How much do cybersecurity professionals make?

Cybersecurity salaries consistently rank among the highest in technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) reports a median annual wage of $120,360 for information security analysts, more than double the $48,060 median for all occupations. The top 10% of cybersecurity professionals earn over $193,000 per year.

Salary varies significantly by role and experience level. Entry-level positions like SOC Analyst (median $87,400) and GRC Analyst ($82,500) provide a solid starting point. Mid-career roles, including Security Engineer ($124,900 median) and Incident Responder ($105,300 median), reflect the value of specialized skills and experience. Senior individual contributors and managers command even more.

Leadership and architecture roles represent the top of the technical pay scale. Security Architects earn a median of $158,600. CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) earn a median of $232,000, with compensation at large enterprises frequently exceeding $400,000 including stock options and bonuses. These figures are based on BLS (2024) and industry survey data.

Cybersecurity sales careers offer some of the highest total compensation in the field. Account Executives earn $120,000 to $500,000 in on-target earnings depending on deal size. VP of Sales and CRO roles at cybersecurity vendors command $300,000 to $800,000+ OTE. DecipherU provides salary data for both technical and sales cybersecurity roles to help you plan your career path accurately.