Average Cybersecurity Salary Reflects Growing Demand

Significant increases in cyberattacks have made the need to secure business and enterprise IT operations more acute in recent years. The urgent demand for qualified professionals to secure corporate information and networks is fueling explosive growth in the global cybersecurity industry, expected to reach $345.4 billion by 2026.¹  

Although cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying professions in the United States, many people are unaware of its scope and salaries. This article will discuss how much a cybersecurity specialist can earn and the factors that can influence salary.

Cybersecurity Salary Numbers

A late-summer 2022 survey of cybersecurity salary postings on leading employment search websites in the United States shows that cybersecurity is a lucrative career choice. 

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual cybersecurity specialist salary is $107,765. While salaries as high as $162,500 and as low as $30,500 are reported, most of them range between $82,500 to $126,000.²

Salary.com is another website that provides information about cybersecurity salaries. According to this website, the average salary of an information security analyst with about ten years of experience in the field is $145,769. Other positions have salaries ranging from $131,989 to $159,129.³

The employment website Indeed listed the average annual salary of a cybersecurity specialist in the United States at $95,956. The reported salaries ranged from a low of $64,774 to a high of $142,151.⁴

US career website Glassdoor lists the average salary for an early-career cybersecurity specialist with one to three years of experience as $83,769 per year. Those with 10-14 years of experience average $109,831.⁵

While each website lists different specifics for its cybersecurity salary information, the starting salaries and possibility for rapid income growth show that cybersecurity has become one of the most in-demand and highest-paying professions in the United States.

What Determines a Cybersecurity Salary?

Even though the average salary of a cybersecurity specialist is quite attractive, certain factors—including those that follow here—can affect individual earnings.

Education and Experience

Because cybersecurity specialists play a crucial role in safeguarding an organization’s assets, employers look for a combination of education, experience and credentials. Based on education and demonstrable skills, credentials show employers that you understand industry standards and practices. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) are a few of the certifications you can earn. While education plays an integral role in this profession, experience and keeping up with developments in the field after you launch your career will help you quickly ascend the cybersecurity salary ladder.⁶

Industry Type

Cybersecurity specialists are in demand across the full spectrum of industries. More and more organizations are using digital infrastructure and need to secure their data. However, not all industries are equal in terms of cybersecurity salary levels.

Business Size and Revenue

Your salary can depend on the organization's size and average annual revenue. A smaller company with good revenues might offer a higher salary in return for broader responsibilities. Corporate giants with large digital staffs, such as Google or Amazon, may not pay as well for entry-level cybersecurity salaries. On the other hand, larger organizations may be able to devote more resources to their cybersecurity operations, creating long-term career opportunities for you. So you should weigh both sides of that equation when seeking your first, or next, role.⁷

Where Will I Find the Best Cybersecurity Salary?

Considerations of industry and organization size aside, some cities and companies offer better cybersecurity salaries than others.

Five Top-Paying U.S. Cities

If you have the flexibility to relocate for your career, you may be able to secure a cybersecurity salary that is well above the national average. Some of the locations in our list of the top-paying areas drawn from information on ZipRecruiter may surprise you. For each city, we list the average annual salary for cybersecurity specialists.

1. Atkinson, Nebraska: $134,741²
2. San Francisco, California: $132,491²
3. Bolinas, California: $131,462²
4. Fremont, California $129,462²
5. Frankston, Texas: $125,125²

In addition to higher pay, the cost of living in two of these locations may be lower than in some of the traditional geographic tech hubs, making your salary even more attractive.

Top-Paying Companies in the United States

The average employee's salary also varies considerably between companies and organizations, so it's worth noting the businesses that pay the most for cybersecurity specialists. Here is our list of the five top-paying companies, based on information from Zippia. We include an industry description and the average annual salary for each company.

1. BP America, Inc. (Oil and Gas) $121,044⁸
2. SAP (Software and IT Services) $115,3698
3. NVIDIA (Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment) $114,934⁸
4. Cisco (Communications and Networking) $114,158⁸
5. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, USA (Pharmaceuticals) $112,933⁸

Get Involved in Cybersecurity Today

Cybersecurity is a rapidly developing profession, and a wide range of new positions have emerged within it in the past few years. Starting salaries are typically higher than other entry-level jobs and can increase dramatically with qualifications and experience. With the right education and experience, you can be a highly valued organizational asset and earn a six-figure salary. 

Discover the top cybersecurity courses available today at Emerging Ed.

Sources:

1. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from statista.com/statistics/595182/worldwide-security-as-a-service-market-size
2. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cyber-Security-Specialist-Salary
3. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/information-security-analyst-v-salary
4. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from indeed.com/career/cybersecurity-specialist/salaries
5. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/cyber-security-specialist-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm
6. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from cybersecurityguide.org/resources/cybersecurity-jobs
7. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from mycomputercareer.edu/news/how-much-does-a-cyber-security-specialist-make
8. Retrieved on September 11, 2022, from zippia.com/cyber-security-specialist-jobs/salary/