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Cyber Security Research Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Cyber Security Research Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cyber Security Research Engineer in the United States is $144,506 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $165,561
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,334 to $155,527
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $121,252
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Cyber Security Research Engineer Salaries

A Cyber Security Research Engineer'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 Cyber Security Research Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cyber Security Research Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $85,648
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,289
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $143,696
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $181,739
  • Expert (over 8 years): $204,520
Levels Salary
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$85,648
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$130,289
Cyber Sec... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$143,696
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$181,739
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$204,520
View as Graph

How Do Cyber Security Research Engineer 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 Cyber Security Research Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $159,997.
  • California: $159,390.
  • Massachusetts: $157,266.

Top Paying Cities for Cyber Security Research Engineers

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: $182,265
  • San Francisco: $180,270
  • Oakland: $176,471

What Skills Can Increase a Cyber Security Research Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.4% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Incident Response (Mentioned in 3% Job Postings): Incident response (IR) is a set of information security policies and procedures that you can use to identify, contain, and eliminate cyberattacks.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.4%
Incident Response 3%
ISO 1.37%
See More Skills

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 Cyber Security Research Engineer's salary.

  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability $148,841
3%
Leadership $147,396
2%
Verbal Communication $147,396
2%
Get Latest Data

Cyber Security Research Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cyber Security Research Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Cyber Security Research Engineer positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cyber Security Research Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cyber Security Research Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$173,407$83.020%
Business Services$173,407$83.020%
Construction$173,407$83.020%
Energy & Utilities$173,407$83.020%
Healthcare$173,407$83.020%

How Education impacts a Cyber Security Research Engineer's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Cyber Security Research Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $148,382 and $156,072).

Cyber Security Research Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cyber Security Research Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 13.1%
Associates 7.9%
Bachelors 46.5%
Masters 30.8%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Cyber Security Research Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cyber Security Research Engineer'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 September 01, 2026
$132,334
Average $144,506/year
$155,527
$11,028
Average $12,042/month
$12,961
$2,545
Average $2,779/week
$2,991
$64
Average $69/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $155,527 $12,961 $2,991 $75
Average $144,506 $12,042 $2,779 $69
25th Percentile $132,334 $11,028 $2,545 $64

Most common benefits for Cyber Security Research Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Cyber Security Research Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Cyber Security Research Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Cyber Security Research Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Cyber Security Research Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Cyber Security Research Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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