Security Engineer Salary: Your 2025 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.

Security engineer salary: How much does a security engineer make? 

The median total pay for a security engineer in the United States is $164,000 [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 July 2025, these are the five highest-paying industries for this role and their average annual salaries [1]:

1. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology: $202,170

2. Media and communication: $172,888

3. Retail and wholesale: $166,178

4. Information technology: $159,476

5. Financial services: $150,467

Cloud security engineer salary

Cloud computing is an in-demand field. As a result, the median total annual pay for a cloud security engineer in the United States is $163,000 [2]. This figure encompasses the base salary plus additional pay, including commissions, profit sharing, or bonuses.

Network security engineer salary

The median total pay in the US for a security engineer who specializes in network security is $160,000 per year, including profit-sharing, commissions, and bonuses [3].

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)

What is a security engineer salary by levels of experience?

Here is the estimated median total pay based on varying levels of experience [1]. Typically, the more experience you have, the higher your earning potential.

• 0–1 year of experience: $132,000

• 1–3 years of experience: $151,000

• 4–6 years of experience: $172,000

• 7–9 years of experience: $181,000

Where can a security engineer earn more? 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 July 2025 [4]:

• Chantilly, VA: $138,018

• Chicago, IL: $127,256

• Madison, WI: $124,546

• Austin, TX: $114,946

• Omaha, NE: $106,235

• Worcester, MA: $105,268

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]:

• Twitch: $303,000–$527,000

• Airbnb: $295,000–$478,000

• Lyft: $280,000–$462,000

• Cruise: $276,000–$468,000

• Google: $275,000–$458,000

• Uber: $273,000–$454,000

What does a security engineer do?

A security engineer is responsible for keeping a business's networks and data safe and secure. In this role, your daily tasks may include troubleshooting and repairing security issues, developing safety strategies for the future, and collaborating with other teams to ensure safety protocols are followed regularly.

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

Median total pay: $125,000 [5]

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

Median total pay: $127,000 [6]

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

Median total pay: $114,000 [7]

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.

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of June 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

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 [8]. This projection corresponds to approximately 356,700 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: