Incident Response Engineer Salary in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average Incident Response Engineer salary lies between USD 120,000 and USD 212,800 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 22, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Incident Response Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Incident Response Engineer job listings are Incident response, Cloud and Forensics. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Incident response | 75 jobs Cloud | 56 jobs Forensics | 44 jobs Python | 41 jobs Scripting | 37 jobs Monitoring | 34 jobs Malware | 32 jobs Threat intelligence | 30 jobs Linux | 28 jobs Windows | 28 jobs Automation | 26 jobs AWS | 25 jobs SOC | 25 jobs Firewalls | 24 jobs Privacy | 24 jobs Network security | 23 jobs Vulnerabilities | 23 jobs Azure | 21 jobs GCP | 21 jobs Computer Science | 18 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Incident Response Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Incident Response Engineer job listings are Health care, Career development and Team events. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Health care | 36 jobs Career development | 35 jobs Team events | 35 jobs Flex vacation | 27 jobs Parental leave | 26 jobs Flex hours | 26 jobs Insurance | 24 jobs Medical leave | 23 jobs Equity / stock options | 20 jobs Salary bonus | 15 jobs Startup environment | 14 jobs 401(k) matching | 8 jobs Wellness | 7 jobs Gear | 7 jobs Competitive pay | 6 jobs Relocation support | 6 jobs Transparency | 4 jobs Conferences | 4 jobs Signing bonus | 2 jobs Snacks / Drinks | 2 jobs

Salary Composition for an Incident Response Engineer

The salary for an Incident Response Engineer in the United States typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is often the largest component, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company and industry, ranging from 10-20% of the base salary. In tech-heavy regions like Silicon Valley, additional remuneration might include stock options or equity, which can be a significant part of the compensation package, especially in startups or large tech companies. In contrast, companies in other regions or industries might offer more traditional benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Steps to Increase Salary from This Position

To increase your salary beyond the median for an Incident Response Engineer, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas such as threat intelligence, malware analysis, or digital forensics, which can make you more valuable to employers.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles within incident response teams, which typically offer higher salaries.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest cybersecurity trends and technologies through courses, workshops, and conferences.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network within the cybersecurity community to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.

Educational Requirements

Most Incident Response Engineer positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Cybersecurity. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree, especially for more senior roles. Relevant coursework in network security, computer forensics, and information systems is highly beneficial.

Helpful Certifications

Certifications can significantly enhance your qualifications and are often required or preferred by employers. Some of the most valuable certifications for an Incident Response Engineer include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)

These certifications demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the field, making you a more competitive candidate.

Required Experience

Typically, employers look for candidates with 3-5 years of experience in cybersecurity or a related field. Experience in roles such as a security analyst, network administrator, or systems engineer can be beneficial. Hands-on experience with incident response, threat detection, and security monitoring tools is often required.

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