Engineering · National (US)
Security Engineer Salary
Security engineering spans application security, infrastructure security and detection engineering. Demand has stayed resilient through hiring downturns because the regulatory floor keeps rising.
- 25th percentile
- $136k
- Median
- $176k
- 75th percentile
- $222k
- 90th percentile
- $275k
By level
Compensation by level
| Level | Experience | P25 | Median | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0–2 yrs | $102k | $122k | $166k |
| Mid | 2–5 yrs | $136k | $165k | $224k |
| Senior | 5–8 yrs | $180k | $215k | $298k |
| Staff | 8+ yrs | $232k | $275k | $392k |
Core skills
Threat modellingCloud security postureIdentity and access managementDetection engineeringSecure code review
Typical responsibilities
- Review architecture and code for security risk
- Build detection and response capability
- Own compliance evidence and audits
- Run security incident response
Equity
Equity mirrors engineering bands; security specialists at security vendors often see higher grants.
Bonus
Bonus targets of 10–15%, with retention pressure high in incident-heavy environments.
By city
Security Engineer salary by market
National band adjusted for local market conditions.
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