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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Security Engineer in California is $98,013 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.
However, a Security Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Security Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $109,742 | $9,145 | $2,110 | $53 |
| Average | $98,013 | $8,168 | $1,885 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,075 | $7,090 | $1,636 | $41 |
Ampcus - Sacramento, CA
Corridor Security Inc - San Francisco, CA
Sierra - San Francisco, CA
Covenant HR - San Francisco, CA
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.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Security ... Level Security Engineer | $97,151 |
| Informati... Level Security Engineer | $96,887 |
| Informati... Level Security Engineer | $147,387 |
| Informati... Level Security Engineer | $162,560 |
| Informati... Level Security Engineer | $205,582 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Security Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | $127,417 | $61.0 | 30% |
| Insurance | $122,517 | $59.0 | 25% |
| Biotechnology | $117,616 | $57.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $117,616 | $57.0 | 20% |
| Healthcare | $112,715 | $54.0 | 15% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $109,742 | $9,145 | $2,110 | $53 |
| Average | $98,013 | $8,168 | $1,885 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,075 | $7,090 | $1,636 | $41 |
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.
Glean.info
San Francisco, CA
Glean.info | San Francisco, CA
Security Engineer, Application SecurityGlean is the Work AI platform that helps everyone work smarter with AI. What began as the industry's most advanced e... more
4 Days Ago
OpenAI
San Francisco, CA
OpenAI | San Francisco, CA
Security Engineer, Application SecuritySecurity is at the foundation of OpenAI's mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of hum... more
4 Days Ago
CADENCE INC
San Jose, CA
CADENCE INC | San Jose, CA
Cadence Security EngineerAt Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.Summary:A highly skil... more
4 Days Ago
TechData Service Company LLC
Alameda, CA
TechData Service Company LLC | Alameda, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Security Engineer- W2 Only – On site -BB330. BB330. Alameda, CA. 3+ Months. JOB DESCRIPTION. SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE. The Sec... more
5 Days Ago
Rippling
San Francisco, CA
Rippling | San Francisco, CA
Security Engineer Offensive SecurityRippling is looking for a hands-on Security Engineer Offensive Security to join our growing security team. In this role... more
4 Days Ago
OpenAI
San Francisco, CA
OpenAI | San Francisco, CA
Principal-Level Offensive Security EngineerSecurity is at the foundation of OpenAI's mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of... more
4 Days Ago
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