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Security Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Security Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Security Manager in the United States is $104,946 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, a Security Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,224
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,457 to $118,701
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $79,176
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Security Manager Salaries

A Security Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Security Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Security Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Security Supervisor (7+ years): $68,257
  • Security Supervisor, Senior (7+ years): $89,647
  • Security Manager (7+ years): $104,946
  • Security Senior Manager (7+ years): $150,607
  • Security Director (7+ years): $168,291
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Security Supervisor7+ years$68,257
Security Supervisor, Senior7+ years$89,647
Security Manager7+ years$104,946
Security Senior Manager7+ years$150,607
Security Director7+ years$168,291
View as Graph

How Do Security Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Security Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $116,196.
  • California: $115,755.
  • Massachusetts: $114,213.

Top Paying Cities for Security Manager

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $132,368
  • San Francisco: $130,919
  • Oakland: $128,160

What Skills Can Increase a Security Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 8.3% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Incident Response (Mentioned in 2.5% Job Postings): Incident response (IR) is a set of information security policies and procedures that you can use to identify, contain, and eliminate cyberattacks.
  • Security Management (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): Security management is the identification of an organization's assets (including people, buildings, machines, systems and information assets), followed by the development, documentation, and implementation of policies and procedures for protecting these assets. An organisation uses such security management procedures as asset and information classification, threat assessment, risk assessment, and risk analysis to identify threats, categorise assets, and rate system vulnerabilities so that they can implement effective controls.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 8.3%
Incident Response 2.5%
Security Management 1.63%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Security Manager's salary.

  • SIEM: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Incident Response: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SIEM $116,490
11%
Client Service $112,292
7%
Incident Response $111,243
6%
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Security Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Security Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $117,481. While startup companies pay approximate $99,386.

Security Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $99,386
Growth Stage 51~500 $105,113
Established 501~5000 $113,449
Enterprise 5000+ $117,481

Security Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Security Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 115% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 75% above the average. In contrast, Security Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Security Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Security Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$183,656$88.075%
Financial Services$167,914$81.060%
Biotechnology$152,172$73.045%
Pharmaceuticals$146,924$71.040%
Aerospace & Defense$136,430$66.030%

How Education impacts an Security Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Security Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Security Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $106,585 and $116,218.

Security Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Security Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 26.9%
Associates 19.3%
Bachelors 32.7%
Masters 19.0%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Security Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Security Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$91,457
Average $104,946/year
$118,701
$7,621
Average $8,746/month
$9,892
$1,759
Average $2,018/week
$2,283
$44
Average $50/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $118,701 $9,892 $2,283 $57
Average $104,946 $8,746 $2,018 $50
25th Percentile $91,457 $7,621 $1,759 $44

Security Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Security Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a Security Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Security Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $150,607 - a projected growth of 44% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Security Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Security Manager

Here are companies hiring for Security Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Security Manager

1. Where can a Security Manager earn the most?

A Security Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Security Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Security Manager is $132,368.

2. What is the highest pay for Security Manager?

The highest pay for Security Manager is $131,224.

3. What is the lowest pay for Security Manager?

The lowest pay for Security Manager is $79,176.

4. What are the responsibilities of Security Manager?

Implements security strategy, policies, and standards to ensure the physical safety of all visitors, employees, or customers to the organization's facilities and the security of property and assets. Conducts regular audits and inspections to assess, identify, and mitigate any security vulnerabilities or gaps. Trains staff and establishes operational plans for crisis response, disaster recovery, evacuation, workplace violence, and other emergency events. Monitors and inspects systems, alarms, and other physical security measures. Participates in education programs and contributes to communications on security policies and topics to ensure staff is adequately informed and equipped to manage potential security issues. Engages with local, state, provincial, or federal authorities to keep abreast with all security-related information, directives, and events. Initiates or assists with investigations and critical event responses in coordination with law enforcement and other officials or agencies. Understands law enforcement methods, tactics, and procedures. Requires a bachelor's degree in law enforcement, criminal justice, security, or related discipline. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Security Manager?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Security Manager roles, with salaries approximately 75% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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