SYSTEMS16
  • Target
    Target10
  • General Dynamics Information Technology
    General Dynamics Information Technology8
  • Amazon
    Amazon7
  • Allied Universal
    Allied Universal6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Cybersecurity
  • Consumer Goods
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Retail
  • Media & Entertainment

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in security specialist jobs across Virginia.

  • Active Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) registration or recognized equivalent credential
  • DoD security clearance at the Secret or Top Secret level preferred for most positions
  • Experience with physical security systems, access control, and surveillance operations
  • Familiarity with federal security standards such as NISPOM, ICD 705, or FIPS guidelines
  • CPR, first aid, and emergency response certifications commonly required by hiring employers
  • Strong written communication skills for incident reporting, security assessments, and briefings

Security Specialist Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a security specialist in Virginia?

Most security specialist roles in Virginia require registration with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, which oversees private security licensing in the state. Candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a DCJS-approved training program covering subjects like legal authority and emergency response, and a clean background check. For roles supporting federal contracts, a DoD security clearance is often required alongside relevant education or prior military or law enforcement experience.

How much do security specialists make in Virginia?

Security specialists in Virginia earn a median of about $85,200 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,650 for the lowest 10% to over $156,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire security specialists in Virginia?

Employers hiring security specialists in Virginia right now include AMERICAN SYSTEMS, Target, and General Dynamics Information Technology, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense contractors and federal agencies means many of these openings require or strongly prefer candidates who already hold an active security clearance.

Which Virginia cities have the most security specialist jobs?

Arlington, Reston, and Quantico have the most security specialist openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates due to its dense cluster of federal agencies, intelligence community facilities, and defense contractors, while Hampton Roads draws significant demand from the Navy, Coast Guard, and supporting contractors based at and around Naval Station Norfolk.

Are there remote security specialist jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. Security specialist work is largely site-based, requiring physical presence for access control, patrols, and facility oversight. About 25% of security specialist openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in analytical or administrative functions such as personnel security adjudication, compliance review, and security program management rather than hands-on protective roles.

How can I get hired as a security specialist in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is completing a DCJS-approved basic security officer training program, which qualifies candidates for unarmed and armed security positions across Virginia without prior experience. Large defense contractors and federal facilities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads regularly bring on entry-level security officers who then move into specialist roles as they accumulate clearance history and site experience. Pursuing a DoD security clearance early, even at the Secret level, gives candidates a significant hiring edge for positions supporting federal contracts.

Where can I find and apply to security specialist jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to security specialist jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and beyond. Find roles that fit your experience level and specialty and apply directly to the employer.

See All 140+ Security Specialist Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Security Specialist Jobs