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Understanding the salary landscape for a Lead Security Officer is essential for job seekers. The average salary is $43,560 per year, translating to about $21 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on location, years of experience, and the specific sector you work in. For instance, states like New York and California often offer higher salaries due to increased demand for security professionals and higher living costs.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions may start around $30,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $60,000 annually. Additionally, various industries such as government, healthcare, and corporate security can offer different pay scales.
For those interested in advancing their careers, obtaining certifications can enhance job prospects and salary potential. By exploring job listings and salary estimates, you can make informed decisions about your career path as a Lead Security Officer.
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The highest-paying states for lead security officers are Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average lead security officer salary states are Nebraska, Alabama, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $70,837 | $34.06 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $61,359 | $29.50 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $59,814 | $28.76 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $62,863 | $30.22 |
| 6 | Alaska | $56,194 | $27.02 |
| 7 | New York | $57,536 | $27.66 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $63,687 | $30.62 |
| 9 | Nevada | $44,973 | $21.62 |
| 10 | Michigan | $45,727 | $21.98 |
| 11 | Illinois | $51,317 | $24.67 |
| 12 | Ohio | $53,326 | $25.64 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $68,355 | $32.86 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $44,688 | $21.48 |
| 15 | Maryland | $57,426 | $27.61 |
| 16 | Delaware | $46,991 | $22.59 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $46,139 | $22.18 |
| 18 | Texas | $46,077 | $22.15 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $44,147 | $21.22 |
| 20 | Washington | $44,567 | $21.43 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $39,441 | $18.96 |
| 22 | Vermont | $41,871 | $20.13 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $39,007 | $18.75 |
| 24 | Missouri | $42,363 | $20.37 |
| 25 | Kansas | $39,045 | $18.77 |
| 26 | Arizona | $38,927 | $18.71 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $36,593 | $17.59 |
| 28 | Oregon | $42,079 | $20.23 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $40,607 | $19.52 |
| 30 | California | $45,343 | $21.80 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $39,597 | $19.04 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 33 | Florida | $38,454 | $18.49 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $37,365 | $17.96 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $39,248 | $18.87 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $39,294 | $18.89 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $34,837 | $16.75 |
| 39 | Idaho | $32,909 | $15.82 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,373 | $17.97 |
| 41 | Georgia | $37,232 | $17.90 |
| 42 | Utah | $38,705 | $18.61 |
| 43 | Maine | $37,842 | $18.19 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $38,004 | $18.27 |
| 45 | Montana | $32,259 | $15.51 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $32,368 | $15.56 |
| 47 | Indiana | $37,013 | $17.79 |
| 48 | Colorado | $36,786 | $17.69 |
| 49 | Alabama | $33,393 | $16.05 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,278 | $16.48 |
| 51 | Iowa | $32,785 | $15.76 |
The highest-paying cities for lead security officers are Arlington, VA, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington, VA | $73,544 | $35.36 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $68,271 | $32.82 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,663 | $30.13 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $62,448 | $30.02 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $58,195 | $27.98 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $55,453 | $26.66 |
| 7 | Waukegan, IL | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $47,872 | $23.02 |
| 9 | Pasadena, TX | $47,061 | $22.63 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $46,214 | $22.22 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $44,680 | $21.48 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,641 | $21.46 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $42,006 | $20.20 |
| 14 | Hillsboro, OR | $41,829 | $20.11 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $39,924 | $19.19 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| 17 | Goshen, IN | $38,709 | $18.61 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $37,183 | $17.88 |
| 19 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,975 | $17.78 |
A lead security officer's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $43,560 | $3,630 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of lead security officers are head of security, officer, and security specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officer | $52,506 | $4,376 | $25.24 | 114,267 |
| Security, Shift Supervisor | $37,625 | $3,135 | $18.09 | 109,620 |
| Security/Customer Service | $32,115 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 224,564 |
| Security Site Supervisor | $37,676 | $3,140 | $18.11 | 92,462 |
| Security Supervisor | $41,818 | $3,485 | $20.10 | 87,236 |
| Security | $31,836 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 150,586 |
Top companies hiring lead security officers now:
Lead security officer salaries at Microsoft and Citi are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lead security officer salary at companies like Amd and Bridgewater Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $136,678 | $65.71 |
| 2 | Citi | $133,778 | $64.32 |
| 3 | Amd | $128,581 | $61.82 |
| 4 | Bridgewater Associates | $122,258 | $58.78 |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $122,001 | $58.65 |
| 6 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $120,409 | $57.89 |
| 7 | Applied Materials | $117,810 | $56.64 |
| 8 | Cisco | $115,493 | $55.53 |
| 9 | Bank of America | $112,731 | $54.20 |
| 10 | Chubb | $110,877 | $53.31 |
| 11 | Wells Fargo | $110,802 | $53.27 |
| 12 | Nokia | $108,675 | $52.25 |
| 13 | Waters | $108,189 | $52.01 |
| 14 | SAIC | $103,590 | $49.80 |
| 15 | General Electric | $100,259 | $48.20 |
| 16 | Avanade | $99,818 | $47.99 |
| 17 | Ip Services | $99,510 | $47.84 |
| 18 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $97,185 | $46.72 |
| 19 | IBM | $94,216 | $45.30 |
| 20 | VariQ | $94,117 | $45.25 |
The average lead security officer salary has risen by $10,030 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lead security officer earned $33,530 annually, but today, they earn $43,560 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for lead security officers over the last decade.
Compare lead security officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare lead security officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,600 | $20.94 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $41,600 | $20.02 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $40,000 | $19.22 | +5.6% |
| 2023 | $37,700 | $18.14 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $36,200 | $17.38 | +4.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securitas Electronic Security | Lead Security Officer | Kittery, ME | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| SAIC | Security Incident Responder Lead | Nome, TX | 06/28/2025 | $80,001 |
| Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. | Lead Security Officer | Kittery, ME | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Securitas Inc. | Lead Security Officer | Kittery, ME | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Carvana | Security Lead-Adesa Auto Auction | Fargo, ND | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Securitas | Lead Security Officer | State College, PA | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| DHRM | Lead Security-Ert | Enon, VA | 06/27/2025 | $51,060 |
| Sunstates Security | Security Officer Shift Lead (#84) | Batavia, OH | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| Alpha Omega Integration | Security and Privacy Compliance Policy Lead | Vienna, VA | 06/26/2025 | $77,716 |
| Booz Allen Hamilton | Secure Space Construction and Standardization Lead | McLean, VA | 06/25/2025 | $86,800 |
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