Information security analysts: Salary, Job Outlook, Education and Career Path

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

Short answer: Information security analysts earn a national median annual wage of $129,180 (BLS, May 2025). Employment is projected to change +21.0% from 2025 to 2035 (all occupations: +3.5%), with about 14,100 openings per year. The typical entry credential is bachelor's degree.

Median annual wage
$129,180
May 2025 Verified data
Projected change
+21.0%
2025 to 2035 Official projection
Openings per year
14,100
Average, 2025 to 2035 Official projection
Employment
190,650
OEWS, May 2025 Verified data

Information security analysts salary

$0$100K$200KUnited States$129,180
National annual wages for information security analysts, May 2025: 10th percentile $75,090, 25th $97,810, median $129,180, 75th $163,500, 90th $199,850. The bar spans the 25th to 75th percentile, the thin line spans the 10th to 90th percentile, and the red mark is the median.
MeasureAnnualHourly
10th percentile$75,090$36.10
Median (50th percentile)$129,180$62.11
Mean (average)$132,510$63.71
90th percentile$199,850$96.08

These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Information security analysts pay by state and metro area

$63.7K$155K
Median annual wage for information security analysts by state, May 2025. Highest: Washington at $154,940. States in gray have no published estimate.
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
StateMedian10th pct90th pctEmploymentLocation quotient
Alabama$122,730$66,090$170,6904,0101.55
Alaska$114,990$75,770$149,2703000.75
Arizona$125,260$78,330$176,3903,4200.86
Arkansas$103,490$59,410$140,9001,4600.91
California$138,570$66,070$221,00015,5700.7
Colorado$135,220$87,560$208,6505,7001.62
Connecticut$130,570$79,780$175,5901,1700.56
Delaware$137,030$82,500$184,9907201.21
District of Columbia$135,090$86,280$189,5101,5101.76
Florida$124,860$75,410$174,60014,2201.17
Georgia$128,970$77,060$178,6506,2901.05
Hawaii$126,250$76,390$172,7805800.75
IdahoData unavailable8400.8
Illinois$124,180$78,760$172,8305,2600.7
Indiana$101,420$60,450$163,3702,2600.58
Iowa$119,710$71,550$169,6201,1600.61
Kansas$100,620$63,730$155,4901,8301.04
Kentucky$103,630$64,650$157,8101,6800.69
Louisiana$92,990$66,660$139,1907200.3
Maine$101,730$63,210$181,0204000.51
Maryland$139,640$79,130$216,5708,6502.55
Massachusetts$136,550$85,790$226,1906,1001.37
Michigan$106,230$64,150$165,7303,2800.61
Minnesota$130,710$83,140$169,7502,6800.74
Mississippi$87,690$51,170$138,9004800.33
Missouri$103,440$60,700$161,4303,2600.91
Montana$81,950$57,000$158,2203800.6
Nebraska$92,550$66,630$147,1501,2100.97
Nevada$106,200$57,160$178,9901,3300.7
New Hampshire$124,000$61,940$187,8205900.7
New Jersey$134,820$86,860$204,2204,8600.92
New Mexico$130,070$99,100$199,9902,4702.32
New York$134,660$83,110$216,22010,0600.85
North Carolina$131,540$77,150$173,6708,6701.43
North Dakota$107,540$69,480$139,3603100.59
Ohio$110,480$68,070$171,4506,0100.88
Oklahoma$94,000$56,050$158,3201,6400.78
OregonData unavailable2,2500.93
Pennsylvania$117,770$67,840$170,8704,6600.63
Puerto Rico$63,740$37,620$100,9005000.43
Rhode Island$109,420$74,880$170,1807101.15
South Carolina$105,800$66,410$166,5301,7200.61
South Dakota$116,640$71,610$161,7007701.37
Tennessee$115,430$63,870$250,5903,3300.83
Texas$129,890$77,990$178,55016,1300.94
Utah$99,690$48,630$168,8301,9100.9
Vermont$109,750$74,840$179,1302200.59
Virginia$134,900$81,410$205,75019,1203.8
Washington$154,940$96,730$211,7206,0301.38
Wisconsin$101,550$62,110$162,2602,1300.59
Wyoming$98,710$75,580$198,2301400.39

A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.

Metro areas with the most jobs

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV16,560
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ11,330
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX7,080
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH5,220
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA4,820
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA4,700
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD4,600
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA4,550
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA3,730
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO3,580

Highest paying metro areas

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$176,120
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$162,310
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$161,780
Boulder, CO$154,990
Asheville, NC$149,350
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$148,950
Wilmington, NC$145,170
Raleigh-Cary, NC$143,640
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$140,470
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$138,170
Among metro areas with at least 100 workers in this occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, State. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Metropolitan areas. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Job outlook for information security analysts

2025 (actual)192,9002035 (projected)233,400
BLS projects employment of information security analysts to go from 192,900 in 2025 to 233,400 in 2035, a change of +21.0% (+40,600 jobs). All occupations are projected to grow +3.5%.
  • Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 14,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
  • Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.2%.
  • Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.

These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Education and training for information security analysts

Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Related work experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None
O*NET Job Zone
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Highest education of people working in this occupation

Less than high school0.9%
High school diploma4.7%
Some college, no degree14%
Associate's degree8.4%
Bachelor's degree43.9%
Master's degree25%
Doctoral or professional3.1%
Share of workers age 25 and over by highest education completed, 2023-24. The most common level is a bachelor's degree (43.9%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Education and training tables 5.1 to 5.4. Attainment 2023-24 (ACS); wages 2025; projections 2025-35. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Degrees and programs that lead to this career

Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk

Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Licenses and certifications

Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.

Skills, knowledge, and daily work

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension4.0
Critical Thinking3.9
Active Listening3.8
Speaking3.6
Writing3.5
Monitoring3.4
Active Learning3.3
Learning Strategies2.9
O*NET importance rating on a 1 to 5 scale.

Most important knowledge areas

Computers and Electronics4.3
English Language4.3
Administration and Management3.7
Engineering and Technology3.6
Telecommunications3.6
Customer and Personal Service3.4
Public Safety and Security3.3
Education and Training3.2
O*NET importance rating on a 1 to 5 scale.

Typical tasks

  • Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
  • Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
  • Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
  • Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
  • Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
  • Review violations of computer security procedures and discuss procedures with violators to ensure violations are not repeated.
  • Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests.
  • Confer with users to discuss issues such as computer data access needs, security violations, and programming changes.

Technology skills

  • Amazon Web Services AWS software (in demand)
  • Linux (in demand)
  • Microsoft Azure software (in demand)
  • Microsoft Excel (in demand)
  • Microsoft Office software (in demand)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
  • Microsoft PowerShell (in demand)
  • Python (in demand)
  • Splunk Enterprise (in demand)
  • UNIX (in demand)
  • Firewall software (in demand)
  • MITRE ATT&CK software (in demand)
  • Tenable Nessus (in demand)
  • eMASS (in demand)
  • AJAX (hot technology)
  • Amazon DynamoDB (hot technology)

Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Time Management, Coordination, Operations Monitoring.

Common job titles: Information Security Officer, Information Security Specialist, Information Systems Security Analyst, Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO), Information Technology Security Analyst (IT Security Analyst), Network Security Analyst, Security Analyst, Systems Analyst.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ConnectPrep has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there

Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.

Frequently asked questions

How much do information security analysts make?

The national median annual wage for information security analysts was $129,180 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $75,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $199,850. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.

What education do information security analysts need?

BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.

Is information security analysts a growing career?

BLS projects employment of information security analysts to change +21.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 14,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.

Which states pay information security analysts the most?

By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($154,940), Maryland ($139,640), California ($138,570). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.

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