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Complete Cybersecurity Salary Guide by CompTIA Certification 2025

Comprehensive breakdown of cybersecurity salaries by CompTIA certification, including Security+, CySA+, Network+, and more. Updated for 2025 with regional variations and career progression paths.

Updated June 2025 • Expert Analysis • Data-Driven

Table of Contents

Executive Summary: The Numbers That Matter

Key Salary Insights

  • Security+ certified: 15-25% salary premium
  • CySA+ holders: $75K-$125K range
  • Geographic impact: Up to 40% variation
  • Experience multiplier: Exponential growth

Market Trends

  • 3.5M+ open positions globally
  • 3-5% annual salary growth
  • Cloud specializations: +30-40% premium
  • AI/ML security: +40-50% premium

Bottom Line: CompTIA certifications provide measurable ROI throughout your career, with certified professionals commanding significant salary premiums across all experience levels and geographic regions.

Current State of the Cybersecurity Job Market

The cybersecurity industry continues to experience unprecedented growth, with organizations across all sectors desperately seeking qualified professionals to protect their digital assets. CompTIA certifications have emerged as the gold standard for entry to mid-level cybersecurity positions.

3.5M+
Global Job Openings
750K
US Open Positions
33%
Projected Growth Rate

Top Paying Regions (US)

San Francisco Bay Area +35-40%
New York City +25-30%
Washington DC Metro +20-25%
Seattle +20-25%
Boston +15-20%
Austin, Texas +10-15%

CompTIA Security+

The Gateway to Cybersecurity

DoD Approved Industry Standard

Entry-Level (0-2 years)

SOC Analyst L1 $45K - $60K
Jr. InfoSec Analyst $50K - $65K
Security Specialist $48K - $62K

Mid-Level (3-5 years)

InfoSec Analyst $70K - $90K
Security Consultant $75K - $95K
Compliance Analyst $65K - $85K

Senior-Level (5+ years)

Sr. Security Analyst $90K - $120K
Security Architect $110K - $140K
InfoSec Manager $100K - $130K

Government & Defense Premium (+10-20%)

Government Security Analyst $65K - $95K
Defense Contractor Specialist $70K - $100K

CompTIA CySA+

Advanced Analytical Skills

Intermediate Level Hands-on Experience

Core Analyst Roles

SOC Analyst Level 2 $60K - $80K
Cybersecurity Analyst $75K - $95K
Threat Intelligence Analyst $80K - $105K
Incident Response Analyst $78K - $100K

Specialized Positions

Vulnerability Analyst $70K - $95K
Forensics Analyst $80K - $110K
Malware Analyst $85K - $115K
Sr. Cybersecurity Analyst $95K - $125K

Industry Premiums

Financial Services
+15-20%
Healthcare
+10-15%
Critical Infrastructure
+12-18%

CompTIA CASP+

Enterprise-Level Expertise

Advanced Level Leadership Track

Architecture & Engineering

Security Architect $120K - $160K
Sr. Security Engineer $110K - $145K
Enterprise Security Architect $130K - $170K
Cloud Security Architect $125K - $165K

Leadership & Management

InfoSec Manager $115K - $150K
Cybersecurity Program Mgr $120K - $155K
Sr. Security Consultant $130K - $180K
CISO $180K - $300K+

CompTIA PenTest+

Offensive Security

Hands-on Testing High Demand

Penetration Testing Roles

Junior Penetration Tester $65K - $85K
Penetration Tester $80K - $110K
Sr. Penetration Tester $110K - $140K
Lead Penetration Tester $120K - $150K

Specialized & Consulting

Red Team Specialist $115K - $145K
App Security Tester $95K - $125K
Principal Security Consultant $140K - $180K
Freelance Pentester $200-$500/day

Geographic Deep Dive: Regional Salary Variations

United States Regions

West Coast +25-45%
SF, LA, Seattle
East Coast +20-40%
NYC, Boston, DC
Midwest 0-20%
Chicago, Detroit, Columbus
South -5% to +20%
Austin, Atlanta, Miami

International Markets

Canada -10% to -20%
Toronto, Vancouver
UK (London) Comparable to US
Strong financial sector
Australia Similar to US metros
Sydney, Melbourne
European Union -20% to -30%
Germany, Netherlands

Maximizing Your Certification ROI

Strategic Certification Pathways

Foundation
A+ → Network+ → Security+
Specialization
CySA+ or PenTest+
Advanced
CASP+ for leadership
Continuous
Cloud+, emerging certs

High-Value Skill Combinations

CompTIA + Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP)
CompTIA + Vendor-specific (Cisco, Palo Alto)
CompTIA + Programming/Scripting
CompTIA + Project Management

Future Outlook: Emerging High-Value Areas

🤖
AI/ML Security
+40-50% premium
🔗
IoT Security
+30-40% premium
🛡️
Zero Trust
Growing demand
🔒
Privacy Engineering
+25-35% premium

Conclusion: Investing in Your Cybersecurity Future

Key Success Factors

Start with Security+
The foundational certification with broad industry recognition
Specialize Strategically
Choose advanced certifications aligned with career goals
Combine with Experience
Certifications + hands-on experience = maximum value
Stay Current
Continuous learning essential in rapidly evolving field
Think Long-term
Build a certification portfolio that supports career progression

CompTIA certifications represent one of the most reliable paths to enter and advance in the cybersecurity field. The data clearly demonstrates that certified professionals command significant salary premiums across all experience levels and geographic regions.

The investment in CompTIA certifications—both in time and money—delivers measurable returns throughout your career. With the cybersecurity talent shortage showing no signs of abating, certified professionals will continue to enjoy strong demand, competitive salaries, and excellent career prospects.

Whether you're just starting your cybersecurity journey or looking to advance to the next level, CompTIA certifications provide the credible, vendor-neutral validation that employers value and pay premium salaries to secure.

Ready to Start Your Certification Journey?

Check out our comprehensive study guides and practice exams to help you succeed on your first attempt and begin earning the salary you deserve.

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Sources and References

Data Methodology: This salary guide compiles data from multiple authoritative sources including government statistics, industry surveys, and certification bodies. All salary figures are presented as ranges to account for geographic, industry, and experience variations.

Government and Official Sources

Industry Salary Surveys and Research

Professional Organizations and Certification Bodies

  • CompTIA Official Certification Data
    Job role mappings, certification requirements, DoD 8570 approval status
    comptia.org - Best Cybersecurity Certifications 2024
  • (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study
    Global workforce gap analysis, skill demand trends, certification impact studies
  • ISACA State of Cybersecurity Reports
    Professional development trends, skill gap analysis, emerging technology impacts

Job Market and Salary Platforms

  • Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn Salary Insights
    Real-time job posting data, employee-reported salaries, geographic compensation variations
  • PayScale and Salary.com
    Compensation analysis, benefits data, total compensation calculations
Important Disclaimers
  • • Salary ranges are compiled from multiple sources and represent general market trends
  • • Individual compensation may vary significantly based on location, experience, industry, and company size
  • • Data sources include surveys from 2023-2025; some figures may reflect different time periods
  • • Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses, and benefits where specified
  • • This guide is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional career advice

Last Updated: June 2025 | Data compiled from sources published 2023-2025