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Security Engineer Salary in 2026

Design and implement security systems and protocols to protect organizations from cyber threats.

Median Salary

$130,000

$10,833/mo

Entry Level

$90,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$182,000

experienced

Job Growth

+25%

10-yr outlook

Security Engineer Overview

Design and implement security systems and protocols to protect organizations from cyber threats.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience

3-6 years

Industry

Technology

Total Jobs (US)

80K

5-Year Growth

+16%

Category

Technology

Hourly Rate

$62.50/hr

Monthly Pay

$10,833

Security Engineer Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Security Engineer salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Security Engineer Salary

$151,000

$12,583/month · $5,808/biweekly · $72.60/hr

Security Engineer Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Security Engineer field.

25th Percentile$106,000
$106K
Median (50th)$130,000
$130K
75th Percentile$156,000
$156K
90th Percentile$198,500
$199K
Top Earners$215,000
$215K

Entry-level Security Engineers earn around $90,000, while the top 10% earn $198,500 or more.

Top Paying States for Security Engineers

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$153,000+$23,000
New York$150,000+$20,000
Maryland$140,000+$10,000
Virginia$138,000+$8,000
Texas$127,000$-3,000

Top Paying Cities for Security Engineers

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
San Francisco$163,000+$33,000
New York$153,000+$23,000
Washington DC$150,000+$20,000
Baltimore$135,000+$5,000
Austin$134,000+$4,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Cloud SecuritySIEMPenetration TestingPythonZero Trust Architecture

Certifications

CISSPCEHOSCP

Security Engineer Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Security Engineer from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$90,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$136,000

3-7 years

Senior

$182,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$215,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Security Engineer Salary FAQ

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