Cyber Security Research Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cyber Security Research Engineer in the United States is $144,510 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): $165,460
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,330 to $155,476
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $121,241
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View as table View as graph 25% $132,330 10% $121,241 90% $165,460 75% $155,476 $144,510 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cyber Security Research Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $155,476 $12,956 $2,990 $75
Average $144,510 $12,043 $2,779 $69
25th Percentile $132,330 $11,028 $2,545 $64
Check out Cyber Security Research Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Cyber Security Engineer with Security Clearance

Akima - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Cyber Security Engineer with Security Clearance

CACI - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Cyber Security Engineer with Security Clearance

Leidos - BETHESDA, MD

Cyber Security Engineer with Security Clearance

Absolute Business Solutions Corp - BETHESDA, MD

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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): $85,623
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,255
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $143,703
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $181,635
  • Expert (over 8 years): $204,520
Levels Salary
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$85,623
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$130,255
Cyber Sec... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$143,703
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$181,635
Informati... Level Cyber Security Research Engineer$204,520
$85,623 0 yr
$130,255 < 2 yrs
$143,703 2-4 yrs
$181,635 5-8 yrs
$204,520 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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: $160,001.
  • California: $159,395.
  • Massachusetts: $157,270.

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: $182,270
  • San Francisco: $180,479
  • Oakland: $176,476

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.4%
Incident Response 3%
ISO 1.37%
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
 $148,845
3%
Leadership
 $147,400
2%
Verbal Communication
 $147,400
2%
ISO
 $147,400
2%
Commitment
 $147,400
2%
Presentation
 $147,400
2%
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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%
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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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$132,330
Average $144,510/year
$155,476
$11,028
Average $12,043/month
$12,956
$2,545
Average $2,779/week
$2,990
$64
Average $69/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $155,476 $12,956 $2,990 $75
Average $144,510 $12,043 $2,779 $69
25th Percentile $132,330 $11,028 $2,545 $64

Salaries of jobs related to Cyber Security Research Engineer

Salary Trends for Cyber Security Research Engineer

Salaries for a Cyber Security Research Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $134,317 in 2023 to around $134,323 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cyber Security Research Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cyber Security Research Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$134,317
2024
$135,053
2025
$134,323
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $134,317
2024 $135,053
2025 $134,323
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Cyber Security Research Engineer

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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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