Quick Answer: CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 certified professionals earn an average of $88,000 to $94,000 annually across all roles and experience levels in the US. Entry-level candidates with Security+ and one to two years of IT experience start at $55,000 to $75,000. Experienced professionals using Security+ as part of a certification stack earn $90,000 to $130,000. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 33% job growth for information security analysts through 2033, nearly five times the average across all occupations.
Why This Data Matters for Your Career Planning
Salary data for cybersecurity is frequently cited without context, which leads to unrealistic expectations. The commonly cited “$94,000 average” blends entry-level SOC analysts, mid-career security engineers, and senior architects into a single number. The result is a figure that accurately describes almost no one’s actual starting salary.
This guide breaks the data down properly: salary by role, salary by experience level within each role, regional variation across major US markets, government versus private sector comparison, and the measurable impact of adding certifications on top of Security+. It also covers the five major cybersecurity trends in 2026 that are driving hiring demand and shaping which skills employers pay the most for.
For the full picture of what Security+ qualifies you for see our Security+ jobs and industries guide. For career guidance by experience level see our guide on is Security+ right for you.
Salary Data by Role: Entry, Mid, and Senior Level
The following data reflects US market compensation as of early 2026, aggregated from BLS, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Indeed job posting analysis. All figures are base salary only and do not include bonuses, benefits, or equity.
SOC Analyst (Tier 1 and Tier 2)
SOC analysts monitor security alerts from SIEM dashboards, investigate potential incidents, and escalate confirmed threats. Tier 1 handles initial alert triage. Tier 2 performs deeper investigation of escalated events and coordinates containment.
Security+ is among the most commonly listed certifications in SOC analyst job postings because it validates the exact knowledge these roles require daily: log interpretation, incident response procedures, SIEM concepts, and threat classification.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Tier 1 Entry | 0 to 2 years | $55,000 to $72,000 |
| Tier 1 Mid | 2 to 4 years | $70,000 to $88,000 |
| Tier 2 | 3 to 5 years | $80,000 to $105,000 |
Remote availability: High. Many managed security service providers run fully remote SOC teams across all three tiers.
Security Analyst
Security analysts plan and execute security assessments, monitor environments for threats, manage vulnerability remediation, and advise on security controls. This role is broader than a SOC analyst and involves more cross-functional engagement with IT, legal, and business units.
The BLS reports a median salary of $124,910 for information security analysts as of May 2024. This figure represents the full spectrum of experience and specialization in the field. Entry-level candidates with Security+ alone should plan toward the lower end of this distribution.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Junior | 0 to 2 years | $65,000 to $82,000 |
| Mid-Level | 2 to 5 years | $85,000 to $110,000 |
| Senior | 5+ years | $110,000 to $145,000 |
Security Administrator
Security administrators manage the day-to-day operation of security infrastructure: firewalls, IDS/IPS systems, endpoint security platforms, VPN configurations, and user access controls. This is a hands-on operational role with significant responsibility for the security posture of specific systems and environments.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Junior | 1 to 3 years | $72,000 to $92,000 |
| Mid-Level | 3 to 6 years | $90,000 to $115,000 |
| Senior | 6+ years | $110,000 to $135,000 |
Network Security Engineer
Network security engineers design, implement, and maintain secure network architectures including firewall policy management, VPN infrastructure, network segmentation, and intrusion prevention systems. Security+ provides the foundational knowledge, and most experienced network security engineers add Cisco security certifications (CCNP Security or SCOR) or Palo Alto PCNSE alongside it.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Entry | 1 to 3 years | $82,000 to $105,000 |
| Mid-Level | 3 to 6 years | $100,000 to $128,000 |
| Senior | 6+ years | $120,000 to $155,000 |
Penetration Tester
Penetration testers perform authorized simulated attacks against an organization’s systems to identify and document exploitable vulnerabilities. Security+ provides the defensive knowledge base. Penetration testing roles additionally require offensive security skills that Security+ alone does not cover. Candidates interested in this path typically add CompTIA PenTest+ or OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) after Security+.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Junior | 0 to 2 years | $72,000 to $95,000 |
| Mid-Level | 2 to 5 years | $95,000 to $125,000 |
| Senior | 5+ years | $120,000 to $160,000 |
Note: Penetration testing is not the most direct first career step from Security+ alone. The certification is better positioned as a defensive security qualifier. Candidates who want offensive security careers should plan for PenTest+ or OSCP as their primary credentials after Security+.
GRC Analyst (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)
GRC analysts ensure organizational security practices align with regulatory requirements including HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, CMMC, and SOX. They conduct internal audits, assess vendor risk, maintain compliance documentation, and prepare for external assessments. Security+ covers all major compliance frameworks in Domain 5, making it a strong foundation for this career path.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Junior | 0 to 2 years | $62,000 to $82,000 |
| Mid-Level | 2 to 5 years | $82,000 to $108,000 |
| Senior | 5+ years | $105,000 to $135,000 |
Vulnerability Analyst
Vulnerability analysts run security scans, validate and prioritize findings using CVSS scores and business context, track remediation, and report on organizational vulnerability posture over time. High remote availability makes this one of the more accessible entry points to cybersecurity.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Entry | 0 to 2 years | $65,000 to $85,000 |
| Mid-Level | 2 to 5 years | $82,000 to $108,000 |
| Senior | 5+ years | $105,000 to $130,000 |
Security Engineer
Security engineers design, build, and maintain the security architecture of an organization’s systems and infrastructure. This is a senior-track role that typically requires several years of combined security and engineering experience. Security+ is often a baseline requirement but senior security engineers typically hold multiple advanced certifications.
| Level | Experience | Salary Range |
| Entry | 2 to 4 years | $88,000 to $112,000 |
| Mid-Level | 4 to 7 years | $110,000 to $140,000 |
| Senior | 7+ years | $135,000 to $175,000+ |
Master Salary Reference Table
| Role | Entry | Mid-Level | Senior | Remote |
| SOC Analyst T1 | $55K to $72K | $70K to $88K | N/A | High |
| SOC Analyst T2 | $80K to $95K | $90K to $110K | N/A | High |
| Security Analyst | $65K to $82K | $85K to $110K | $110K to $145K | Moderate to high |
| Security Administrator | $72K to $92K | $90K to $115K | $110K to $135K | Low to moderate |
| Network Security Eng. | $82K to $105K | $100K to $128K | $120K to $155K | Low to moderate |
| Penetration Tester | $72K to $95K | $95K to $125K | $120K to $160K | Moderate |
| GRC Analyst | $62K to $82K | $82K to $108K | $105K to $135K | Moderate to high |
| Vulnerability Analyst | $65K to $85K | $82K to $108K | $105K to $130K | High |
| Security Engineer | $88K to $112K | $110K to $140K | $135K to $175K+ | Low to moderate |
Regional Salary Variation: Where You Work Matters
Geography is one of the largest determinants of cybersecurity compensation. The same Security+ certified SOC analyst role pays meaningfully different amounts depending on location.
| Market | Entry SOC Analyst | Mid Security Analyst | Senior Security Eng. | Cost of Living Context |
| Washington DC / Northern Virginia | $72,000 to $90,000 | $95,000 to $125,000 | $140,000 to $180,000 | High (boosted by federal and DoD demand) |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $80,000 to $100,000 | $105,000 to $135,000 | $155,000 to $200,000+ | Very high |
| New York City | $75,000 to $95,000 | $100,000 to $130,000 | $145,000 to $185,000 | Very high |
| Austin, TX | $65,000 to $82,000 | $85,000 to $110,000 | $115,000 to $150,000 | Moderate |
| Chicago, IL | $65,000 to $82,000 | $85,000 to $112,000 | $115,000 to $150,000 | Moderate to high |
| Charlotte, NC | $62,000 to $78,000 | $80,000 to $105,000 | $108,000 to $140,000 | Moderate (financial sector hub) |
| Seattle, WA | $75,000 to $95,000 | $98,000 to $128,000 | $140,000 to $175,000 | High (major tech employer base) |
| Smaller markets / rural | $52,000 to $68,000 | $70,000 to $92,000 | $90,000 to $120,000 | Lower |
The DC/Northern Virginia market deserves special attention. The concentration of federal agencies, intelligence community organizations, and defense contractors in this area creates the densest concentration of Security+ job demand in the US. DoD 8140 compliance requirements mean Security+ is often a mandatory qualification rather than a preference. Entry-level roles with clearance eligibility in this market start significantly higher than equivalent roles in commercial markets elsewhere.
Government vs. Private Sector: Salary and Compensation Comparison
One of the most common questions Security+-certified professionals face when job searching is whether to pursue government and defense roles or commercial private sector positions. The answer depends on what you value and should be based on accurate data rather than assumptions.
Salary comparison for equivalent roles:
| Role | Private Sector (Mid) | Government GS Scale (Equivalent) | Defense Contractor (Equivalent) |
| Security Analyst | $85,000 to $110,000 | $72,000 to $95,000 (GS-9 to GS-12) | $90,000 to $120,000 |
| SOC Analyst | $70,000 to $95,000 | $65,000 to $88,000 (GS-7 to GS-11) | $80,000 to $105,000 |
| Security Engineer | $110,000 to $140,000 | $88,000 to $118,000 (GS-12 to GS-13) | $115,000 to $145,000 |
What the raw numbers miss:
Government roles below the private sector in base salary often include: a defined benefit pension (rare in private sector), federal employee health insurance with substantial employer contribution, 13 to 26 days of annual leave plus 11 federal holidays, TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) with government matching, and significantly stronger job security than private sector equivalents.
Defense contractors typically offer salaries closer to or above private sector commercial rates because they compete with both government and commercial employers for the same talent pool. For roles requiring security clearance, defense contractors frequently offer clearance sponsorship, which has independent value because the clearance itself is employer-agnostic once granted.
The practical recommendation: if stability, benefits, and long-term retirement security matter more to you than maximizing short-term base salary, government roles are genuinely competitive on total compensation. If maximizing base salary and career flexibility are the priority, commercial private sector or defense contracting typically pays more.
Certification Stacking: How Adding Credentials Increases Salary
Security+ is a strong standalone credential for entry-level roles. Adding targeted certifications on top of it produces measurable salary increases at each step.
| Certification Stack | Typical Role Access | Salary Impact vs. Security+ Alone |
| Security+ only | SOC Analyst T1, junior security roles | Baseline |
| Security+ and CySA+ | SOC Analyst T2, Security Analyst, Threat Hunter | +$8,000 to $15,000/yr |
| Security+ and CCNP Security | Network Security Engineer | +$15,000 to $25,000/yr |
| Security+ and PenTest+ / OSCP | Penetration Tester | +$15,000 to $30,000/yr |
| Security+ and CISSP | Senior Security Engineer, Security Manager, CISO track | +$25,000 to $50,000/yr |
| Security+ and Cloud Security Specialty (AWS/Azure) | Cloud Security Architect, Cloud Security Engineer | +$20,000 to $40,000/yr |
| Security+ and CISM | Security Manager, GRC Lead | +$20,000 to $35,000/yr |
The highest-value progression for most candidates entering cybersecurity is Security+ followed by CompTIA CySA+. CySA+ builds directly on Security+ knowledge, targets the analyst and SOC roles where most Security+ holders start, and adds $8,000 to $15,000 in annual salary access. After CySA+,CISSP unlocks senior engineering and management positions with salary ranges starting at $130,000.
For the full certification progression see our cybersecurity certification roadmap.
5 Cybersecurity Trends Driving Salary Growth in 2026
Understanding what is driving demand helps you position your skills and direct your professional development toward the areas employers are investing in most heavily.
Trend 1: AI-Powered Threat Detection and Defense
AI and machine learning tools are being deployed both by attackers (AI-generated phishing, automated vulnerability exploitation) and defenders (AI-driven SIEM correlation, behavioral anomaly detection). Security professionals who understand how AI tools work in both contexts, and who can interpret and validate AI-generated alerts rather than blindly acting on them, are commanding salary premiums.
The practical implication for your career: familiarity with AI-assisted SIEM tools and an understanding of when to trust and when to question automated alert conclusions is becoming a differentiating skill at the analyst level.
Trend 2: Cloud Security Skill Gap
Cloud adoption outpaced cloud security hiring over the last several years, creating a measurable skill gap that is still widening. Organizations running AWS, Azure, and GCP infrastructure need professionals who understand cloud-native security controls: IAM policy management in cloud environments, security group configuration, cloud-native logging (CloudTrail, Azure Monitor), and CSPM tools.
Security professionals with Security+ plus cloud security certifications (AWS Security Specialty, Microsoft SC-200, or AZ-500) are among the most in-demand profiles in technology sector hiring in 2026.
Trend 3: Zero Trust Implementation at Scale
Zero trust is no longer an architectural concept organizations are evaluating. Large enterprises across financial services, healthcare, and government are actively implementing zero trust architectures, creating demand for professionals who can design and operate these environments rather than just define the concept. Security+ covers zero trust foundational concepts. Professionals who extend that into practical implementation knowledge of identity providers, conditional access policies, and microsegmentation are well positioned for higher-value roles.
Trend 4: Healthcare Cybersecurity Hiring Surge
Healthcare has become one of the most targeted sectors for ransomware and data breach attacks, and the regulatory environment (HIPAA with increasing OCR enforcement) is forcing organizations to invest in dedicated security staff. Healthcare security hiring is growing faster than the overall cybersecurity job market, and compensation in healthcare IT security is rising to attract talent away from higher-paying technology sector positions.
Trend 5: CMMC Compliance Creating Defense Contractor Demand
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) rollout requires tens of thousands of US defense contractors to implement and certify cybersecurity controls to maintain DoD contract eligibility. CMMC implementation requires security staff who understand the NIST SP 800-171 controls that CMMC is based on, the assessment process, and the documentation requirements. Security+ Domain 5 covers the foundational compliance knowledge this work requires.
This trend is creating structured demand specifically in the defense contracting ecosystem for professionals who combine Security+ with CMMC-specific knowledge.
How to Position Yourself for the Best Salary Outcomes
Having the certification is necessary but not sufficient for maximizing salary. Here is what separates candidates who land at the top of the salary ranges from those who start at the bottom.
Document hands-on experience alongside the certification. Employers paying $75,000+ for entry-level roles want evidence of applied skills, not just a passed exam. Lab environments (TryHackMe, Hack The Box, personal VirtualBox labs), home network monitoring projects, or any IT work experience that involved security responsibilities all add this evidence.
Target your industry strategically. As the regional data shows, the same certification generates substantially different compensation depending on industry. Government and defense in DC, technology in Seattle and San Francisco, and financial services in New York and Charlotte are the highest-paying markets. Entering in a lower-paying market and then moving is a valid strategy, but entering directly into a high-demand market produces faster salary growth.
Build the CySA+ certification into your one-year plan. If you earn Security+ and then spend 12 months in a SOC or analyst role, you will have both the time-in-role experience and the preparation foundation for CySA+. Earning CySA+ after your first year in a security role consistently produces salary reviews and promotions that reflect the additional credential value.
Negotiate based on certification value, not just job title. Many employers price entry-level security roles on a default salary band. Security+ certification combined with documented DoD 8140 compliance value, clearance eligibility, or industry-specific knowledge creates a legitimate basis for negotiating above the default range. Candidates who present the business case for their specific certifications in compensation conversations consistently do better than those who accept default offers.
For how to get started see our SY0-701 preparation guide and study plan. For what to pursue after passing, see our guide on next steps after Security+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a Security+ SY0-701 certified professional in 2026?
Aggregated data from multiple job platforms shows average total compensation of $88,000 to $94,000 for professionals holding Security+ certification. This figure blends entry-level through experienced candidates across all roles and regions. Entry-level candidates starting with Security+ and one to two years of IT experience typically see $55,000 to $75,000 in their first security role.
Which Security+ job role pays the most?
Security Engineer and senior Network Security Engineer positions pay the most for Security+-certified professionals, with mid-level ranges of $110,000 to $140,000 and senior ranges of $135,000 to $175,000+. These roles typically require Security+ plus additional advanced certifications (CISSP, CCNP Security) and several years of relevant experience.
Does Security+ certification increase your salary?
Yes, measurably. Security+ holders earn $15,000 to $20,000 more per year on average compared to non-certified peers in equivalent roles. This premium is most pronounced at the entry and early career levels where the certification provides a clear signal to employers of validated knowledge. Adding CySA+ on top of Security+ adds a further $8,000 to $15,000 at the analyst level.
Is government or private sector better for Security+ certified professionals?
It depends on what you value. Private sector and defense contractors typically offer higher base salaries. Government roles offer lower base salaries but significantly better total compensation when pension, health insurance, leave, and job stability are factored in. Defense contractors offer the best of both, with competitive salaries plus clearance sponsorship and long-term career stability.
What is the job growth rate for cybersecurity roles?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 33% employment growth for information security analysts from 2023 to 2033, which is nearly five times the average growth rate across all occupations. Cybersecurity is one of the most structurally undersupplied fields in the US labor market, with ISC2’s 2024 workforce study identifying a global shortfall of 4.8 million professionals.
How does adding CySA+ after Security+ affect salary?
Adding CySA+ to a Security+ credential base typically adds $8,000 to $15,000 to annual salary in analyst roles. It also expands role access from Tier 1 SOC positions to Tier 2 SOC and full security analyst positions. For most Security+ holders at the entry level, CySA+ is the highest-ROI next certification in terms of salary impact per dollar invested. See our CompTIA CySA+ guide for details.
What is the highest-paying market for Security+ certified professionals?
The Washington DC and Northern Virginia metropolitan area consistently pays the highest salaries for Security+-certified professionals due to the concentration of federal agencies, intelligence community, and defense contractors that require DoD 8140 compliant certifications. Entry-level security roles with clearance eligibility in this market start significantly above comparable commercial roles nationally.
Final Thoughts
Security+ SY0-701 is not just an exam to pass. It is the credential that validates your entry into one of the fastest-growing and most persistently in-demand professional fields in the US economy. With 33% projected job growth, a measurable salary premium of $15,000 to $20,000 per year, and a clear certification progression toward $130,000+ senior roles, the career economics are straightforward.
The salary you achieve with Security+ depends on the role you target, the industry you enter, the region where you work, and the additional credentials you stack on top of it. All of those variables are within your control.
Start with the free SY0-701 practice test atCertEmpire to benchmark your current readiness. Use the full SY0-701 exam questions and exam dumps to prepare efficiently. And begin researching your target industry and market in parallel so you have a clear career target on the day you pass.
For the complete picture of why Security+ is worth pursuing in 2026 see our must-have certification guide.
Salary data sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), ZipRecruiter April 2026, Glassdoor, and aggregated US job posting analysis. All figures represent base salary in USD and reflect US market conditions as of early 2026.
