At a federal intelligence agency, DOD intelligence unit, or contractor supporting intelligence operations, you handle the clerical work that intelligence-analysis operations generate — document processing, file management, secure-records handling, and the administrative work that classified environments require.
Intelligence clerk work happens in secure facilities under clearance — processing classified documents, supporting analysts with records work, maintaining the secure files that intelligence operations generate, handling the administrative tasks (travel, time-keeping, training tracking) that any team requires but that takes specialized handling in classified environments. Documents processed correctly and security-compliance integrity are the operating measures.
Where the work differs from civilian clerical roles is the classification overlay — every document carries handling instructions, every workspace operates under security rules, and the clerk navigates the procedural strictness of classified-information work continuously. Variance is real: at large agencies (NSA, CIA, DIA) the role works within structured support teams; at smaller intelligence units the clerk has broader scope; at contractor positions it follows the contracting company's structure with the client agency's security requirements.
The role suits people who are discreet, comfortable in secure environments, and able to hold security clearance through the rigorous federal background investigation. Federal academy training, clearance-specific procedures, and ongoing CE anchor advancement. The trade-off is the lifestyle constraints that security clearance carries (limited foreign travel, financial scrutiny, mandatory reporting) and the modest pay at federal clerical grades, balanced against federal benefits and the institutional importance of the work.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →At a federal intelligence agency, DOD intelligence unit, or contractor supporting intelligence operations, you handle the clerical work that intelligence-analysis operations generate — document processing, file management, secure-records handling, and the administrative work that classified environments require.
Median pay for an Intelligence Clerk is about $41K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $30K to $61K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Monitoring.
Most people in this role hold a postsecondary certificate.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 15.9% through 2034, with roughly 78,980 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Documentation Specialist, Document Clerk, and File Clerk.
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