IT Security Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an IT Security Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Security Engineer in the United States is $120,355 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $140,531
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $111,699 to $130,916
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,818
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View as table View as graph 25% $111,699 10% $103,818 90% $140,531 75% $130,916 $120,355 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

IT Security Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $130,916 $10,910 $2,518 $63
Average $120,355 $10,030 $2,315 $58
25th Percentile $111,699 $9,308 $2,148 $54
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Key Factors That Influence IT Security Engineer Salaries

An IT Security 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects IT Security Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Security 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): $115,703
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $116,349
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $117,641
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,684
  • Expert (over 8 years): $125,480
Levels Salary
Entry Level IT Security Engineer$115,703
Intermediate Level IT Security Engineer$116,349
Senior Level IT Security Engineer$117,641
Specialist Level IT Security Engineer$122,684
Expert Level IT Security Engineer$125,480
$115,703 0 yr
$116,349 < 2 yrs
$117,641 2-4 yrs
$122,684 5-8 yrs
$125,480 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for IT Security 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: $151,804
  • San Francisco: $150,311
  • Oakland: $146,978

What Skills Can Increase an IT Security Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Incident Response (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Incident response (IR) is a set of information security policies and procedures that you can use to identify, contain, and eliminate cyberattacks.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.82%
Incident Response 3.34%
Risk Assessment 2.25%
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 an IT Security Engineer's salary.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight
$123,966
3%
Innovation
$122,762
2%
Consulting
$122,762
2%
Collaboration
$122,762
2%
Commitment
$122,762
2%
Cybersecurity
$122,762
2%
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IT Security Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Security 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for IT Security Engineer

Salaries for an IT Security Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $117,452 in 2023 to around $117,001 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of IT Security Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of IT Security Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$117,452
2024
$118,207
2025
$117,001
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $117,452
2024 $118,207
2025 $117,001
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for IT Security Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for IT Security Engineer

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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.)

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