Your Cybersecurity Salary Guide
Cybersecurity is a growing field. Learn what you can expect to earn as a cybersecurity professional.
![[Featured image] A cybersecurity analyst consults with a colleague while pointing at a computer monitor.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5S78nhppdnH7bb7EOdtlBS/1a6656624bdcc696009a6292ec2b9b2f/GettyImages-1475344810-converted-from-jpg.webp?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000)
Key takeaways
As with other career paths, the amount you can expect to earn in cybersecurity will vary depending on your role.
According to the US BLS, information security analysts, the job category under which cybersecurity falls, earned a median annual salary of $124,910 in May 2024, more than double that of the national median salary [1].
Your pay may also vary based on other factors, such as where you work, how much previous work experience you have, and the educational degrees you possess.
You can increase your cybersecurity salary by building skills like cloud computing and communication, earning cybersecurity certifications, and earning a degree in cybersecurity or a related field.
Discover more about what you can expect to earn from five common cybersecurity jobs and the common factors that can impact how much you’ll earn. If you’re ready to start building expertise in cybersecurity, enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience with fundamental cybersecurity topics, as well as learn to apply AI in your field productively and responsibly, in as little as six months. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume and the opportunity to receive practical AI training in cybersecurity.
How much does cybersecurity pay?
Typically, cybersecurity jobs pay a higher-than-average salary. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of job openings for information security analysts, the job category under which cybersecurity falls, is projected to increase by 29 percent between 2024 and 2034 [2]. That’s significantly higher than the national average, which the BLS pinned at just 3 percent for all occupations in the country during that same period. Additionally, the median annual salary for all workers in the United States was $49,500 as of May 2024. By contrast, information security analysts earned a median annual salary of $124,910 during the same period, more than double that of the national median salary [1].
As with other career paths, the amount you can expect to earn will vary depending on your role. At a glance, here’s the median total pay you can expect to earn from five typical cybersecurity jobs (other than information security analyst), according to Glassdoor:
Cybersecurity analyst: $128,000 [3]
Cybersecurity engineer: $159,000 [4]
Information security manager: $189,000 [5]
Penetration tester: $154,000 [6]
Cybersecurity specialist: $146,000 [7]
All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of April 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Your pay may also vary based on other factors, such as where you work, how much previous work experience you have, and the educational degrees you possess. Below, we break down how much you can expect to earn from each of the five jobs listed above based on your experience and geographic location.
Cybersecurity entry-level salary
Entry-level cybersecurity positions can be found throughout the cybersecurity field. While you may be able to land some of the above jobs without any prior work experience, some employers might prefer applicants with some previous experience. If you’re just starting out, consider expanding your search to include incident responder ($85,000 per year), security administrator ($126,000 per year), and source code auditor ($104,000 per year) [8, 9, 10]. These figures represent median total pay from Glassdoor as of April 2026, which includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
Cybersecurity salary by experience
One of the most common factors impacting how much you can expect to earn from a cybersecurity job (or any job for that matter) is your previous work experience. Typically, the more experience you have in a role, the more you can expect employers to pay you to perform that job.
Here’s the median annual total salary you can expect to earn for the aforementioned cybersecurity positions based on varying levels of work experience, according to Glassdoor:
| 0–1 years | 1–3 years | 4–6 years | 7–9 years | 10–14 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity analyst [3] | $103,000 | $113,000 | $125,000 | $134,000 | $146,000 |
| Cybersecurity engineer [4] | $123,000 | $133,000 | $147,000 | $159,000 | $170,000 |
| Information security manager [5] | $144,000 | $143,000 | $159,000 | $169,000 | $183,000 |
| Penetration tester [6] | $116,000 | $129,000 | $154,000 | $165,000 | $171,000 |
| Cybersecurity specialist [7] | $111,000 | $119,000 | $139,000 | $151,000 | $165,000 |
Cybersecurity jobs salary by location
Where you work can have a significant impact on how much you earn. Typically, individuals working in locations with a higher cost of living, such as a densely populated city, will make more than those who work in places with a lower cost of living. At a glance, here’s the median annual total salary you could expect to earn from the above positions in different locations throughout the US.
Note: All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of April 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.
| Cybersecurity analyst | Cybersecurity engineer | Information security manager | Penetration tester | Cybersecurity specialist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $133,000 | $167,000 | $207,000 | $163,000 | $153,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $138,000 | $170,000 | $123,000 | $165,000 | $155,000 |
| Washington, DC | $138,000 | $167,000 | $187,000 | $146,000 | $148,000 |
| Houston, TX | $121,000 | $151,000 | $187,000 | $138,000 | $134,000 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $131,000 | $166,000 | $190,000 | $151,000 | $148,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $121,000 | $151,000 | $175,000 | $134,000 | $134,000 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $119,000 | $146,000 | $166,000 | $129,000 | $129,000 |
| Saint Louis, MO | $119,000 | $149,000 | $181,000 | $135,000 | $139,000 |
| Tulsa, OK | $117,000 | $140,000 | $172,000 | $133,000 | $135,000 |
| Miami, FL | $118,000 | $157,000 | $185,000 | $135,000 | $130,000 |
Tips to improve your salary as a cybersecurity professional
Your earning potential isn’t set in stone. In fact, you can take many proactive steps to increase your overall salary range. Here are some tips on what to do to improve your salary as a cybersecurity professional:
1. Build your skills.
The more expansive your skill set, the more likely an employer will be willing to pay you more. Consider taking online courses or attending training programs to expand both your technical skills, such as working with different operating systems or with cloud computing, and your workplace skills, like communication, teamwork, and leadership.
2. Consider certification.
Cybersecurity certification may help you improve your earning potential. According to the US BLS, workers with a certification in 2025 earned a median weekly wage of $1,566 compared to a median weekly salary of $1,131 for those without certification [11]. Some common cybersecurity certifications include CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH).
3. Think about a degree.
Many cybersecurity positions require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as cybersecurity, computer science, or engineering. While it isn’t strictly necessary to have a degree to become a cybersecurity professional, in some cases, you may find that your lack of a degree is holding you back from either being hired or promoted to a more senior position. If so, consider obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree to improve your earning potential and hireability.
Read more: Cybersecurity Degrees and Alternatives
![[Video Thumbnail] Which Cybersecurity Certificate is Right for You?](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5oXFYMZ9H4a4yhwpVqFHiN/784d3a17e8d6078bf288a2c708b14d8c/RC_Dakota_-_Comparison_Cybersecurity_-_Thumbnail.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=750&h=450&q=60)
Tools and resources to support your next career move
Discover fresh insights into your career or learn about trends in your industry by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or if you want to keep learning more about cybersecurity careers and concepts, check out these free resources:
Find your career track: Cybersecurity Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specializations
Learn key concepts: Cybersecurity Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions
Watch on YouTube: 5 Cybersecurity Careers: Your Path to Protecting the Digital World
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Article sources
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts, Pay, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-5.” Accessed April 14, 2026.
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