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Cyber security specialist salary
Average cyber security specialist salary
$93,395
Understanding Cyber Security Specialist Salaries
The average salary of a Cyber Security Specialist is currently $93,395 annually, translating to about $45 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as location, experience, and specific industry demands. For instance, states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to the concentration of tech companies and the cost of living.
As a Cyber Security Specialist, your responsibilities may include monitoring networks for security breaches, conducting risk assessments, and implementing security measures. Experience in the field can significantly enhance earning potential, with higher salaries typically associated with specialized skills in areas such as penetration testing or incident response.
Career Growth and Opportunities
The demand for Cyber Security Specialists is on the rise, fueled by increasing cyber threats and the need for robust security measures across all sectors. By pursuing certifications like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), professionals can enhance their qualifications, leading to higher-paying job opportunities. Explore the various roles available and find a career path that aligns with your aspirations.
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Where can a Cyber Security Specialist earn more?
Cyber security specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average cyber security specialist salary by state
The average cyber security specialist salary in Washington, Utah, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average cyber security specialist salary states are Vermont, Connecticut, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cyber security specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $112,661 | $54.16 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $96,351 | $46.32 |
| 3 | Nevada | $96,739 | $46.51 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $107,882 | $51.87 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $97,528 | $46.89 |
| 6 | Oregon | $102,502 | $49.28 |
| 7 | Utah | $106,107 | $51.01 |
| 8 | New York | $99,100 | $47.64 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $93,778 | $45.09 |
| 10 | Arizona | $90,317 | $43.42 |
| 11 | Virginia | $91,505 | $43.99 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $89,730 | $43.14 |
| 13 | Ohio | $90,649 | $43.58 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $89,876 | $43.21 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $92,297 | $44.37 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $93,564 | $44.98 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $87,111 | $41.88 |
| 18 | Delaware | $88,790 | $42.69 |
| 19 | Alabama | $86,221 | $41.45 |
| 20 | Idaho | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $88,977 | $42.78 |
| 22 | Texas | $88,895 | $42.74 |
| 23 | Colorado | $91,545 | $44.01 |
| 24 | Iowa | $86,189 | $41.44 |
| 25 | Mississippi | $85,459 | $41.09 |
| 26 | Alaska | $87,049 | $41.85 |
| 27 | California | $96,547 | $46.42 |
| 28 | Maryland | $89,664 | $43.11 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $86,984 | $41.82 |
| 30 | Michigan | $88,249 | $42.43 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $86,162 | $41.42 |
| 32 | Indiana | $85,169 | $40.95 |
| 33 | Illinois | $85,425 | $41.07 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $86,733 | $41.70 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $87,558 | $42.10 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $91,115 | $43.81 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $86,196 | $41.44 |
| 38 | Georgia | $84,058 | $40.41 |
| 39 | Montana | $85,588 | $41.15 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $84,728 | $40.73 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $85,060 | $40.89 |
| 42 | Kansas | $84,877 | $40.81 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $82,136 | $39.49 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $81,248 | $39.06 |
| 45 | Vermont | $81,624 | $39.24 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $70,502 | $33.90 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $83,137 | $39.97 |
| 48 | Missouri | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| 49 | Florida | $81,989 | $39.42 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $76,388 | $36.73 |
| 51 | Maine | $78,280 | $37.63 |
Highest paying cities for cyber security specialists
The highest-paying cities for cyber security specialists are Bellevue, WA, Washington, DC, and Eugene, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue, WA | $113,223 | $54.43 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $107,944 | $51.90 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $104,059 | $50.03 |
| 4 | Santa Clara, CA | $103,048 | $49.54 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $99,619 | $47.89 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $98,008 | $47.12 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $95,440 | $45.88 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $92,561 | $44.50 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs, CO | $92,351 | $44.40 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $91,708 | $44.09 |
| 11 | Lexington, MA | $90,648 | $43.58 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $90,531 | $43.52 |
| 13 | Severn, MD | $89,765 | $43.16 |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $89,181 | $42.88 |
| 15 | Pensacola, FL | $86,543 | $41.61 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $86,118 | $41.40 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $85,562 | $41.14 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $84,148 | $40.46 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $81,261 | $39.07 |
Cyber security specialist salary details
A cyber security specialist's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $125,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cyber security specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| Average | $93,395 | $7,783 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
Highest paying cyber security specialist jobs
The highest paying types of cyber security specialists are information security officer, information security manager, and information technology security manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Assurance Engineer | $89,291 | $7,441 | $42.93 | 104,421 |
| Information Technology Security Manager | $124,792 | $10,399 | $60.00 | 120,463 |
| Information Systems Security Officer | $90,730 | $7,561 | $43.62 | 202,299 |
| Securities Consultant | $92,092 | $7,674 | $44.27 | 27,296 |
| Information Security Engineer | $97,288 | $8,107 | $46.77 | 120,257 |
| Information Security Officer | $135,040 | $11,253 | $64.92 | 145,907 |
Top companies hiring cyber security specialists now:
Which companies pay cyber security specialists the most?
Cyber security specialist salaries at BP America Inc and SAP are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cyber security specialist salary at companies like NVIDIA and Cisco are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BP America Inc | $121,044 | $58.19 |
| 2 | SAP | $115,369 | $55.47 |
| 3 | NVIDIA | $114,934 | $55.26 |
| 4 | Cisco | $114,158 | $54.88 |
| 5 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $112,933 | $54.29 |
| 6 | Sanofi US | $112,402 | $54.04 |
| 7 | Citi | $111,539 | $53.62 |
| 8 | Arrowstreet Capital | $110,666 | $53.20 |
| 9 | Parsons | $107,882 | $51.87 |
| 10 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $107,065 | $51.47 |
| 11 | Pacific Gas and Electric | $104,532 | $50.26 |
| 12 | Cedars-Sinai | $103,683 | $49.85 |
| 13 | AT&T | $102,897 | $49.47 |
| 14 | Papaya Global | $102,794 | $49.42 |
| 15 | Southern California Edison | $102,319 | $49.19 |
| 16 | M.I.T. International, Inc. | $102,198 | $49.13 |
| 17 | Noodles & Company | $101,807 | $48.95 |
| 18 | TD Bank | $101,771 | $48.93 |
| 19 | Oracle | $101,563 | $48.83 |
| 20 | Anistar Technologies | $101,128 | $48.62 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cyber security specialist salary trends
The average cyber security specialist salary has risen by $17,261 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cyber security specialist earned $76,134 annually, but today, they earn $93,395 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for cyber security specialists over the last decade.
Compare cyber security specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cyber security specialist salary over time
Compare cyber security specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cyber security specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,400 | $44.90 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $90,300 | $43.42 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $88,300 | $42.44 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $85,700 | $41.21 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $83,100 | $39.96 | +2.7% |
Recently added cyber security specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Aerospace | Cyber Security Specialist | Stockton, CA | 06/28/2025 | $125,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Kansas City, MO | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Nashville, TN | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Phoenix, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Detroit, MI | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| Slalom | Cyber Resilience Specialist | Minneapolis, MN | 06/27/2025 | $133,000 |
| The Hertz Corporation | Cyber Security Specialist-Data Analysis | Estero, FL | 06/26/2025 | $90,000 |
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