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Job outlook for senior security consultants in the United States
Senior security consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior security consultant job growth rate is 32% from 2018-2028.
About 35,500 new jobs for senior security consultants are projected over the next decade.
Senior security consultant salaries have increased 12% for senior security consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 18,964 senior security consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 66,226 active senior security consultant job openings in the US.
The average senior security consultant salary is $120,769.
Are senior security consultant jobs in demand?
Senior security consultant job and salary trends over time
Senior security consultant jobs over time
Senior security consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,964 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 17,873 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 16,961 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 25,326 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 24,667 | 0.01% |
Average senior security consultant salary over time
Senior security consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $120,769 | $58.06 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $116,790 | $56.15 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $114,146 | $54.88 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $110,850 | $53.29 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $107,472 | $51.67 | +2.8% |
Senior security consultant jobs by state
Most common states for senior security consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 328 | 47% |
| 2 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,799 | 27% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 236 | 27% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,099 | 23% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 230 | 22% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,104 | 20% |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 751 | 19% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 184 | 19% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 116 | 19% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,425 | 17% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 231 | 17% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,011 | 16% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,982 | 15% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,389 | 15% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,452 | 14% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,016 | 14% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 581 | 14% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 278 | 14% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 150 | 14% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 882 | 13% |
Most common cities for senior security consultants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $109,325 |
| 2 | Alpharetta | 2 | 3% | $97,642 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 8 | 2% | $97,616 |
| 4 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $119,053 |
| 5 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $112,089 |
| 6 | Denver | 4 | 1% | $96,852 |
| 7 | Miami | 4 | 1% | $109,796 |
| 8 | Chandler | 3 | 1% | $119,600 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 3 | 1% | $132,562 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $100,451 |
| 11 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $92,482 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $92,036 |
| 13 | Grand Rapids | 2 | 1% | $104,793 |
| 14 | Chicago | 8 | 0% | $106,342 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $122,633 |
| 16 | Baltimore | 3 | 0% | $109,403 |
| 17 | Jacksonville | 3 | 0% | $109,719 |
| 18 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $132,276 |
| 19 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $105,563 |
| 20 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $106,626 |
Senior Security Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior security consultant experts
Pace University
Northwood University
Duke University
Albertus Magnus College
Medaille College
Lorain County Community College
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
Fairleigh Dickinson University
University of Arkansas
Aquinas College
Wittenberg University
Susquehanna University
What Senior Security Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robert Cutlip Ph.D.: Regarding salary, internship experience or part-time employment in the field will be of benefit. Also, any certifications in this area will be of benefit to prospective employers.
What will help Senior Security Consultants increase their earning potential?
Robert Cutlip Ph.D.: The field of Cybersecurity is rapidly evolving. Threats from foreign actors are becoming more mature. Also, artificial intelligence presents new challenges. I would suggest staying abreast of new threat signatures, mitigation strategies, and technologies that will be a factor in this space in the near future.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Security Consultant?
Dr. Darren Hayes: Add a cover letter, to accompany your resume, as many older people who review your resume expect you to include one. Don't just list your skills but mention some special projects that you were involved in, or your impact on an organization during an internship. These demonstrate the application of your skills and can be great talking points during an interview. Don't add a lot of acronyms to your resume and expect that the reviewer will know what those mean - spell everything out. Read about the organization that you are applying to before an interview - it shows that you care and are taking an interest while in the interview. Professional certifications, in addition to your degree, will give you an edge over other applicants. Additionally, participation in team competitions, such as capture the flag, demonstrates a willingness to learn beyond the classroom, hone your skills, and ability to work in a team setting. Cybersecurity, digital forensics, IT, are always evolving so you need to continue to evolve too. Therefore, you should have plans to continue learning, such as professional certifications, graduate degree, training classes and other continuing education options. Talk about your plans and goals in an interview and not just about what you have done.
Professor David Sanford
Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB)Northwood University
Computer And Information Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Senior Security Consultant?
Professor David Sanford: Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like
Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.
In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
Michael Munger
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director, PPE ProgramDuke University
Department of Political Science
What skills stand out on Senior Security Consultant resumes?
Michael Munger: Political science is an ancient career synergy, one that explores the connections between ethical considerations and engineering policy that works. Someone who majors in Political Science is able to make arguments about the questions that have plagued philosophers for thousands of years while using the latest data techniques to scrape online sources of information on social media. So political science instructors have to combine ethics, knowledge of esoteric procedures and laws, and statistics!
David Garaventa
Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CISAlbertus Magnus College
Business Administration and Management Department
What skills stand out on Senior Security Consultant resumes?
David Garaventa: The skills/attributes required across a variety of jobs in the IT fields.
Dr. Steven MacMartin
Director, Associate ProfessorMedaille College
Homeland Security Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Security Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Overall, in general? Health care, elementary school teachers, daycare, researchers at the PhD level and also low level, entry/service jobs - fast food, restaurant, bar, etc. Homeland Security specifically - really none. Jobs in the Homeland Security field have remained largely unaffected by the pandemic, and the pandemic isn't really directly related to specific Homeland Security jobs. (Maybe in the research and technology fields.). A side effect of the pandemic has been to focus a little on cyber security issues and those jobs could expand in law enforcement and Homeland Security areas.
What soft skills should all Senior Security Consultants possess?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Absolutely - writing and oral presentation. A secondary skill that is helpful is academic research skills. But definitely writing skills.
How have salaries changed over time for Senior Security Consultants?
Dr. Steven MacMartin: Salaries have steadily risen over time. A person at my level in government is currently making $20,000/year more than I was making when I retired 10 years ago. The same can be said for many areas of law enforcement, but not all.
Tammy Bosley Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator for Communication StudiesLorain County Community College
Arts & Humanities Division
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Security Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Tammy Bosley Ph.D.: I think that many employees will continue to work from home post-pandemic. During COVID-19, people worked effectively at home, and in many instances, were more productive than when they were physically at the office. Employers will likely consider if they should pay for office space when their employees can do their jobs at home. If the traditional office space does become obsolete, employees will have to reimagine their home offices to promote a professional environment for digital platforms. They'll also have to work harder at making connections with others. High tech requires high touch. In other words, when we rely on computer-mediated communication, we need to interact more to establish relationships. Improving and maintaining digital communication skills will be essential as employees navigate their post-pandemic careers.
Dr. Anthony Stanowski
President & CEOCommission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Security Consultants?
Dr. Anthony Stanowski: Many projections show that the impact of COVID-19 will continue into 2022, even with a vaccine and therapeutics. The "new normal" will not return to 2019 but will incorporate technology and management methods developed to adjust to unforeseen challenges. The pandemic has made us all aware of the importance of healthcare delivery and the need to have dedicated people working to ensure our community's health. Healthcare executives will need to have critical competencies to succeed, including leadership, innovation, and a core understanding of healthcare delivery methods. Those entering the profession must rise to the challenge and accept that something will work, and others will not. They will need to be comfortable at a higher level of uncertainty than ever.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Senior Security Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Peter Woolley Ph.D.: One next big thing will be blockchain technology. This will be used to keep records secure and to record every public transaction and contract. If you want to jump to the head of the line, start reading about it now.
What type of skills will young Senior Security Consultants need?
Lori Birrell: Being an independent worker is a crucial skill for those entering the library science field. Those who are flexible and comfortable with taking the initiative can apply their skills and knowledge background to a variety of tasks and positions. Communication, being detail-oriented, and leadership are also essential skills to bring to the workforce. Librarians interact daily-regardless of their status-with a wide variety of stakeholders. Those professionals who are most successful will be those who can advocate for their work and its impact on the organization and society.
Michael Lorr Ph.D.
Chair, Professor of Sociology, & Director of the Community Leadership ProgramAquinas College
Sociology Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Security Consultants to find work opportunities?
Michael Lorr Ph.D.: Graduates in sociology and community leaders interested in governmental and non-profit work will find many people retiring as the boomers start to exit the workforce--cities like Grand Rapids, MI will have many opportunities in both of these areas.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Security Consultants to find work opportunities?
Nancy McHugh Ph.D.: I think that there are opportunities in most parts of the country. It is more about what sort of work students are looking for. A lot of philosophy majors go to law school or into non-profit work. There are opportunities for that everywhere. We've had several students go into public health graduate programs, which also has lots of geographic options. That so many of us are learning to work well-remotely is opening up a lot of options for where people live that are not as tied to the location of one's employment. Thus, I'd say most locations can be ideal locations. It is a matter of what individuals are looking for.
Mike Ozlanski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of AccountingSusquehanna University
Department Accounting
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Security Consultants?
Mike Ozlanski Ph.D.: Even before the pandemic, the accounting profession was adopting new and disruptive technologies that enabled accountants to increase both efficiency and effectiveness of their work. The abrupt shift to remote working environments accelerated the adoption of these technologies. If anything, it increased the rate of innovation in the profession.
Accounting graduates need to be prepared to enter the profession with the appropriate skills and embrace these technologies. Accounting education also needs to be ready to instill those skills in their students.