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Job outlook for senior systems security engineers in the United States
Senior systems security engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior systems security engineer job growth rate is 32% from 2018-2028.
About 35,500 new jobs for senior systems security engineers are projected over the next decade.
Senior systems security engineer salaries have increased 12% for senior systems security engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,277 senior systems security engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 136,367 active senior systems security engineer job openings in the US.
The average senior systems security engineer salary is $112,486.
Are senior systems security engineer jobs in demand?
Senior systems security engineer job and salary trends over time
Senior systems security engineer jobs over time
Senior systems security engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,277 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 7,302 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,930 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,913 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,746 | 0.00% |
Average senior systems security engineer salary over time
Senior systems security engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,486 | $54.08 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $108,780 | $52.30 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $106,317 | $51.11 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $103,247 | $49.64 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $100,101 | $48.13 | +2.8% |
Senior systems security engineer jobs by state
Most common states for senior systems security engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 843 | 121% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,768 | 44% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,829 | 41% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,436 | 40% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 336 | 35% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 251 | 34% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 202 | 32% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,237 | 30% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,619 | 29% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 374 | 28% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 293 | 28% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 158 | 27% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,820 | 26% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 200 | 26% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,388 | 25% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,024 | 25% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 472 | 25% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,140 | 23% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 238 | 23% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 197 | 23% |
Most common cities for senior systems security engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 3 | 8% | $102,928 |
| 2 | Marlborough | 2 | 5% | $109,804 |
| 3 | McLean | 2 | 4% | $111,468 |
| 4 | Rolling Meadows | 1 | 4% | $108,414 |
| 5 | Andover | 1 | 3% | $108,707 |
| 6 | Culver City | 1 | 3% | $126,380 |
| 7 | Largo | 2 | 2% | $99,256 |
| 8 | Cupertino | 1 | 2% | $139,059 |
| 9 | Littleton | 1 | 2% | $96,910 |
| 10 | Pensacola | 1 | 2% | $102,986 |
| 11 | Cedar Rapids | 1 | 1% | $95,573 |
| 12 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $102,808 |
| 13 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $94,854 |
| 14 | Pleasanton | 1 | 1% | $138,871 |
| 15 | Redondo Beach | 1 | 1% | $125,941 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $126,443 |
| 17 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $96,746 |
| 18 | Saint Petersburg | 1 | 0% | $98,981 |
Senior Systems Security Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior systems security engineer experts
University of South Alabama
Stevens Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Northwood University
Albertus Magnus College
Medaille College
What Senior Systems Security Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sean Walker: To maximize your salary, it is really essential to learn the tools and methods associated with Systems Engineering while also maintaining a sense of creativity. Employers are not only looking for engineers with the ability to apply specific tools but also the ability to think creatively to solve complex systems problems. I often encourage my students to maintain their creative hobbies so that they don't lose those skills. But, more immediately, gaining a graduate education in Systems Engineering can help any engineer increase their earning potential.
What Senior Systems Security Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anthony Barrese: There are many paths leading to increased salary potential. Rapidly developing a deep understanding of customer environments and needs can be one of those, but is often not sufficient on its own. Cultivating strong communication skills, building relationships across the business and distinguishing yourself as a leader will all position you for career advancement and the compensation increases that go along with that.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Systems Security Engineer?
Mark Whalen P.E.: A system engineer designs, develops, and manages complex technical systems across a large variety of industries. This can include defining solutions to system-level problems, plus allocating requirements, technologies and team member tasking at a project level, as well as communicating complex ideas and systems to key stakeholders.
An entry-level system engineer will typically apply advanced mathematical techniques to solve system-level technical problems, as well as installing, testing, and troubleshooting complex operating systems
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 Systems Security Engineer?
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.
What Senior Systems Security Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor David Sanford: Here's some of what they may do on a typical day: Develop and install computer systems and programs to ensure they meet company needs. They all ensure that computers can talk to each other and the internet without interference. Some may set up Virtual walls and put locks in place to keep the bad guys out and ensure the company's information is secure. From a technical aspect, if something goes wrong, they jump in and fix it ASAP to get everything running smoothly. They are the go-to people when others in the company have computer problems. They are supported and taught how to use new technology. From a data perspective. some handle important information and make sure it is organized and accessible when needed. Many manage large tech projects and ensure efficiency within an organization through the integration or creation of new technology. Some perform managerial duties such as developing and maintaining guidelines and manuals so that everyone can learn how to use the system(s). In this field, employees are constantly learning about new tech and products to stay on top of their game. They analyze this new technology to determine if it could be used within their organization to increase efficiency or improve a business process. In all. for someone just starting out in this field, they can spend their days teaching, running small projects and helping the team. As they gain more experience, they will face bigger challenges and learn new things.
What will help Senior Systems Security Engineers increase their earning potential?
Professor David Sanford: Going into information systems engineering is a smart choice for many reasons. The profession is in high demand worldwide, offering job security and competitive wages. Professionals in this field have versatile skills, allowing them to work with sophisticated technology and adapt to changing business needs. Continued technological advancement creates opportunities for innovation and problem-solving. Career paths cater to individual interests, including knowledge in areas such as cybersecurity and data analytics. In addition, the possibility of working remotely enhances the flexibility of work, making it attractive to those seeking a dynamic and stimulating career
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 Systems Security Engineer resumes?
David Garaventa: The skills/attributes required across a variety of jobs in the IT fields.
What soft skills should all Senior Systems Security Engineers possess?
David Garaventa: Communication and collaboration skills are critical. Particularly now that many employees are working remotely, it has become more difficult - yet more important than ever - to have IT teams that work effectively together, even when they are not in the same room together. But this is not unique to the IT realm. Whether via remote meetings or through effective written communications, it is no longer enough to simply have "technical skills." Technical skills can be taught to employees more easily than developing employee's soft skills, so when an employee approaches their job with a strong set of communication skills and strong analytic reading and writing abilities, they can often make themselves stand out to employers. The employers will recognize that they have the attributes to be an asset to the team and can then invest in helping them develop any technical areas where they may be lacking.
This is not to say that technical skills don't matter, because they do, especially in the IT field. But suppose an employee brings a strong set of soft skills to an IT team (e.g., collaboration, communication, critical thinking, etc.). In that case, they probably also can learn more technical skills as part of their job function. I once had a colleague say to me that when she is hiring, she has found that technical skill is all over the place...but it's the soft skills that are harder to find. Lastly, having the ability - and a desire - to be continually learning is essential. Technology is not static, and businesses are not static, so thinking critically in different settings across various technology platforms is very important. The tools your department uses today may not be the tools they are using tomorrow, so being fluid, adaptable, and constantly learning is the name of the game.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Systems Security Engineers?
David Garaventa: The technical skills that are required are broad and tend to be business and/or industry-specific. If you are working in healthcare IT, the patient management platforms you use could be different from the client database used by a bank's IT team, for example. So, on the one hand, the recommendation would be to determine what platforms are most commonly used in your industry area and spend time mastering those platforms. On the other hand, most industries tend to have specific tools that are most commonly used, and spending time mastering those is important.
Going deeper into the subject, technical skills around project management, cloud infrastructure, security, and end-user support bridge across all industries. Having knowledge and skills in these areas will serve IT professionals well, no matter what field or industry they end up in. Again, it is challenging to recommend specific technical skills because the field of IT is so broad.
What skills will help Senior Systems Security Engineers earn the most?
David Garaventa: Here is where I can be a little more specific, but mostly in terms of certifications. Certifications and micro-credentials indicate two things to an employer: First, you must have an established, verified set of knowledge and skills that you bring to the table. If it is an industry-respected certification, it brings a lot of credibility regarding your knowledge and skills around a specific platform or application. The second thing that certifications and micro-credentials demonstrate to an employer is that you are willing to continue to grow and develop your skills in your field. Technology is progressing so rapidly that the things you knew last year may no longer be relevant today. And as a result, having the ability and desire to continue learning, adapting, and attaining certifications is a great way to show your ongoing commitment to your profession.
Dr. Steven MacMartin
Director, Associate ProfessorMedaille College
Homeland Security Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Systems Security Engineer 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 Systems Security Engineers 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 Systems Security Engineers?
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.