Military / Defense Specialist.
Las Vegas.
$69,000
median salary, 1% below the national average
$51,000 to $91,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Military / Defense Specialist pay in Las Vegas ranges from $51,000 to $91,000 in 2026. The median is $69,000, 1% below the national average. Las Vegas has diversified well beyond gaming and tourism into technology, healthcare, and logistics. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $62,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$45,000
to $55,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$59,000
to $72,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$76,000
to $90,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$86,000
to $107,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $17,000 to the total package.
Base
$69,000
Equity
$10,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $86,000
How Las Vegas compares
Las Vegas, NV
$69,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$70,000
Las Vegas is $1,000 below
Military / Defense Specialist salary by city
Salary by role in Las Vegas
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Military / Defense Specialist offer in Las Vegas, understand the terrain. Las Vegas has diversified well beyond gaming and tourism into technology, healthcare, and logistics. The city's no state income tax, affordable housing, and growing corporate presence have attracted major employers. Switch, the data center company, and a wave of tech relocations are expanding the local professional job market. Clearance level and technical specialization are the primary salary drivers for defense civilians and contractors. TS/SCI with polygraph adds $15,000 to $30,000 over uncleared peers. Intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, and systems engineering roles pay the most. Proximity to defense hubs (DC metro, Huntsville, San Diego) concentrates the highest salaries.
Junior defense analysts start at $52,000 to $65,000. Mid-level specialists earn $70,000 to $92,000 after four to six years. Senior program analysts and team leads reach $95,000 to $130,000, with program managers at major defense contractors earning $140,000 to $190,000. In Las Vegas, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Defense contractors offer 8 to 15% bonuses and retention incentives for cleared personnel. Federal civilian roles (GS/GG scale) provide TSP matching, FERS pension, and locality pay adjustments of 15 to 35%. Deployed positions add hazard and hardship pay of 25 to 35%. And on the tax side: nevada has no state income tax and no city income tax. This makes Las Vegas one of the most tax friendly metros in the country for high earners. When someone quotes you $69,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the zero income tax advantage as a bargaining chip. Show employers that a Las Vegas salary goes 8 to 12% further than an equivalent salary in California. The range for Military / Defense Specialists in Las Vegas runs from $51,000 to $91,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Military / Defense Specialist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Las Vegas
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