IT Security Engineer Salary in Columbia, SC

How much does an IT Security Engineer make in Columbia, SC?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Security Engineer in Columbia, SC is $111,156 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,072
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $103,146 to $121,057
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,853
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View as table View as graph 25% $103,146 10% $95,853 90% $130,072 75% $121,057 $111,156 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

IT Security Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $121,057 $10,088 $2,328 $58
Average $111,156 $9,263 $2,138 $53
25th Percentile $103,146 $8,595 $1,984 $50
Check out IT Security Engineer Job Openings in Columbia, SC
Cyber Security Engineer W-2 ONLY

United Global Technologies - Columbia, SC

Construction Sales Representative

Erie Home - Columbia, SC

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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, skills 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): $72,059
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,733
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,429
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $129,058
  • Expert (over 8 years): $149,506
Levels Salary
Informati... Level IT Security Engineer$72,059
Informati... Level IT Security Engineer$84,733
IT Securi... Level IT Security Engineer$110,429
Informati... Level IT Security Engineer$129,058
Informati... Level IT Security Engineer$149,506
$72,059 0 yr
$84,733 < 2 yrs
$110,429 2-4 yrs
$129,058 5-8 yrs
$149,506 > 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: $151,799
  • San Francisco: $150,137
  • Oakland: $146,973

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
$114,491
3%
Innovation
$113,379
2%
Consulting
$113,379
2%
Collaboration
$113,379
2%
Commitment
$113,379
2%
Cybersecurity
$113,379
2%
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IT Security Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IT Security 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 Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, IT Security Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IT Security Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an IT Security Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$133,387$64.020%
Biotechnology$133,387$64.020%
Energy & Utilities$133,387$64.020%
Financial Services$133,387$64.020%
Pharmaceuticals$133,387$64.020%

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 August 01, 2026

Find Your Next IT Security Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current IT Security Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • MUSC Health

    Columbia, SC

    MUSC Health | Columbia, SC

    The Department of Radiology & Radiological Science at The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is seeking General Radiologists to join its Midlands ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Anderson Trucking Service

    Columbia, SC

    CDL

    Anderson Trucking Service | Columbia, SC

    Now Hiring Flatbed Drivers | $1,400-$2,100+ Weekly. Many OTR flatbed truck drivers want to grow their careers by hauling bigger and heavier freight, but th... more

    6 Days Ago

  • She Recruits. LLC

    Columbia, SC

    She Recruits. LLC | Columbia, SC

    Primary Care Physician Senior-Focused Outpatient Practice Columbia, SC Salary: $225K-315K. A rapidly expanding, senior-focused outpatient care organization... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Concord Physicians Solutions

    Columbia, SC

    Concord Physicians Solutions | Columbia, SC

    Location: Florence & Columbia, South Carolina. Setting: Acute Care / Cardiac Anesthesia. Position Overview. 1 2 South Carolina locations seeking experience... more

    11 Days Ago

  • MUSC Health

    Columbia, SC

    MUSC Health | Columbia, SC

    MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center is seeking a full-time BC/BE Urologist to join its growing Urology service line in Columbia, South Carolina. This is an... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Aria Care Partners

    Columbia, SC

    Aria Care Partners | Columbia, SC

    Description We are seeking a Travel Podiatrist to provide care at skilled nursing facilities throughout multiple states. Ideal candidates may already have ... more

    11 Days Ago

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