Security Engineer Salary: Your 2024 Guide

Security engineers, also known as cybersecurity engineers, play a crucial role in the cybersecurity landscape. They strategize, design, develop, and manage tools and systems that protect digital data and devices. Formulating rules or protocols to assess the efficiency of security procedures is also within their purview. Use the following article to learn more about this role, including the average salary for security engineers and key factors that may influence it.

Read more: What is a Security Engineer? 2025 Career Guide

Security engineer salary

The average annual pay for a security engineer in the United States is $191,000 [1]. This figure encompasses base salary plus additional pay, which may include commissions, profit-sharing, or bonuses. Keep in mind that factors like your industry, specialization, and experience level can impact your yearly wage. The following sections provide more information about average salaries at different career stages, in different states, and by area of expertise.

High-paying industries for security engineers

Understanding the trends, demands, and financial outlooks within different industries can help you make informed decisions about your career path. By aligning your skills, interests, and experience with industries that offer competitive compensation, you can enhance your chances of earning a desirable salary, while also advancing your professional goals.

According to Glassdoor data as of November 2024, these are the five highest-paying industries for this role and their average annual salaries:

1. Information technology - $187,000

2. Aerospace and defense - $175,000

3. Health care - $174,000

4. Financial services - $174,000

5. Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation - $169,000

Cloud security engineer salary

Cloud computing is an in-demand field. As a result, the annual pay for a cloud security engineer in the United States is a bit higher, averaging $205,000 [2]. This figure encompasses base salary plus additional pay, including commissions, profit-sharing, or bonuses.

Read more: Cloud Computing Salary: Your 2025 Guide

Network security engineer salary

The average US salary for a security engineer who specializes in network security is $149,000 per year, including profit-sharing, commissions, and bonuses [3].

Read more: What is a Network Security Engineer's Salary?

Certifications for security engineers

Certifications help validate your expertise to current and prospective employers by demonstrating your commitment to staying updated with industry advancements and best practices. The following list compiles popular certifications to consider if you want to increase your pay as a security engineer:

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Read more: 8 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

Yearly salary by levels of experience

Here are the estimated average yearly salaries based on varying levels of experience [1]. Typically, the more experience you have, the higher your earning potential.

• 0-1 year of experience: $125,000

• 1-3 years of experience: $123,000

• 4-6 years of experience: $134,000

• 7-9 years of experience: $146,000

Security engineer salaries by location

Salaries often differ with geographical location, but keep in mind that the average cost of living in a given area contributes to the salary range. Here are a few of the highest-paying US cities for security engineers according to Indeed as of November 2024 [4]:

• Bethesda, MD: $156,562 per year

• Chicago, IL: $133,707 per year

• Austin, TX: $127,539 per year

• Chantilly, VA: $115,499 per year

• Huntsville, AL: $99,483

• Omaha, NE: $98,217

Highest-paying companies for security engineers in the US

Pay can vary considerably from company to company due to a range of factors, including company size, industry, location, financial performance, and the demand for particular skill sets. The following list outlines average salary ranges for the highest-paying companies in the United States, according to Glassdoor [1]:

• Meta: $212,000-$311,000

• Google: $198,000-$290,000

• Apple: $177,000-$254,000

• Splunk: $180,000-$249,000

• C3 AI: $172,000-$248,000

• Cloudflare: $173,000-$246,000

Related job titles

If the prospect of pursuing a career as a security engineer appeals to you, here are some related job titles you can consider:

Security administrator

Average annual US salary: $100,000

As a security administrator, your role entails the development and administration of IT security systems capable of shielding organizations’ assets from unforeseen threats. Additionally, you may actively monitor computer networks to identify potential security issues.

Security analyst     

Average annual US salary: $153,000

In your position as a security analyst, you will test new security systems, upgrade existing systems, possibly conduct penetration testing, and more. You could also be tasked with gathering end-user feedback to assess systems’ performance.

Security auditor

Average annual US salary: $126,000

As a security auditor, your responsibilities encompass the development, execution, and upkeep of internal audit protocols and risk evaluation methods. Furthermore, you will generate audit reports to ensure compliance with local laws and ethical practices.

*Salary information sourced from Glassdoor in November 2024

Job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2023 and 2033 [5]. This projection corresponds to approximately 356,000 job openings per year within the United States.

Prepare for a role in security engineering with Coursera

Get hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and technology by enrolling to earn Google's Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. You'll work with Python programming, Linux, SQL, and security information and event management (SIEM) tools.

Or, prepare for a role as a cloud security engineer by taking Google Cloud's certification prep course: Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Security Engineer Professional Certificate: