NOTE: This article only covers clearance levels for S.H.I.E.L.D. 1.0, which collapsed during The Uprising

"S.H.I.E.L.D.’s whole infrastructure is based on the hierarchy and compartmentalization of information."
~ Agent Jemma Simmons, 1×07 The Hub

To date we know there are 10 levels of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Each clearance level is privy to certain information made available to that particular clearance level, though agents may also be specifically given or denied access to certain information at the pleasure of Director Nick Fury or at the necessity of certain high level missions. It is implied in the 1×01 Pilot episode as well as Marvel one-shot The Consultant that Levels 1-6 are widely known within the organization, with Levels 7 and above on a need-to-know basis.

edit] Level 1

edit] Known Level 1 Agents

edit] Level 1 Access Includes

• The Index
• Entry psych evaluation of all agents

edit] Level 2

edit] Level 3

edit] Level 4

edit] Known Level 4 Agents

• Katherine Shane

edit] Level 5

edit] Known Level 5 Agents

• Leo Fitz
• Jemma Simmons

edit] Level 6

edit] Known Level 6 Agents

• Antoine Triplett
• Eric & Billy Koenig

edit] Level 7

edit] Known Level 7 Agents

• Melinda May
• Grant Ward
• Felix Blake^[1]
• Jasper Sitwell^[2]
• Natasha Romanov^[3]
• Clint Barton^[3]
• Tyler^[3]

edit] Level 7 Access Includes

Access to information on the following:

• Project Pegasus
• The Tesseract
• Phil Coulson’s "staged" death prior to the Battle of New York

edit] Level 8

edit] Known Level 8 Agents

• Phil Coulson
• John Garrett
• Victoria Hand^[4]
• Steve Rogers^[5] – not as an agent, but as an Avengers member

edit] Level 9

edit] Known Level 9 Agents

• Commander Maria Hill^[6]

edit] Level 10

edit] Known Level 10 Agents

• Director Nicholas Fury

edit] Level 10 Access Includes

Access to information on the following:

• Complete transcript and procedure details for the death and resurrection of Agent Phil Coulson
• Final project T.A.H.I.T.I. report from project supervisor Agent Phil Coulson

edit] References

1. ↑ In 1×06 F.Z.Z.T. while talking to Agent Coulson reveals he is Level 7 when he says "I don’t know what happened to you in New York, if you really flat-lined or if that’s just what they tell us when we get to Level 7."
2. ↑ As revealed on his ID badge in 1×07 The Hub
3. ↑ ^3.03.13.2 It is heavily implied that Agents Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton, and Tyler are Level 7 as well, since the Helicarrier was staffed entirely by Agents level 7 or above during The Avengers
4. ↑ (Assumed due to her role as mission controller in the Level 8 classified south Ossetia Overkill mission.)
5. ↑Captain America: The Winter Soldier
6. ↑ Implied in 1×14 T.A.H.I.T.I. due to Fitzsimmons automatically assuming the Level 10 operative in the T.A.H.I.T.I. report can only mean Director Fury. Also because in 1×20 Nothing Personal, Hill never learned the identity of Project T.A.H.I.T.I.’s supervisor, which is revealed within the Level 10 transmission sent to Director Fury.