How to hire an information security analyst

How to hire an information security analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information security analyst hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an information security analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new information security analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an information security analyst do?

Post an information security analyst job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the information security analyst you need to hire. Certain information security analyst roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an information security analyst to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an information security analyst that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of information security analysts.

   Type of Information Security Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Security Analyst	Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.	$34-64
   Analyst	Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes... Show more	$25-47
   Security Engineer	Security engineers are responsible for developing and overseeing data and security software to help prevent data breaches, leaks, and taps related to cybercrime. Other duties and responsibilities include developing new systems to help protect computer networks and assets, configuring firewalls, and conducting penetration testing to pinpoint vulnerabilities... Show more	$37-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Incident Response
   • Risk Assessments
   • Windows
   • SIEM
   • Data Loss Prevention
   • Network Security
   • PCI
   • HIPAA
   • Corrective Action
   • Linux
   • DOD
   • ISO
   • Vulnerability Assessments
   • Security Incidents

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage IA personnel in the performance of IAVM tasks.
   • Lead maritime IP intrusion detection analysis special project providing models to identify Cyber terrorist's capabilities, methods, and strategies.
   • Manage and configure perimeter Cisco routers and switches.
   • Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
   • Perform vulnerability assessment and remediation of systems to ensure compliance to policies, regulations and controls (HIPAA & NIST).
   • Monitor and analyze SIEM events to identify security issues for remediation.

   More information security analyst duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your information security analyst job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An information security analyst can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, information security analysts' average salary in nebraska is 35% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level information security analysts 47% less than senior-level information security analysts.
   • Certifications. An information security analyst with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an information security analyst's salary.

   Average information security analyst salary

   $98,144yearly

   $47.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information security analyst salary

   $71,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average information security analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$123,557	$59
   2	Washington	$104,120	$50
   3	Massachusetts	$101,471	$49
   4	New Jersey	$100,385	$48
   5	New York	$99,224	$48
   6	Pennsylvania	$96,001	$46
   7	Oregon	$95,856	$46
   8	Arizona	$95,025	$46
   9	District of Columbia	$94,302	$45
   10	Virginia	$93,782	$45
   11	Maryland	$92,515	$44
   12	North Carolina	$91,399	$44
   13	Minnesota	$91,139	$44
   14	Illinois	$90,704	$44
   15	Connecticut	$90,489	$44
   16	Texas	$90,401	$43
   17	Michigan	$87,317	$42
   18	Georgia	$86,447	$42
   19	Ohio	$84,980	$41
   20	Colorado	$83,993	$40

   Average information security analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Walt Disney Company	$147,610	$70.97	32
   2	Meta	$145,857	$70.12	658
   3	Apple	$145,665	$70.03	33
   4	McKinsey & Company Inc	$141,735	$68.14	6
   5	PayPal	$141,357	$67.96	13
   6	StubHub	$136,535	$65.64
   7	Google	$136,469	$65.61	343
   8	Bloomberg	$133,530	$64.20	2
   9	eBay	$133,299	$64.09	6
   10	NVIDIA	$133,297	$64.09	12
   11	Amazon	$131,921	$63.42	360
   12	Square	$131,432	$63.19
   13	First Republic Bank	$131,145	$63.05
   14	Conning	$130,478	$62.73
   15	WLRK	$129,979	$62.49	4
   16	Palo Alto Networks	$129,624	$62.32	36
   17	SoFi	$129,396	$62.21	15
   18	Western Digital	$128,780	$61.91	68
   19	Coty	$127,495	$61.30
   20	Avid	$127,473	$61.29	6

4. Writing an information security analyst job description

   An information security analyst job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an information security analyst job description:

   Information security analyst job description example

   The NVIDIA Information Security team is seeking a passionate, highly motivated Information Security Analyst to enhance our programs and initiatives. As a member of the Standards and Awareness group, you will need a solid understanding of various Information Security concepts, frameworks, and tools. You are expected to take a strong, hands-on approach to develop of effective security policies and guides, implement security requirements, deliver a world-class training and awareness program, and optimize our security tools.
   What You'll be Doing:
   Implement automation to improve service delivery. Develop and manage dashboards that deliver actionable metrics. Enhance our security awareness and training program through new initiatives. Perform social engineering exercises, including phishing simulation tests. Expand and support our security documentation, websites, and other resources. Provide policy, technical guidance, and outreach to help teams improve their security posture. Create and record security training videos and other awareness content. Support and manage our Password Manager and Asset Discovery solution.
   What We Need to See:
   6+ years working experience in Information Security. BS Degree or equivalent experience; MS preferred in Information Technology. Recent experience with writing code, scripts, and/or applications. Demonstrated ability to implement security controls and projects. A data-driven approach to drive improvements to the program. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
   Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd:
   Certifications in one or more of the following areas: CISSP, CISA, CISM, CEH, OSCP. Broad understanding of security frameworks and concepts. Prior experience with security awareness and training programs.
   With competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world's most desirable employers. We have some of the brightest people in the world working for us and, due to unprecedented growth, our elite engineering teams are rapidly growing. If you're a creative and autonomous engineer with a real passion for technology, we want to hear from you.
   
   The Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires that NVIDIA provide the compensation range and benefits offered for this position if performed in Colorado.The base salary range for this position in Colorado is $111,600.00 - 153,450.00 USD.
   NVIDIA also offers a comprehensive benefits package. We provide health care coverage, dental and vision,401(K), including company matching and after tax contributions,Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company paid holidays, paid sick leave, vacation leave,professional time off,life and disability protection. Employees in eligible sales and positions may also be eligible for commission.
   
   Base pay is based on market location and may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education,and other job-related reasons.
   
   NVIDIA is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find information security analysts for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any information security analysts they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level information security analysts with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your information security analyst job on Zippia to find and attract quality information security analyst candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with information security analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview information security analyst candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new information security analyst

   Once you've found the information security analyst candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new information security analyst. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an information security analyst?