Salary for Senior-level / Expert Security Specialist in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Security Specialist salary lies between USD 80,000 and USD 154,800 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. 15, 2024

Salary trend

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

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Specialist job listings are Compliance, Cloud and CISSP. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Compliance | 110 jobs Cloud | 76 jobs CISSP | 74 jobs Monitoring | 74 jobs Vulnerabilities | 58 jobs Risk management | 58 jobs Incident response | 54 jobs Automation | 50 jobs NIST | 49 jobs Computer Science | 48 jobs Azure | 46 jobs Firewalls | 44 jobs AWS | 43 jobs Risk assessment | 42 jobs CISM | 42 jobs Governance | 42 jobs SOC | 42 jobs Clearance | 41 jobs Privacy | 41 jobs Linux | 40 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Specialist job listings are Career development, Team events and Flex hours. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 118 jobs Team events | 90 jobs Flex hours | 81 jobs Health care | 56 jobs Startup environment | 55 jobs Competitive pay | 47 jobs Equity / stock options | 42 jobs Flex vacation | 34 jobs Parental leave | 25 jobs Medical leave | 24 jobs Salary bonus | 23 jobs Conferences | 20 jobs Insurance | 16 jobs 401(k) matching | 13 jobs Wellness | 13 jobs Transparency | 11 jobs Home office stipend | 11 jobs Fitness / gym | 7 jobs Lunch / meals | 6 jobs Gear | 6 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level/Expert Security Specialist in the United States typically comprises a base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or benefits. The base salary is the fixed component and usually forms the largest part of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s performance, individual performance, and industry standards. In tech-heavy regions like Silicon Valley, bonuses and stock options might be more substantial compared to other areas. Larger companies or those in high-demand industries such as finance or technology may offer more competitive bonus structures and additional perks like profit-sharing, stock options, or comprehensive benefits packages.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from a Senior-level position, consider pursuing leadership roles such as Security Manager, Director of Information Security, or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). These roles typically command higher salaries and come with increased responsibilities. Additionally, specializing in high-demand areas like cloud security, threat intelligence, or penetration testing can make you more valuable. Networking within the industry, attending conferences, and contributing to open-source projects can also enhance your visibility and open up higher-paying opportunities.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level Security Specialist roles require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field. Some positions may prefer or require a master's degree, especially for roles with a focus on management or specialized technical skills. Continuous education through workshops, seminars, and online courses is also beneficial to keep up with the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Helpful Certifications

Certifications are crucial in the cybersecurity field and can significantly enhance your qualifications. Common and highly regarded certifications include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

These certifications demonstrate a high level of expertise and commitment to the field, often making candidates more attractive to employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level Security Specialist is expected to have at least 5-10 years of experience in information security or a related field. This experience should include hands-on technical work, as well as strategic planning and implementation of security measures. Experience in managing security teams or projects, as well as a proven track record of successfully mitigating security threats, is often required.

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