Cyber Security Salary: The Complete Guide
Curious how much cyber security professionals make in 2025? From entry-level analysts to senior engineers, pay is rising fast due to high demand, threat landscape, and increasing responsibilities.
In this guide, we cover:
- National average for cyber security / information security analysts & related roles
- Salary by career stage & seniority
- How location, certifications, and industry affect earning potential
- Job outlook & strategies to boost pay
Average Cyber Security / InfoSec Analyst Salary in 2025
Recent data reports the average salary for a Cyber Security Analyst in the U.S. is around $99,000-$126,000/year, depending on source, experience, and location. Hourly wages typically fall between $45-$65/hour.
Here’s how that looks by level:
| Level | Annual Salary Range | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0-2 years) | $65,000 - $85,000 | $30 - $45 |
| Mid-Level (3-7 years) | $90,000 - $120,000 | $45 - $60 |
| Senior / Specialized / Lead | $125,000 - $175,000+ | $60 - $90+ |
Salary by Industry & State
Earnings vary a lot by industry (finance, tech, government) and geography.
Industries that pay well:
- Finance & Banking
- Technology / Software
- Healthcare & Biotech
- Government / Defense / Cybersecurity vendors
High-Pay States / Regions:
| State | Average Cyber Security Analyst Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $130,000 - $165,000+ |
| New York | $120,000 - $160,000 |
| Washington | $120,000 - $150,000 |
| Massachusetts | $115,000 - $150,000 |
| Texas | $100,000 - $140,000 |
Salary by Career Stage
Entry-Level (0–2 years)
Expect ~$65,000-$85,000/year. Certifications like CompTIA Security+, SSCP help.Mid-Level (3–7 years)
With experience, possibly Lead roles, incident response, more responsibility — $90,000-$120,000+.Senior / Specialized Roles (8+ years, management, threat hunting, red teaming, forensics, engineering)
$125,000-$175,000+ possible, especially when combining seniority, expert skills, certifications (CISSP, CISM, OSCP, etc.).
Key Factors Influencing Cyber Security Salary
- Certifications: CISSP, CISM, OSCP, CEH etc. often lead to higher pay.
- Industry: Big tech, finance, and government contracts tend to pay more.
- Seniority & Specialty: Incident response, threat hunting, penetration testing roles tend to pay more.
- Location & Cost of Living: Big metros pay more; remote work can change this.
- Employer Type: Large corporations or defense contractors usually offer higher base + benefits.
Job Outlook & Demand
- BLS reports Information Security Analysts had a median wage of $124,910/year (May 2024).
- Projected employment growth for these roles is about 29% from 2024-2034, much faster than average.
- Increased cyber threats, regulation, compliance standards, remote work & hybrid setups are driving demand.
How to Boost Your Cyber Security Earnings
- Obtain and maintain high-value certifications (CISSP, CISM, OSCP, etc.)
- Gain specialized skills (cloud security, threat intelligence, red teaming, forensics)
- Move into leadership or strategic roles
- Pick industries or companies where security is mission-critical and well funded
- Negotiate for bonuses, equity, or premium pay for on-call or after hours work
Key Takeaways
- Typical cyber security analyst salary (2025): approx. $99,000-$126,000/year
- Entry-level: ~$65,000-$85,000
- Top / senior roles: $125,000-$175,000+ depending on specialty & location
- Certifications, industry, location are biggest levers to higher pay
- Demand and growth are strong; number of jobs is rising quickly