Information security analyst salary depending on state

Why is there such a high demand? Well, as technology advances at a rapid pace that is almost impossible to keep up with, and as more of what we use and do day-to-day happens online or in the cloud, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important to organizations’ investments. Security analysts, for their part, can protect data, create firewalls and encryption programs, and develop standards and processes related to cyberattacks that help businesses and consumers feel safe.

How much do information security analysts earn?

Information security analysts in the US earn an average of $120,360 per year, or $57.87 per hour, according to Latest wage data from BLS. On the job search platform Glass doorInformation security analysts are estimated to earn about $111,100 in base salary and $30,254 per year in additional pay.

The states that pay information security analysts the most, the BLS reports:

1. Washington: $148,090 per year.
2. Iowa: $143,960 per year.
3. New York: $140,770 per year.
4. California: $140,730 per year.
5. New Hampshire: $139,050 per year.

High wages in California and New York make sense since these states have the fourth and fifth highest cost of living, respectively. Information security analysts can save big in Iowa, where average salaries are higher and the cost of living is significantly lower compared to other states. Meanwhile, workers in this field based in Mississippi, Montana, Arkansas and Vermont earn the least, at less than $96,000 per year.

However, your income as an information security analyst depends on more than just your location. Companies determine an individual’s salary using a number of factors, including level of experience, education, and external factors such as a counteroffer or signing bonus. “Depending on the offer you receive, you can negotiate,” adds Jody Telander, head of compensation and founder of a recruiting and research consultancy. J. Telander Consulting. Negotiation is especially important if your experience or length of service exceeds the salary range or the job offer is substantially below the current market rate, as outlined below.

the cost of living

When assessing whether a salary is sufficient, always take into account the cost of living in your area or how much you will have to pay for essentials such as food, transportation or housing. For example, a six-figure income in New York City or the California Bay Area won’t take you as far as in rural areas of the same states. Calculating how much you’ll earn compared to how much you spend month to month can give you some peace of mind and ensure that you’re actually earning enough to live comfortably.

Cost of living indices are calculated based on a base index of 100—for each US state, they are compared to the cost of living for the entire country. For example, the cost of living index in Washington, where information security analysts earn the highest salaries, is 116, meaning the cost of living in Washington state is 16% higher than the national average.

Information Security Analyst Salary by State

In the chart below, we’ve outlined the average annual salary for information security analysts in each U.S. state, according to the latest BLS salary data, last collected in May 2023. We also collected data for each state. Cost of Living Index 2023how assembled Social and Economic Research Council (C2ER).

(Please note that wage information for Wyoming is not available on the BLS, a jobs website. ZipRecruiter estimates the salary of information security analysts in this state at $92,901 per year.)

Conclusion

If you want to make a decent living as an information security analyst, your best bet is to work for a company located on the East or West Coast where the starting salary is over $130,000 per year. In states with fewer tech hubs, such as Maine, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, you can still earn between $96,000 and $100,000 per year in this position. The state with the lowest salary for information security analysts is Vermont, where the average annual income is about $90,000.

Telander advises anyone looking to optimize their salary to do their research and understand where they fall in the market based on their experience, skill set and unique value proposition. High-performing workers may attract the top end of the salary range, while some job seekers may be more comfortable in the middle of the range – if the trade-off is a job with better work-life balance or other benefits, she said.

“You need to know what the speed limit is?” – she says, comparing your search and negotiation tactics to a trip. “And then you can decide, am I a Ferrari?”