Security Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Security Engineer in the United States is $88,861 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,175
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,130 to $99,494
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,450
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View as table View as graph 25% $77,130 10% $66,450 90% $109,175 75% $99,494 $88,861 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Security Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $99,494 $8,291 $1,913 $48
Average $88,861 $7,405 $1,709 $43
25th Percentile $77,130 $6,428 $1,483 $37
Check out Security Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Cyber Security Engineer

Career Listings - Columbus, OH

Senior Web Network Security Engineer

Manifest Solutions - Columbus, OH

Fortinet Security Engineer SDWAN&amp ADVPN

C-Serv - Columbus, OH

Systems Engineer

People Driven Technology Inc - Columbus, OH

Search More Security Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Security Engineer Salaries

A 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 Security Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $88,079
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $87,840
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $133,623
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $147,380
  • Expert (over 8 years): $186,384
Levels Salary
Security ... Level Security Engineer$88,079
Informati... Level Security Engineer$87,840
Informati... Level Security Engineer$133,623
Informati... Level Security Engineer$147,380
Informati... Level Security Engineer$186,384
$88,079 0 yr
$87,840 < 2 yrs
$133,623 2-4 yrs
$147,380 5-8 yrs
$186,384 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 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: $112,080
  • San Francisco: $110,853
  • Oakland: $108,517

Security Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Security Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Security Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Security Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Security Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$115,519$56.030%
Insurance$111,076$53.025%
Biotechnology$106,633$51.020%
Pharmaceuticals$106,633$51.020%
Healthcare$102,190$49.015%

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

Understanding how a 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

Most common benefits for Security Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Security Engineer Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    6 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    6 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    12 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    15 Days Ago

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FAQ about Security Engineer

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

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Security Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

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