Salary for Senior-level / Expert Incident Response Lead in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Incident Response Lead salary lies between USD 130,000 and USD 162,000 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 Senior-level / Expert Incident Response Lead roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Incident Response Lead job listings are Incident response, Computer Science 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 | 64 jobs Computer Science | 36 jobs Forensics | 35 jobs Cloud | 35 jobs GCIH | 33 jobs Monitoring | 32 jobs Threat intelligence | 31 jobs CISSP | 31 jobs Compliance | 29 jobs SIEM | 27 jobs EDR | 26 jobs SOC | 26 jobs AWS | 25 jobs Firewalls | 24 jobs Azure | 23 jobs Linux | 23 jobs Malware | 22 jobs CEH | 22 jobs Windows | 22 jobs CISM | 20 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Incident Response Lead roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Incident Response Lead 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 | 30 jobs Career development | 30 jobs Team events | 27 jobs Insurance | 26 jobs 401(k) matching | 19 jobs Salary bonus | 18 jobs Flex hours | 17 jobs Equity / stock options | 14 jobs Competitive pay | 14 jobs Flex vacation | 11 jobs Medical leave | 10 jobs Parental leave | 8 jobs Wellness | 8 jobs Startup environment | 7 jobs Fitness / gym | 4 jobs Home office stipend | 4 jobs Transparency | 3 jobs Flexible spending account | 3 jobs Gear | 2 jobs Signing bonus | 1 jobs

Salary Composition for a Senior Incident Response Lead

The salary for a Senior Incident Response Lead in the United States typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or profit-sharing. The base salary often constitutes the majority of the total compensation package, ranging from 70% to 85%. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s policy and individual performance, usually accounting for 10% to 20% of the total salary. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, profit-sharing, or other incentives, might make up the remaining 5% to 10%.

Regional differences can affect salary composition, with tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City offering higher base salaries and more lucrative stock options due to the competitive job market. Industry also plays a role; for instance, financial services and technology companies often provide higher bonuses compared to other sectors. Company size can influence the availability of stock options or profit-sharing, with larger companies more likely to offer these benefits.

Steps to Increase Salary from This Position

To increase your salary beyond the median of $150,000, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas of cybersecurity, such as threat intelligence or malware analysis, which can command higher salaries.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into higher-level leadership roles, such as Director of Incident Response or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), which offer significantly higher compensation.
• Consulting: Consider moving into consulting, where you can leverage your expertise to advise multiple organizations, often at a premium rate.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest cybersecurity trends and technologies, and pursue advanced certifications or degrees to enhance your qualifications.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior Incident Response Lead positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree, particularly in cybersecurity or information assurance, as it demonstrates a deeper understanding of the field and a commitment to professional development.

Helpful Certifications

Certifications are highly valued in the cybersecurity industry and can significantly enhance your qualifications. Some of the most beneficial certifications for a Senior Incident Response Lead include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

These certifications demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices, as well as a commitment to maintaining industry standards.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior Incident Response Lead is expected to have at least 5 to 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, with a focus on incident response. This experience should include hands-on technical skills, such as threat detection and analysis, as well as leadership experience in managing incident response teams. Experience in developing and implementing incident response plans and familiarity with various security tools and technologies is also crucial.

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