CompTIA Security+ holders earn between $60,000 and $75,000 at the entry level, and that number rises quickly with experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $124,910 for information security analysts as of May 2024, the occupational category that covers most Security+ roles at the mid level and above. If you’re weighing whether the certification is worth the investment, the salary data makes a strong case. Here’s exactly what you can expect, broken down by role, experience, location, and what moves the number up.
What CompTIA Security+ Actually Signals to Employers
Security+ is the most widely recognized entry-level cybersecurity certification in the industry. It’s approved under DoD Directive 8140, which means it satisfies baseline credentialing requirements for U.S. Department of Defense cybersecurity roles. It’s vendor-neutral, ANSI/ISO accredited, and consistently listed as required or preferred in more cybersecurity job postings than any comparable entry-level credential. If you’re still deciding whether to pursue it, our guide to CompTIA Security+ covers the exam, domains, and prep strategy in full.
When an employer sees Security+ on a resume, they’re seeing verified baseline knowledge, not self-reported experience. According to CompTIA’s annual workforce research, certified IT professionals consistently earn more than their non-certified counterparts in equivalent roles.
CompTIA Security+ Salary by Role
| Role | Typical Salary Range | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Help Desk / IT Support (Security Focus) | $45,000 – $60,000 | Pre-Security+ baseline |
| SOC Analyst (Tier 1) | $55,000 – $70,000 | Entry-level with Security+ |
| Security Technician | $58,000 – $72,000 | Entry-level with Security+ |
| Information Security Specialist | $65,000 – $85,000 | Mid entry-level |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $80,000 – $110,000 | Mid-level (2–4 years) |
| Security Administrator | $75,000 – $100,000 | Mid-level (2–4 years) |
| Network Security Administrator | $80,000 – $105,000 | Mid-level |
| Security Engineer | $95,000 – $130,000 | Senior (4+ years) |
Individual results vary based on role, experience, location, and employer. The BLS median of $124,910 for information security analysts (May 2024) represents what Security+ holders earn at the mid level. The top 10% of earners in this category exceed $186,420 annually.
What Security+ Pays at Each Career Stage
Entry Level (0–2 years): Security+ is most powerful here. Without it, you’re competing for IT support roles in the $40,000 to $55,000 range. With it, you’re qualifying for SOC analyst and security technician roles in the $55,000 to $72,000 range.
Mid Level (2–5 years): Security+ combined with experience and one or two additional credentials (CySA+, CEH, or similar) puts you in the $80,000 to $110,000 range as a cybersecurity analyst or security administrator.
Senior Level (5–10 years): Security+ is a foundation credential at this stage. What matters more are role-specific certifications (CISSP, CASP+, CEH), specialization depth, and clearance status. The career trajectory reaches senior analyst and security engineer roles with reported median pay of $110,000 to $165,000 (individual results vary).
Leadership Level (10+ years): Security directors and CISOs report compensation of $150,000 to $250,000+, according to labor market data (individual results vary).
Salary by Location: Where You Work Changes the Number
Washington D.C./Northern Virginia/Maryland corridor: The densest market for government IT and defense contractor cybersecurity roles. Security+ holders benefit from DoD Directive 8140 compliance, which makes the certification directly required for many federal and contractor positions.
San Francisco Bay Area/Seattle: Major tech employers pay aggressively for security talent.
New York: Financial services sector drives demand. Security+ holders with financial industry compliance knowledge command higher offers.
Austin/Denver/Raleigh: Growing tech hubs with strong cybersecurity markets and lower cost of living.
Remote-eligible roles are common in cybersecurity. Remote roles tied to high-paying employers often pay at those markets’ rates.
Salary by Industry: Some Sectors Pay More
Government and defense contracting: Security+ is particularly valuable here given DoD Directive 8140 compliance. Security clearance-eligible roles command a 15 to 25% premium over comparable private-sector positions.
Financial services/banking: Regulatory requirements (PCI DSS, SOX, DORA) create persistent demand for validated security knowledge.
Healthcare: HIPAA compliance and increasing ransomware targeting make healthcare security a high-demand specialty.
Technology companies: Base salaries are high, often with equity that can substantially increase total compensation.
How Additional Certifications Multiply Security+ Earnings
CompTIA CySA+: A natural next step for analysts. Security+ holders who add CySA+ typically see $10,000 to $20,000 in salary improvement when moving from entry-level to mid-level analyst roles.
EC-Council CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): The gold-standard credential for penetration testing and ethical hacking. Pen testers with CEH report typical earnings of $85,000 to $140,000, according to labor market data (individual results vary). MyComputerCareer is an EC-Council Center of Excellence.
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional): The most prestigious general cybersecurity certification. Requires five years of security experience to qualify.
Does a Security Clearance Affect Your Security+ Salary?
Yes, significantly. A U.S. government security clearance combined with Security+ certification creates a particularly valuable candidate profile for defense contractors and federal agencies. Cleared candidates regularly earn 15 to 30% more than their non-cleared counterparts in otherwise identical roles.
Does a Degree Matter for Security+ Salary?
Not necessarily. The majority of private-sector cybersecurity employers evaluate candidates primarily on certifications, demonstrated skills, and relevant experience rather than academic credentials. According to CompTIA research, hiring managers for cybersecurity roles rate certifications as highly or more highly than degrees when evaluating candidates.
Realistic Timeline to Six Figures With Security+
Year 1: Earn Security+, land first SOC analyst or security technician role at $60,000 to $72,000.
Years 2–3: Build experience in a live security environment, add CySA+ or CEH, reach $80,000 to $95,000.
Years 4–6: Specialize (cloud security, pen testing, threat intelligence), move into senior analyst or security engineer roles at $100,000 to $130,000.
Year 7+: Continue building specialization, pursue CISSP, advance to senior engineer, architect, or security manager at $130,000 to $165,000+.
FAQ: CompTIA Security+ Salary
What is the average salary for someone with CompTIA Security+?
Entry-level Security+ holders in SOC analyst or security technician roles report typical earnings of $55,000 to $72,000, according to labor market data (individual results vary based on role, experience, location, and employer). The BLS reports a median of $124,910 for information security analysts as of May 2024. The range across the entire career trajectory spans from roughly $55,000 at entry to $186,000+ at the top decile.
Can Security+ alone get you to $100,000?
Not immediately. Security+ opens the door to entry-level roles in the $60,000 to $72,000 range. Reaching $100,000 typically requires 3 to 5 years of experience combined with at least one additional certification (CySA+, CEH, or similar).
What’s the best certification to add after Security+ to increase salary?
At the entry-to-mid level, CompTIA CySA+ is the most direct next step for analyst roles. For penetration testing, EC-Council CEH drives the biggest salary differential. At the senior level, CISSP is consistently the highest-impact certification for total compensation.
Does CompTIA Security+ pay more than Network+?
Generally yes. Security+ is positioned at a higher complexity level than Network+, and cybersecurity roles typically carry higher compensation than networking roles at equivalent experience levels.
How much does location affect Security+ salary?
Significantly. Washington D.C.-area Security+ holders often earn 20 to 30% above national median for comparable roles. Remote roles tied to high-paying employers can narrow the geographic gap considerably.
Is CompTIA Security+ worth it from a salary perspective?
Yes, the salary data makes a strong case. The certification moves entry-level candidates from the $40,000 to $55,000 IT support range to the $60,000 to $72,000 security role range before any experience is added.
Bottom Line
CompTIA Security+ is the most direct path from IT newcomer to verified cybersecurity professional, and the salary data reflects that. Entry-level Security+ roles start in the $60,000 to $72,000 range. The BLS-reported median for information security analysts sits at $124,910. The top 10% of earners in the field exceed $186,420.
Security+ alone won’t get you to six figures. It’s the first step, not the whole staircase. The candidates who reach the higher salary tiers are the ones who treat Security+ as the foundation it’s designed to be, and build consistently from there.
If you want to see exactly where Security+ fits into a complete plan for your specific background and goals, MyCC’s free evaluation maps it out.