Cybersecurity compensation guide: Total package value (beyond salary) in 2025

2. Network security architect 

3. Cybersecurity engineer 

Average base salary range: $102,000 - $151,000
Total compensation value: $130,000 - $200,000

4. Cloud security engineer 

Average base salary range: $97,000 - $143,000
Total compensation value: $135,000 - $275,000

With the increased demand for cloud environments and security, cloud security engineers represent one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity specializations. Their responsibilities include designing and implementing secure cloud architecture and infrastructure, including installations, maintenance, configuration management and security controls specific to cloud environments.

Cloud security engineers require specialized knowledge of major cloud platforms and security frameworks. Ideal certifications include cloud-focused credentials like the CCSP from ISC2 and vendor-specific certifications for Azure, AWS or Google Cloud Platform.

5. Security sales engineer 

Average base salary range: $81,000 - $114,000
Total compensation value: $125,000 - $260,000

A security sales engineer represents a unique blend of strong sales skills and technical knowledge. They participate in customers' technology evaluation and buying process and work with the sales team to advise on technical product aspects. This distinctive role requires the ability to explain complex, advanced security products to often non-technical clients while demonstrating business value.

Although security certifications may not be strictly required for this role, earning the Security+ can help ensure you're speaking the same language as your cybersecurity buyers and understanding their technical concerns. Vendor-specific certifications related to the products being sold also significantly enhance credibility.

6. Application security engineer 

Average base salary range: $97,000 - $137,000
Total compensation value: $125,000 - $250,000

Application security engineers specialize in anticipating and addressing structural vulnerabilities in an organization's applications throughout the development lifecycle. They're responsible for proactively updating software, building encryption programs, implementing robust authentication mechanisms and executing effective firewall systems to protect applications from attacks.

These specialists regularly perform security testing, code reviews and penetration scans to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. A bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or IT is often paired with specialized offensive certifications like Certifed Ethical Hacker (CEH) or PenTest+ and secure coding credentials like the CSSLP to demonstrate expertise in building security into applications from the ground up.

7. Penetration tester 

Average base salary range: $91,000 - $114,000
Total compensation value: $115,000 - $200,000

A penetration tester designs and plans simulations and security assessments to probe for potential vulnerabilities or weaknesses that cybercriminals might try to exploit. After identifying vulnerabilities, they document findings and provide recommendations to organizations for remediation. This challenging role requires skilled professionals to anticipate increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal tactics while staying within ethical and legal boundaries.

The CEH and PenTest+ are popular certifications for this role, but you can also specialize in different areas of pentesting (see our top 10 pentesting certifications article for more) as you build your experience and value to organizations.

In this episode of the Cyber Work Podcast, Keatron Evans outlines the penetration testing career path.

8. Malware analyst 

Average base salary range: $92,000 - $99,000
Total compensation value: $120,000 - $180,000

Malware analysts examine, identify and understand the nature of various cyber threats and build defense systems against them. They require a deep understanding of programming languages, operating systems and attacker methodologies.

This specialized and technical role benefits from offensive security certifications like those listed under penetration tester. The Certified Reverse Engineering Analyst (CREA) and a strong understanding of the OWASP Top 10 and common vulnerabilities are particularly valuable for success in this role.

9. Cybersecurity administrator 

Average base salary range: $71,000 - $84,000
Total compensation value: $95,000 - $145,000

A security administrator's responsibilities vary depending on the organization, but this is typically the primary job role associated with the Security+ certification. This position often serves as an excellent entry-level role for professionals with IT experience who are transitioning into cybersecurity and building their knowledge base.

Security administrators typically help protect computer systems and networks from threats, with duties ranging from installing and configuring security software to monitoring systems and responding to security incidents. Beyond Security+, a strong understanding of networks is essential to defend them effectively, making Network+ and vendor-specific certifications like CCNA valuable additions to a security administrator's credentials.

Total package to consider for this role:

• Bonuses and profit sharing ($1,000 - $17,000 on average, according to Salary.com and Glassdoor)
• Certification and training incentives ($2,000 - $5,000)
• Remote work flexibility (valued at $10,000+ annually)
• Mentorship programs

10. Information security analyst (Tier 1, 2, 3) 

Average base salary range: $75,000 - $87,000
Total compensation value: $90,000 - $145,000

An information security analyst monitors an organization's network for security breaches, responds to incidents, and assists with disaster recovery when breaches occur. Many security operations centers (SOCs) have different tiers of analysts, with increasing levels of responsibility, technical skill requirements and corresponding compensation. For this section, we'll focus on compensation for the more junior Tier 1 position:

• Tier 1: Initial alerts, basic triage
• Tier 2: Deeper investigations, incident response
• Tier 3: Advanced threat hunting, security engineering

After obtaining a Security+ certification or equivalent knowledge, the most common next step is CySA+, which validates intermediate-level security analyst skills. Advanced analysts often pursue specialized threat hunting or incident response certifications.

In this episode of the Cyber Work Podcast, Mark Viglione explains the common role of a SOC analyst.