How To Become A Personnel Security Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a personnel security assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Personnel security assistants mostly work in federal agencies or through business support companies. Their job revolves around assisting with personnel security programs and insider threat programs that are critical in ensuring the personnel security of an organization.

The role of a personnel security assistant mostly involves administrative tasks, including data entry, file maintenance, record keeping, and case tracking. Most personnel security assistants also make recommendations to approve or disapprove of security documentation and review security clearance information for completeness.

Becoming a personnel security assistant is not just for anyone. To obtain this role, one must have an active Secret Clearance or higher, at least a year of experience with e-QIP and other personnel security databases, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and a completed Personnel Security Sustainability Adjudication Course. Of course, one must also be a US citizen.

The road to becoming a personnel security assistant is not an easy one, but the yearly salary of around $47,434 a year may be well worth it.

ScorePersonnel Security AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,406

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 9.07%

Black or African American 17.83%

Hispanic or Latino 13.60%

Unknown 5.46%

White 52.96%

Gender

female 50.22%

male 49.78%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a personnel security assistant

Explore personnel security assistant education requirements

Most common personnel security assistant degrees

Bachelor's

52.2 %

Associate

19.0 %

High School Diploma

17.0 %

Start to develop specific personnel security assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Pips	12.32%
Data Entry	8.17%
JPAS	7.79%
Security Clearance	6.86%
OPM	6.22%

Complete relevant personnel security assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New personnel security assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a personnel security assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real personnel security assistant resumes.

Research personnel security assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage multiple security programs and systems in accordance with NISPOM, DCID, M1 and JAFAN guidance.
Prepare and transmit review personnel security packages to appropriate investigative agencies such as OPM and/or DHS headquarters.
Assist in performance of security checks with NADDIS, NCIC & NLET.
Respond to all subpoenas serve by legal offices for public records requests.

Prepare your personnel security assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your personnel security assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a personnel security assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable personnel security assistant resume templates

Build a professional personnel security assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your personnel security assistant resume.