Salary for Senior-level / Expert Security Operations Manager in United States during 2024

💰 The median Salary for Senior-level / Expert Security Operations Manager in United States during 2024 is USD 166,651

✏️ This salary info is based on 22 individual salaries reported during 2024

Submit your salary Download the data

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Security Operations Manager salary lies between USD 137,600 and USD 208,000 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.

Job title
Security Operations Manager
Experience
Senior-level / Expert
Region
United States
Salary year
2024
Sample size
22
Top 10%
$ 250,000
Top 25%
$ 208,000
Median
$ 166,651
Bottom 25%
$ 137,600
Bottom 10%
$ 115,000

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:

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Security Operations Manager roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Operations Manager job listings are Incident response, Cloud and CISSP. 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 | 19 jobs Cloud | 15 jobs CISSP | 12 jobs Compliance | 12 jobs Monitoring | 12 jobs SOC | 12 jobs Vulnerabilities | 10 jobs ISO 27001 | 10 jobs Computer Science | 10 jobs SIEM | 9 jobs NIST | 9 jobs Threat intelligence | 8 jobs Vulnerability management | 8 jobs Risk management | 8 jobs Strategy | 7 jobs CISM | 7 jobs Privacy | 7 jobs Audits | 6 jobs Risk assessment | 6 jobs Threat detection | 5 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Security Operations Manager roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Operations Manager job listings are Career development, Health care 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:

Career development | 17 jobs Health care | 13 jobs Team events | 13 jobs Flex hours | 10 jobs Medical leave | 10 jobs Flex vacation | 9 jobs Startup environment | 9 jobs Parental leave | 8 jobs 401(k) matching | 7 jobs Competitive pay | 7 jobs Insurance | 7 jobs Wellness | 6 jobs Salary bonus | 4 jobs Equity / stock options | 3 jobs Travel | 3 jobs Lunch / meals | 1 jobs Gear | 1 jobs Fitness / gym | 1 jobs Relocation support | 1 jobs Home office stipend | 1 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level/Expert Security Operations Manager 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, often making up 10% to 20% of the total compensation, depending on the company's performance and individual achievements. Additional remuneration, such as stock options or profit-sharing, can account for 5% to 10% of the total package, particularly in larger tech companies or startups.

Regional differences can also impact salary composition. For instance, positions in tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City may offer higher base salaries and more substantial stock options due to the competitive market. Industry also plays a role; financial services and technology sectors often provide higher bonuses compared to other industries. Company size can influence the availability and size of stock options, with larger companies typically offering more robust packages.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 172,500, consider pursuing roles with greater responsibility, such as Director of Security Operations or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). These positions often come with higher compensation packages. Additionally, expanding your expertise in emerging areas like cloud security, artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, or threat intelligence can make you more valuable to employers. Networking within industry groups and attending conferences can also open doors to higher-paying opportunities. Finally, consider negotiating your salary by leveraging offers from other companies or highlighting your contributions to your current employer's security posture.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level Security Operations Manager 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 in Cybersecurity, Information Assurance, or Business Administration with a focus on technology management. Advanced degrees can provide a competitive edge and may be necessary for roles in highly regulated industries like finance or healthcare.

Helpful Certifications

Certifications can significantly enhance your qualifications for a Senior-level Security Operations Manager role. Common and highly regarded certifications include:

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
  • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

These certifications demonstrate a deep understanding of security principles and practices, and they are often required or preferred by employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level Security Operations Manager is expected to have at least 7 to 10 years of experience in information security or a related field. This experience should include a proven track record of managing security operations teams, developing and implementing security policies, and responding to security incidents. Experience in leadership roles and a strong understanding of regulatory requirements and industry standards are also crucial.

Related salaries

Security Operations Manager @ $ 141,500 (global) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
Security Operations Manager @ $ 151,137 (global) Details
Security Operations Manager @ $ 166,651 (global) - Senior-level / Expert Details
Security Operations Manager @ $ 151,137 (United States) Details
Security Operations Manager @ $ 141,500 (United States) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details

Want to contribute?

📝 Submit your salary info

Enter your own salary data for the current or past work year. It's quite simple and doesn't take more than a minute to fill out.

Go to salary survey

📢 Share our salary survey

Share our "in-less-than-a-minute survey" with others working in the field of InfoSec / Cybersecurity. The more data we have the better for everyone.

💾 Download the data

All collected information will be updated into a public dataset regularly and provided as a download free for anyone to use.

Go to download page

🚀 Search for jobs & talent

If you're thinking about a career change or want to hire fresh talent quickly check out the jobs page.

Go to frontpage

About this project

We collect salary information anonymously from professionals and employers all over the world and make it publicly available for anyone to use, share and play around with.

Our goal is to have open salary data for everyone. So newbies, experienced pros, hiring managers, recruiters and also startup founders or people wanting to switch careers can make better decisions.