For employers
Hire cybersecurity talent in United States
What to pay, what a hire really costs, how competitive the market is, and where to post - built on live data from United States's security job market.
2,486 open security roles in United States right now. That is your competition for the same candidates.
What to pay in United States
Benchmark ranges by role, refreshed quarterly.
| Role | Typical pay (USD) | Local |
|---|---|---|
| CISO | $200k - $350k | $200k–$350k |
| Senior Security Engineer | $150k - $220k | $150k–$220k |
| Cloud Security Engineer | $125k - $195k | $125k–$195k |
| AppSec Engineer | $120k - $185k | $120k–$185k |
| Security Engineer | $110k - $175k | $110k–$175k |
| Penetration Tester | $95k - $155k | $95k–$155k |
| GRC Analyst | $78k - $125k | $78k–$125k |
| SOC Analyst | $58k - $92k | $58k–$92k |
What a Security Engineer hire really costs
On a $142,500 salary in United States. On-costs (~25%) and the agency fee (~20%) are labeled, industry-standard estimates.
Via a recruitment agency
$206,625
$142,500 salary + $35,625 on-costs + $28,500 agency fee
Posting the role directly
$178,424
Same salary + on-costs, but $299 to post. Saves about $28,201.
Ready to hire?
Post your role to United States's security candidates
Direct-apply to your own ATS, no recruiter middleman. Or turn your company page into a branded employer page.
How to run the hire
Our data-backed guides walk through screening, interviewing, and closing each role - plus a free, printable hiring kit.
Free cybersecurity hiring kit
Interview scorecard, screening checklist, JD template, and offer checklist. Built for hiring managers.
Frequently asked questions
- What does it cost to hire a cybersecurity professional in United States?
- Salaries in United States range from about $58,000 for a SOC Analyst up to $350,000 for a CISO.
- What is the true first-year cost of a Security Engineer hire in United States?
- On a $142,500 salary, budget roughly $35,625 in employer on-costs. A recruitment agency at 20% adds about $28,500, taking the first year to $206,625. Posting the role directly instead costs $299, saving about $28,201.
- How competitive is the cybersecurity job market in United States?
- There are 2,486 open security roles in United States on our board right now. That is who you are competing against for the same candidates, so a published salary range and a fast, clear process matter.
- Where is the best place to post a cybersecurity job in United States?
- A specialist security board reaches candidates who are actively applying to security roles, rather than a generalist audience you have to filter. Our postings are direct-apply, so candidates go straight to your applicant tracking system.
Looking for work instead? See cybersecurity jobs in United States and the highest-paying roles there.