The intel briefing for cleared tech professionals
No-fluff guides on IT certifications, DoD security clearances, and building wealth in the cleared tech sector.
CompTIA, AWS, RedHat, and every DoD 8570/8140 baseline cert — ranked, sequenced, and explained without the upsell.
Browse certs → 02How investigations really work, what delays adjudication, and how to navigate the tech market with a cleared résumé.
Browse clearances → 03W-2 vs. 1099, TSP allocation, contractor tax strategy — wealth-building guidance written for cleared compensation structures.
Browse finance →Start here
One foundational article from each pillar. Read these first.
DoD 8140 replaced 8570 in 2023 and uses 50+ DCWF work roles across seven workforce elements. Here's how compliance, proficiency levels, and cert requirements work.
Read article → Start Here ClearancesSecret, Top Secret, TS/SCI, and SCI access explained — what separates them, which investigation tier each requires, and why clearances don't always transfer.
Read article → Start Here FinanceHow GS grades, steps, and locality pay combine to determine your federal salary — and what actually drives promotions and within-grade increases.
Read article →Recent articles
Can You Get a Security Clearance With a DUI?
A DUI does not automatically disqualify you from a security clearance. Here's how Guideline G, Guideline J, mitigation, expungement, and SF-86 disclosure apply.
↗ careerEntry-Level Cleared IT Jobs: Best Roles to Target (2026)
The most realistic entry-level cleared IT jobs include help desk, desktop support, field service, NOC, junior sysadmin, data center, and Tier 1 SOC roles.
↗ FinanceFederal Employee Benefits Explained: FERS, TSP, FEHB, and Total Compensation
Federal salary is only part of the compensation picture. Here's how FERS, TSP matching, FEHB, paid leave, holidays, and job stability affect what a federal job is really worth.
↗The brief
Most IT advice is written for the commercial market. ClearedPathway is focused on the narrower reality of DoD 8140, clearance-driven hiring, contractor economics, and security-focused career paths.
No boot camp upsells. No affiliate-padded recommendations. No recycled generic advice. Just practical guidance for people building in cleared tech.
Action over abstraction. What to do, what to prioritize, and what order actually makes sense if you are trying to move forward in this market.
This site is written from inside the path — by someone actively building through certifications, hands-on IT work, and the cleared hiring pipeline.
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