Salaries for cybersecurity professionals have increased by more than 23% since 2021, according to the 2024 Annual Workforce Survey from ISC2, the organization that maintains and administers the CISSP certification exam.
The average salary for cybersecurity professionals in 2023 is $147,138, compared to $119,000 in 2021, the study reported, based on a survey of approximately 15,000 participants. , salary data was collected only from US participants, who accounted for about one-third of the total. Survey sample.
As expected, average salaries vary based on experience and job level. The average salary for entry-level and junior-level cyber professionals was $86,000. The average salary for non-management and mid-senior staff was $137,000. Manager, $149,000. directors and middle managers, $175,000; He makes $215,000 for executives and management.
The study notes that seniority-level pay levels in the United States are very promising, especially when compared to the median wage of $59,428.
The serious and unrecognized nature of cybersecurity can discourage potential candidates
“Salaries in the cybersecurity field are rising and the gap between men and women is narrowing,” said ISC2 CEO Klar Rosso. “Despite this, problems still arise when it comes to hiring talent in specialized areas.”
David Lindner, CISO at Contrast Security, a maker of self-protection software solutions, says, “Despite the high pay, the intense and often unrecognized nature of this job is why many people prefer a less stressful career.'' “This could discourage potential candidates,” he added.
“High stress, the need for ongoing training, and the significant responsibility of protecting digital assets all play a significant role in the persistent shortage of cybersecurity professionals,” Linder said.
Lack of transparency regarding pay ranges for cyber jobs
The gender pay gap identified in the ISC2 survey varied. Women in non-managerial and middle management positions earn 5% less than men, $138,000 versus $131,000, and female managers also earn $150,000 versus $138,000. It was 9% lower.
However, women in director and middle management positions earn 1% more than men, $177,000 vs. $175,000, and women in executive and board positions earn 4% more than men, $220,000. vs. $212,000.
Larry Whiteside Jr., founder of cybersecurity consulting firm Whiteside Security, said, “A major contributing factor to the gender pay gap is a lack of accurate knowledge of the salaries companies are offering for positions. “It's true.”
“Many companies lack transparency about the salary range for the role, leaving candidates to speculate about how much they think they should be paid for the position,” he continued. Ta. “Even with thorough research, the estimate may not reflect the actual salary level.”
Will AI impact pay equity?
The report also revealed pay disparities among racial and ethnic groups. The average salary for white men was $149,000 and for non-white men $144,000, while for white women the average salary was $142,000 and for non-white women $136,000.
However, within non-white groups, cybersecurity professionals who identify as South Asian earn a higher average salary than their white counterparts at $155,000, compared to $151,000 for East and Southeast Asian participants. The investigation revealed that.
The diversity data included in the report should serve as a warning to the industry. “In a profession that struggles to recruit and retain talent, this is a message to employers to consider pay equity within their organizations,” Rosso said.
Could the introduction of artificial intelligence affect pay equity? “What we're seeing is AI taking over repetitive tasks and shifting existing cybersecurity professionals to more complex activities.” This will help address the gap between supply and demand for talent,” Rosso said. “Will it address pay inequality? Hard to say.”
