Secret-cleared machinist eyeing TS/SCI

Anyone else seeing more floor roles asking for TS/SCI? I’ve got an active Secret and 6 years on 5‑axis (Makino a61nx/Okuma MU) cutting Inconel for ITAR programs, but recruiters keep pushing SCI-restricted work — curious if the pay bump and adjudication wait are worth it or if I should slide back to commercial aero.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍‍​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‌​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠​⁠​‍‌​​⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠​⁠‌​‌‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌‍‌‌⁠⁠​⁠‍​​⁠​​​⁠‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍​⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

The SCI roles can be worth it if the pay bump is significant enough, but don’t underestimate the waiting period. I’ve seen folks get stuck for months in the adjudication process, which can really affect your plans. If you’re good with those timelines and can find a role that uses your Makino experience, it might be worth considering.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌‍‍‍​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌​​⁠​‍​⁠​⁠​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‌‌‌​‍‌‍​‌​⁠‍​​⁠​‍​⁠​​‌‍⁠‍‌‌​‌‌⁠​⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‍‍⁠‌​‍‍‌‍​‌‌​⁠‌‌‍‍⁠‌​‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​