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Head of security salary
Average head of security salary
$154,257
Average Head of Security Salary
The average salary for a Head of Security in the United States is approximately $154,257 annually, translating to around $74 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of employment. For instance, those in urban areas or high-demand industries often earn more.
How Experience Affects Salary
Entry-level positions may start below the average, while seasoned professionals with extensive experience can command significantly higher salaries. Understanding the salary landscape is crucial for job seekers looking to maximize their earning potential.
Top Paying States
States like California and New York frequently offer the highest salaries for Heads of Security. Additionally, many organizations provide benefits that can enhance overall compensation. Explore local job postings to identify opportunities that align with your career goals.
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Where can a Head Of Security earn more?
Head of security salaries by experience level
Head of security salary estimates from across the web
Average head of security salary by state
The average head of security salary in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average head of security salary states are Wyoming, Washington, and Colorado.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for heads of security
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $147,514 | $70.92 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $147,000 | $70.67 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $155,457 | $74.74 |
| 4 | Alaska | $146,961 | $70.65 |
| 5 | Ohio | $146,634 | $70.50 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $139,461 | $67.05 |
| 7 | Texas | $141,644 | $68.10 |
| 8 | New York | $143,918 | $69.19 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $136,336 | $65.55 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $142,591 | $68.55 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $180,431 | $86.75 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $140,044 | $67.33 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $128,423 | $61.74 |
| 14 | Missouri | $135,094 | $64.95 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $138,679 | $66.67 |
| 16 | Illinois | $132,345 | $63.63 |
| 17 | Michigan | $136,716 | $65.73 |
| 18 | Vermont | $137,773 | $66.24 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $126,375 | $60.76 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $129,428 | $62.23 |
| 21 | Virginia | $141,385 | $67.97 |
| 22 | California | $130,823 | $62.90 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $132,462 | $63.68 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $127,078 | $61.10 |
| 25 | Georgia | $128,726 | $61.89 |
| 26 | Nevada | $123,996 | $59.61 |
| 27 | Maryland | $141,689 | $68.12 |
| 28 | Indiana | $125,938 | $60.55 |
| 29 | Maine | $129,695 | $62.35 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $125,191 | $60.19 |
| 31 | Kansas | $125,230 | $60.21 |
| 32 | Alabama | $117,178 | $56.34 |
| 33 | Florida | $121,274 | $58.30 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $120,708 | $58.03 |
| 35 | Arizona | $116,050 | $55.79 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $120,947 | $58.15 |
| 37 | Delaware | $115,492 | $55.52 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $119,522 | $57.46 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $115,652 | $55.60 |
| 40 | Utah | $109,445 | $52.62 |
| 41 | Oregon | $109,477 | $52.63 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $115,314 | $55.44 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $107,739 | $51.80 |
| 44 | Washington | $103,484 | $49.75 |
| 45 | Iowa | $106,544 | $51.22 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $112,105 | $53.90 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $82,951 | $39.88 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $106,321 | $51.12 |
| 49 | Montana | $86,796 | $41.73 |
| 50 | Colorado | $102,885 | $49.46 |
| 51 | Idaho | $90,443 | $43.48 |
Highest paying cities for heads of security
The highest-paying cities for heads of security are Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $204,436 | $98.29 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $154,042 | $74.06 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $153,830 | $73.96 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $148,975 | $71.62 |
| 5 | Mahwah, NJ | $147,605 | $70.96 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $145,246 | $69.83 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $144,824 | $69.63 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $141,577 | $68.07 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $141,179 | $67.87 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $140,254 | $67.43 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $137,853 | $66.28 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $132,395 | $63.65 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $131,728 | $63.33 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $123,782 | $59.51 |
| 15 | Salt Lake City, UT | $112,031 | $53.86 |
| 16 | Burien, WA | $105,386 | $50.67 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $104,731 | $50.35 |
Head of security salary details
A head of security's salary ranges from $86,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $276,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a head of security's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $276,000 | $23,000 | $133 |
| 75th Percentile | $209,000 | $17,417 | $100 |
| Average | $154,257 | $12,855 | $74 |
| 25th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 10th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
Highest paying head of security jobs
The highest paying types of heads of security are non-commissioned officer, protection specialist, and officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Protection Officer | $37,207 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 105,449 |
| Officer | $52,506 | $4,376 | $25.24 | 114,267 |
| Non-Commissioned Officer | $104,839 | $8,737 | $50.40 | 69,414 |
| Petty Officer | $39,336 | $3,278 | $18.91 | 69,776 |
| Security Supervisor | $41,818 | $3,485 | $20.10 | 87,236 |
| Security Officer | $31,101 | $2,592 | $14.95 | 125,879 |
Top companies hiring heads of security now:
Which companies pay heads of security the most?
Head of security salaries at BitGo and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average head of security salary at companies like Apple and Grubhub are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BitGo | $176,719 | $84.96 |
| 2 | Meta | $175,702 | $84.47 |
| 3 | Apple | $168,718 | $81.11 |
| 4 | Grubhub | $161,947 | $77.86 |
| 5 | GEA Group | $160,559 | $77.19 |
| 6 | WePay | $159,719 | $76.79 |
| 7 | Enel X | $152,471 | $73.30 |
| 8 | Novartis | $150,649 | $72.43 |
| 9 | The Boston Beer Company | $149,205 | $71.73 |
| 10 | Enel Green Power | $147,998 | $71.15 |
| 11 | Stripe | $147,034 | $70.69 |
| 12 | CHANEL | $140,668 | $67.63 |
| 13 | AIG | $137,608 | $66.16 |
| 14 | Waymo | $137,440 | $66.08 |
| 15 | Acadian Asset Management | $136,876 | $65.81 |
| 16 | MUFG EMEA | $135,950 | $65.36 |
| 17 | GroupM | $135,036 | $64.92 |
| 18 | Population Services International | $133,153 | $64.02 |
| 19 | iRobot | $133,065 | $63.97 |
| 20 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group | $131,993 | $63.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Head of security salary trends
The average head of security salary has risen by $35,521 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average head of security earned $118,736 annually, but today, they earn $154,257 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for heads of security over the last decade.
Compare head of security salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average head of security salary over time
Compare head of security salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Head of security salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $154,000 | $74.16 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $147,000 | $70.89 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $142,000 | $68.05 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | $134,000 | $64.25 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $128,000 | $61.55 | +4.4% |
Recently added head of security salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus Financial Partners | Head of Cybersecurity Risk Management and Incident Response | Saint Louis, MO | 06/29/2025 | $220,000 |
| Scopely | Global Head of Physical Security and Safety | Culver City, CA | 06/28/2025 | $158,000 |
| Blockchain.com, Inc. | Head of IR | Dallas, TX | 06/26/2025 | $150,000 |
| PTC Therapeutics | Head of IT Security | Warren, MI | 06/25/2025 | $229,200 |
| PTC Therapeutics | Head of IT Security | Warren, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $229,200 |
| Dale Workforce Solutions | Global Head of Cybersecurity | Berwyn, PA | 06/24/2025 | $40,000 |
| Guardian Life | Head of Cyber Security Governance | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $148,940 |
| Siemens Corporation | Head of Quality and Security Assurance-Fire Safety Products UL | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $148,540 |
| Point72 | Head of Information Security Operations | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $300,000 |
| Brown Brothers Harriman & Co | Head of The Web Security and Segmentation Technologies | Jersey City, NJ | 06/12/2025 | $185,000 |
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