Technology · Family
Security
Defend the org against adversaries — the fastest-growing computer occupation, where AI raises demand for the human defender.
Indicative, sourced ranges — not a guarantee.
Roles at a glance
| Role | Level | Median | Difficulty | Demand | AI-risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Engineer | S1 | $177,000 | High | High | Low |
| Senior Security Engineer | S2 | $262,000 | High | High | Low |
| Security Architect | S3 | $325,000 | High | High | Low |
| CISO | S4 | $555,000 | High | Med | Low |
What each role pays
Climb the ladder
Progression is driven by scope and level, not tenure.
Credentials that help
Credentials help entry and specialisation; scope drives seniority.
- CS / related bachelor's degree · $10k-$40k+/yr public in-state to private; highly variable
- CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) · $439
- CISSP (ISC2) · $749
FAQ
Typical total compensation across this family runs $177,000–$555,000 (US, indicative), from Security Engineer to CISO.
Security Engineer carries the strongest hiring demand in this family (high).
Progression is by scope and level, not tenure — e.g. Security Engineer → Senior Security Engineer (~3 yrs typical).
Explore the roles
Figures are indicative, in USD, and never a guarantee of an outcome. Personas and guides are added as the family's content is authored.