Cybersecurity Analyst Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and enterprise information assets.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | District of Columbia DC | $148,950 | $71.61/hr | $93,738 | 16,560 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
| #2 | Colorado CO | $135,434 | $65.12/hr | $108,433 | 5,350 | Boulder, CO | 124.9 |
| #3 | California CA | $129,877 | $62.44/hr | $84,721 | 13,810 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 153.3 |
| #4 | Washington WA | $125,072 | $60.13/hr | $101,027 | 5,190 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 123.8 |
| #5 | Connecticut CT | $123,970 | $59.60/hr | $98,155 | 1,040 | New Haven, CT | 126.3 |
| #6 | North Carolina NC | $123,565 | $59.41/hr | $107,635 | 7,170 | Asheville, NC | 114.8 |
| #7 | Hawaii HI | $122,360 | $58.83/hr | $75,252 | 510 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 162.6 |
| #8 | New Hampshire NH | $122,340 | $58.82/hr | $106,753 | 320 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | 114.6 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
CompTIA Security+, SIEM monitoring, alert triage, incident documentation
EDR management, threat intelligence, vulnerability assessment, CEH cert
CISSP, zero-trust network design, penetration testing, compliance
Enterprise cyber defense strategy, risk governance, regulatory compliance
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Cybersecurity Analyst: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Technology Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Technology occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Cybersecurity Analyst. Official 2026 economic data for Cybersecurity Analyst compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Cybersecurity Analyst range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Cybersecurity Analyst: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Cybersecurity Analyst is $129,180 per year ($62.11/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 246 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $68,160 in Bozeman, MT to $176,120 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Cybersecurity Analyst
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $176,120 | +36.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $162,310 | +25.6% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,780 | +25.2% |
| Boulder, CO | $154,990 | +20.0% |
| Asheville, NC | $149,350 | +15.6% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $148,950 | +15.3% |
| Wilmington, NC | $145,170 | +12.4% |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $143,640 | +11.2% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $140,470 | +8.7% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,170 | +7.0% |
| Vallejo, CA | $137,160 | +6.2% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $136,670 | +5.8% |