Cisco Salary 2026: $192K Avg, $288K TC & Roles
Cisco salary is estimated at $191,782 average pay and $287,673 average total compensation in 2026. Compare role pay, bonus, benefits, San Jose cost context, and offer caveats.
Average Salary
$191,782
$15,982/mo
Total Compensation
$287,673
base + bonus + equity
Employees
85K
large company
Rating
4.3
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Cisco salary 2026: average pay, total compensation and offer checklist
Cisco salary is estimated at $191,782 average pay, $172,604 median pay, and $287,673 average total compensation in 2026. The highest listed Cisco role benchmark is Engineering Manager at $240,000, with Solutions Architect, Data Scientist, UX Designer, Engineering Manager, and Marketing Manager benchmarks below. Use these numbers as planning context, then compare any Cisco offer by role, level, San Jose or remote location, bonus, benefits, equity or incentive terms, and take-home pay.
Cisco salary source layer
Official filings, posting ranges, salary trackers and caveats
Use official filings for company-level context, current job postings for role-specific base ranges, salary trackers for self-reported total compensation, and written offer terms for the final decision. The useful answer is the source layer, not one universal salary number.
| Source | Signal | Current value | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Careers | Official employer careers surface | Job, benefits, culture, and hiring context | Use current postings and written offer terms for the actual role-level pay range. |
| Cisco Benefits and Perks | Official benefits overview | Personal well-being, financial well-being, time away, family support, and community-impact benefits context | Benefit availability and plan details vary by location, role, employee status, and current policy. |
| Cisco Annual Reports | Official public-company reporting context | Annual reports, summary reports, proxy materials, and SEC-facing company context | Company filings do not publish a universal Cisco role-by-role salary table. |
| BLS OEWS wage tables | Official occupation wage baseline | Technology, management, sales, engineering, and business occupation wage context | Government occupation data is not Cisco-specific and excludes many bonus, equity, incentive, and benefit details. |
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Page reviewed June 13, 2026 · Cisco source layer refreshed June 13, 2026. Source basis: employee-reported compensation, public filings where applicable, and BLS wage baselines; this is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed offer or internal HR pay band.
Search intent match
Cisco average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Cisco: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco average employee salary 2026 | $191,782 average base salary | Compare against the Technology peer average of $160,268. |
| Cisco average compensation per employee | $287,673 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and incentive pay before comparing offers. |
| Cisco employee salaries by role | Engineering Manager: $240,000 | Solutions Architect: $201,000 | Data Scientist: $186,000 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Cisco salary range 2025-2026 | $115,069 to $306,851 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and San Jose, CA cost context. |
2026 pay signal
Cisco 2026 compensation context
Cisco salary searches cluster around employee pay, software or solutions architect roles, San Jose compensation, bonus, benefits, and total compensation. Salario estimates Cisco average salary at $191,782, median pay at $172,604, and average total compensation at $287,673 in 2026. Use the company average as a planning benchmark, then compare by role, level, location, bonus target, benefits, and written offer terms.
Average salary
$192K
Current Salario estimate
Median pay
$173K
Across listed Cisco roles
Avg total comp
$288K
Base + modeled bonus/incentive estimate
Engineering manager
$240K
Highest listed role benchmark
Solutions architect
$201K
Cisco role benchmark
HQ context
San Jose
Bay Area offer-comparison context
Do not use the Cisco company average as a software, network, sales, security, or architect offer target. Role and level matter more than the company average.
Solutions Architect, Data Scientist, UX Designer, Engineering Manager, and Marketing Manager are the role benchmarks in this Cisco page.
Cisco benefits and careers pages are useful for employer context, but the written offer and current job posting control the final compensation terms.
Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, so compare take-home pay, rent, commute, hybrid or remote expectations, and Bay Area purchasing power before treating a nominal salary as portable.
When comparing Cisco with NVIDIA, Intel, Broadcom, VMware, cloud, networking, security, or AI infrastructure employers, normalize base salary, bonus, equity or incentive terms, level, location, and vesting instead of comparing average salary alone.
Cisco routing and source layer added June 13, 2026 using Salario company estimates, Cisco Careers, Cisco Benefits and Perks, Cisco Annual Reports, and BLS OEWS occupation baselines. Salary figures were not changed.
Limitations
- - This page is not a Cisco HR pay band, compensation policy, job posting, or guaranteed offer.
- - Official careers pages and annual reports help with source context, but the written offer controls base pay, bonus, benefits, equity or incentive terms, location, and eligibility.
- - Bay Area compensation should be compared after tax, rent, commute, hybrid policy, and local cost assumptions.
Company salary directory
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Salary calculator
Convert Cisco base pay between annual, monthly, biweekly, weekly, daily, and hourly periods.
Paycheck calculator
Estimate take-home pay after federal, state, local, FICA, and deduction assumptions.
Cost of living calculator
Compare San Jose or Bay Area purchasing power with another city.
Software engineer salary progression
Normalize company offers by level, equity, bonus, and career stage.
Equity compensation ROI
Compare equity, RSUs, options, incentive value, and cash-heavy offers.
Company-specific pay benchmark
Cisco Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Cisco employee salaries average $191,782 base pay and $287,673 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Technology, that puts Cisco above the peer salary average of $160,268 by +20%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Technology peers
+20%
peer avg $160,268
Total comp position
+27%
peer avg $226,241
Role pay spread
$90,000
Marketing Manager to Engineering Manager
Senior premium
+167%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Cisco benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $191,782 average, $172,604 median | Compare the offer against the Technology peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 13% target, about $24,932 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | Limited equity signal in this data set | Confirm whether the package uses cash bonus, commissions, profit sharing, or other incentive pay. |
| Location economics | San Jose, CA headquarters, $15,982 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Cisco Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Cisco.
Entry-level employees at Cisco earn around $115,069, while directors can earn $475,619 or more.
Cisco Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Manager | $240,000 | $271,200 |
| Solutions Architect | $201,000 | $227,130 |
| Data Scientist | $186,000 | $210,180 |
| UX Designer | $157,000 | $177,410 |
| Marketing Manager | $150,000 | $169,500 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 13% bonus.
Cisco Benefits & Perks
Cisco Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Cisco.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Cisco
$195,000
$16,250/month · $93.75/hr
Est. total comp with 13% bonus: $220,350
About Cisco
Based in San Jose, CA, Cisco is a prominent technology company with approximately 85K employees. The company offers competitive salaries, strong benefits, and career growth opportunities across multiple disciplines.
Headquarters
San Jose, CA
Founded
1984
Industry
Technology
Company Size
large
Employees
84,900
Median Salary
$172,604
Hourly Rate
$92.20/hr
Monthly Pay
$15,982
Cisco Employee Ratings
4.3
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
Similar Technology Companies
Methodology & Sources for Cisco Salary Data
How we estimate Cisco compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Cisco (founded 1984, 85K employees, headquartered in San Jose, CA) is in the Technology sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Cisco, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Cisco's San Jose, CA salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Cisco compensation to BLS national averages for Technology sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Technology
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Technology — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Cisco compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Cisco source layer refreshed June 13, 2026 · Page reviewed June 13, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
Cisco Salary FAQ
What is the average salary at Cisco in 2026?
The average salary at Cisco is $191,782 per year in 2026. Entry-level positions start around $115,069, while senior professionals earn up to $306,851. Total compensation including bonuses and other incentive pay averages $287,673.
What benefits does Cisco offer?
Cisco offers a comprehensive benefits package including Health/dental/vision, 401k match 6%, Gym membership, and 2 more benefits. The average bonus is approximately 13% of base salary.
What are the highest paying roles at Cisco?
The highest paying roles at Cisco include Engineering Manager ($240,000), Solutions Architect ($201,000), Data Scientist ($186,000). Executive-level positions can earn up to $441,099 or more annually.
How does Cisco compare to other Technology companies?
Cisco has a 4.3/5.0 employee rating and $191,782 average salary. Compared to peers like Amazon and IBM, it offers competitive compensation in the Technology sector.
Is Cisco a good company to work for?
Cisco has a 4.3/5.0 overall rating and 3.5/5.0 work-life balance score. Employees generally rate the company highly. The company is headquartered in San Jose, CA and was founded in 1984, employing 85K people worldwide.
What is the total compensation at Cisco?
Total compensation at Cisco averages $287,673 per year, which includes base salary ($191,782), bonuses (approximately 13% of base), and other incentives. Senior and executive roles can see significantly higher total compensation packages.
What is the average Cisco salary in 2026?
Salario estimates Cisco average salary at $191,782 in 2026, with $172,604 median salary and $287,673 average total compensation when modeled bonus and incentive assumptions are included. Real offers vary by role, level, team, location, benefits, and written offer terms.
How should I compare a Cisco offer?
Compare base salary, bonus target, role, level, location, benefits, 401k match, commute or hybrid expectations, equity or incentive terms, and take-home pay. Do not compare only the company average.
Which Cisco roles pay the most in this benchmark?
The highest listed Cisco role benchmarks on this page are Engineering Manager at $240,000 and Solutions Architect at $201,000, followed by Data Scientist at $186,000. Confirm level, location, and team before treating those as offer targets.
Is Cisco pay different in San Jose or Bay Area roles?
Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, so Bay Area roles should be compared after California tax, local cost of living, commute costs, and hybrid or remote policy. A high nominal salary can have different purchasing power in lower-cost cities.
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