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Network security specialist salary
Average network security specialist salary
$82,206
Understanding Network Security Specialist Salaries
As of October 2025, Network Security Specialists earn an average salary of $82,206 per year, or about $40 per hour. This salary can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and specific industry sectors. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to a higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary Variations by Experience
Entry-level positions typically start around $55,000 annually, while seasoned specialists can earn upwards of $120,000, depending on their expertise and certifications. Advanced skills in areas like cloud security or ethical hacking can significantly influence salary potential.
Job Opportunities
Network Security Specialists find roles in various industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology. Many companies are investing in cybersecurity to protect their assets, resulting in numerous job openings. Aspiring professionals can enhance their credentials through certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Prospective Earnings
With the increasing importance of data protection, the demand for network security specialists continues to grow, promising a stable career path. By gaining relevant experience and skills, individuals can position themselves for lucrative opportunities in this vital field.
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Where can a Network Security Specialist earn more?
Network security specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average network security specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for network security specialists are California, New York, and Washington. The lowest average network security specialist salary states are Mississippi, Alaska, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for network security specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $95,865 | $46.09 |
| 2 | Nevada | $87,422 | $42.03 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $83,042 | $39.92 |
| 4 | Utah | $90,808 | $43.66 |
| 5 | Washington | $92,819 | $44.62 |
| 6 | Virginia | $85,783 | $41.24 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,608 | $39.23 |
| 8 | Arizona | $83,565 | $40.18 |
| 9 | Oregon | $87,140 | $41.89 |
| 10 | Illinois | $82,192 | $39.52 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $78,751 | $37.86 |
| 12 | California | $98,565 | $47.39 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $80,510 | $38.71 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $80,883 | $38.89 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $78,527 | $37.75 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| 17 | Maryland | $79,673 | $38.30 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $86,384 | $41.53 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $79,794 | $38.36 |
| 20 | Vermont | $75,922 | $36.50 |
| 21 | Delaware | $78,594 | $37.79 |
| 22 | Michigan | $77,323 | $37.17 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $74,682 | $35.90 |
| 24 | Idaho | $77,587 | $37.30 |
| 25 | Ohio | $72,971 | $35.08 |
| 26 | Montana | $74,831 | $35.98 |
| 27 | Texas | $73,325 | $35.25 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $73,565 | $35.37 |
| 29 | Iowa | $71,866 | $34.55 |
| 30 | Alaska | $69,266 | $33.30 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $70,717 | $34.00 |
| 32 | Indiana | $71,544 | $34.40 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $72,720 | $34.96 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $69,530 | $33.43 |
| 35 | Colorado | $73,150 | $35.17 |
| 36 | Missouri | $72,174 | $34.70 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $73,264 | $35.22 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $69,483 | $33.41 |
| 39 | Alabama | $69,661 | $33.49 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $71,147 | $34.21 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $70,403 | $33.85 |
| 42 | Maine | $73,474 | $35.32 |
| 43 | Florida | $75,155 | $36.13 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $69,972 | $33.64 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $70,226 | $33.76 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $71,492 | $34.37 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $69,940 | $33.63 |
| 48 | Kansas | $69,137 | $33.24 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $68,857 | $33.10 |
| 50 | Georgia | $62,553 | $30.07 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $62,115 | $29.86 |
Highest paying cities for network security specialists
The highest-paying cities for network security specialists are Sunnyvale, CA, New York, NY, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $106,678 | $51.29 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $96,211 | $46.26 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $86,332 | $41.51 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | $86,230 | $41.46 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $82,550 | $39.69 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $81,069 | $38.98 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,583 | $38.74 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $79,829 | $38.38 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $78,846 | $37.91 |
| 10 | Cornelius, NC | $77,274 | $37.15 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $74,748 | $35.94 |
| 12 | Mentor, OH | $74,223 | $35.68 |
| 13 | Fort Worth, TX | $73,359 | $35.27 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $69,150 | $33.25 |
Network security specialist salary details
A network security specialist's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $112,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a network security specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| Average | $82,206 | $6,851 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
Highest paying network security specialist jobs
The highest paying types of network security specialists are senior network engineer, security engineer, and information security analyst.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities Consultant | $92,092 | $7,674 | $44.27 | 27,296 |
| Network Support Engineer | $86,406 | $7,200 | $41.54 | 113,476 |
| Security Engineer | $104,524 | $8,710 | $50.25 | 86,093 |
| Network Engineer | $83,557 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 72,346 |
| Network Manager | $97,578 | $8,131 | $46.91 | 36,831 |
| Network Administrator | $71,357 | $5,946 | $34.31 | 106,886 |
Top companies hiring network security specialists now:
Which companies pay network security specialists the most?
Network security specialist salaries at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Nokia are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average network security specialist salary at companies like Hess and Sanofi US are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $130,560 | $62.77 |
| 2 | Nokia | $121,838 | $58.58 |
| 3 | Hess | $106,670 | $51.28 |
| 4 | Sanofi US | $100,607 | $48.37 |
| 5 | White Hat Inc | $84,572 | $40.66 |
| 6 | Alcatel Networks Inc | $84,572 | $40.66 |
| 7 | Ahead USA | $83,636 | $40.21 |
| 8 | KBR | $83,214 | $40.01 |
| 9 | Offensive Security | $82,758 | $39.79 |
| 10 | Ip Services | $80,586 | $38.74 |
| 11 | ASRC Federal | $80,259 | $38.59 |
| 12 | Trigyn Technologies | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| 13 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $79,371 | $38.16 |
| 14 | Atos | $79,021 | $37.99 |
| 15 | PNM Resources | $77,663 | $37.34 |
| 16 | Numbers Only, Inc. | $76,653 | $36.85 |
| 17 | Shriners Hospitals for Children | $75,531 | $36.31 |
| 18 | Infotech | $73,824 | $35.49 |
| 19 | GCR | $72,414 | $34.81 |
| 20 | Grandville Public Schools | $57,542 | $27.66 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Network security specialist salary trends
The average network security specialist salary has risen by $15,193 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average network security specialist earned $67,013 annually, but today, they earn $82,206 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for network security specialists over the last decade.
Compare network security specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average network security specialist salary over time
Compare network security specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Network security specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,200 | $39.52 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $79,500 | $38.22 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $77,700 | $37.35 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $75,500 | $36.28 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $73,200 | $35.17 | +2.7% |
Recently added network security specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Search of The Carolinas | Network Security Specialist-Remote Contract-Raleigh NC | Raleigh, NC | 06/29/2025 | $114,785 |
| Seneca Resources | Network Security Specialist-Proxy (NCP) | Raleigh, NC | 06/25/2025 | $83,480 |
| Boeing | Senior Network Security Design Specialist | Kent, WA | 06/24/2025 | $125,800 |
| Long Building Technologies | Security Integration & Network Specialist | Renton, WA | 06/16/2025 | $93,915 |
| Leidos | C2 Network Security Operations Center-Network Operations Center Specialist-Systems | Hampton, VA | 06/14/2025 | $89,700 |
| McLean County, Il | Network Security Specialist | Bloomington, IL | 05/29/2025 | $63,106 |
| Professional Search of The Carolinas | Network Security Specialist-Remote Contract-Raleigh NC | Raleigh, NC | 05/26/2025 | $114,785 |
| Eliassen Group | Network Security SME | Concord, CA | 05/15/2025 | $166,960 |
| Iberdrola | Lead Network Security Specialist Infrastructure | Binghamton, NY | 05/15/2025 | $103,900 |
| Eaton Corporation | Specialist-Network Security | Moon, PA | 05/14/2025 | $105,000 |
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