Cybersecurity is among the highest-demand fields in technology—and compensation has followed. With millions of unfilled security positions globally and breach costs escalating, organizations pay heavily for qualified security professionals.
Cybersecurity Analyst Salary by Role and Level
| Role | Entry Level | Mid-Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC Analyst (Tier 1) | $50,000-$70,000 | $70,000-$95,000 | — |
| SOC Analyst (Tier 2/3) | — | $85,000-$115,000 | $110,000-$140,000 |
| Incident Response Analyst | $75,000-$95,000 | $95,000-$130,000 | $130,000-$165,000 |
| Penetration Tester | $80,000-$100,000 | $100,000-$140,000 | $140,000-$190,000 |
| Threat Intelligence Analyst | $70,000-$90,000 | $90,000-$120,000 | $120,000-$155,000 |
| Cloud Security Engineer | $90,000-$120,000 | $120,000-$155,000 | $150,000-$200,000 |
| Security Architect | $120,000-$150,000 | $150,000-$190,000 | $180,000-$250,000 |
| CISO | — | — | $200,000-$400,000+ |
Salary by Certification
| Certification | Median Salary | Level |
|---|---|---|
| None / entry | $55,000-$68,000 | Entry |
| CompTIA Security+ | $70,000-$85,000 | Entry-Mid |
| CompTIA CySA+ | $80,000-$100,000 | Mid |
| CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) | $90,000-$115,000 | Mid |
| OSCP (Offensive Security) | $110,000-$150,000 | Senior (pen testing) |
| AWS/Azure Security Specialty | $110,000-$145,000 | Mid-Senior |
| CISA | $100,000-$135,000 | Mid-Senior |
| CISM | $120,000-$155,000 | Senior-Manager |
| CISSP | $130,000-$165,000 | Senior+ |
CISSP is the gold standard for senior security professionals. OSCP is the most respected for penetration testing. Cloud security certs are growing in importance as organizations shift to AWS/Azure/GCP.
Cybersecurity Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Why Higher/Lower |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia/DC area | $130,000 | Highest concentration of federal/defense cybersecurity |
| California | $128,000 | Tech company security teams |
| New York | $122,000 | Financial sector security |
| Washington | $118,000 | Amazon, Microsoft security |
| Texas | $105,000 | Growing tech sector; no state tax |
| Maryland | $125,000 | NSA/federal contractor proximity |
| Colorado | $110,000 | Defense contractors |
| Florida | $97,000 | Growing; no state tax |
| National median | $112,000 | — |
Note: Government contractors and federal positions in the DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) corridor pay among the highest in the US due to security clearance requirements.
Security Clearance Premium
Security clearances significantly increase cybersecurity salaries:
| Clearance Level | Salary Premium |
|---|---|
| Secret | +$10,000-$20,000 |
| Top Secret | +$20,000-$35,000 |
| TS/SCI | +$30,000-$50,000+ |
| TS/SCI + Polygraph | +$40,000-$70,000+ |
A TS/SCI cleared cybersecurity engineer in the DC area can earn $180,000-$250,000+.
Sector Comparison
| Sector | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finance / Banking | $120,000-$180,000 | Strong demand; breach costs very high |
| Tech (large companies) | $130,000-$200,000+ | Total comp with equity can be 2x base |
| Defense / Government contracting | $100,000-$170,000 | Clearance required; stable; good benefits |
| Healthcare | $85,000-$130,000 | HIPAA compliance driver |
| Consulting / MSSP | $90,000-$140,000 | Varied work; good career development |
| Startups | $95,000-$140,000 + equity | Higher risk; equity upside |
Career Ladder: Entry to Six Figures
| Stage | Typical Timeline | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| SOC Tier 1 (entry) | Years 0-2 | Learn alert triage; get Security+ |
| SOC Tier 2 / Incident Response | Years 1-3 | Develop investigation skills; get CySA+ or CEH |
| Specialist (pen test, cloud security, threat intel) | Years 2-5 | Choose track; pursue OSCP, CISSP, or cloud certs |
| Senior Security Engineer | Years 5-8 | Deep expertise in one area; earn $130,000-$165,000 |
| Security Architect / Manager | Years 8-12 | Design systems or lead teams; $160,000-$220,000 |
Maximizing Cybersecurity Income
| Strategy | Expected Impact |
|---|---|
| Obtain CISSP after 5 years of experience | +$20,000-$30,000 over no cert |
| Pursue penetration testing with OSCP | Premium niche; $130,000-$180,000 range |
| Develop cloud security expertise (AWS/Azure) | High demand; +$15,000-$25,000 vs. general sec |
| Target financial sector or defense contracting | +$20,000-$40,000 vs. average sector |
| Obtain or maintain security clearance | +$20,000-$60,000+ in cleared market |
| Move to large financial firm or FAANG security team | Total comp potentially 50-100% above average |