Report Highlights Large Compensation Gaps, Limited Career Growth, and Return to Office Mandates Create Hiring and Retention Challenges in the Cybersecurity Talent Market.

 IANS Research and Artico Search released the 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Benchmark Report, providing a comprehensive look at cybersecurity staff compensation, job satisfaction, and hiring trends.

As cybersecurity teams take on broader responsibilities, infosec professionals are working across multiple security domains. The report finds that 61% of cybersecurity staff dedicate at least 30% of their time to multiple functions, with common overlaps in SecOps, GRC, and AppSec. This shift reflects the growing demand for cross-functional expertise, often driven by resource constraints and organizational efficiencies.

Meanwhile, amidst fierce talent competition, organizations with compensation gaps, limited career growth, and strict return to office mandates will face hiring and retention challenges, straining security team development. As cybersecurity roles expand and evolve, companies that do offer competitive salaries, prioritize leadership development and career growth, and ensure work arrangement flexibility will be best positioned to attract and retain top professionals.

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“This year’s data reinforces a critical truth—cybersecurity professionals often feel stuck in demanding roles without opportunities for meaningful career growth,” said Nick Kakolowski, Sr. Research Director at IANS Research. “With more than 60% of cybersecurity professionals considering a job change, the key challenge for CISOs isn’t just compensation—it’s creating opportunities for staff to progress in their careers. In a market where staff are expected to wear multiple hats, those who see clear paths to leadership and specialization are the most likely to stay.”

Key Findings from the 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Benchmark Report:

• Cybersecurity salaries remain highly competitive. Security architects and engineers continue to earn top-tier salaries, with average annual cash compensation of $206,000 and $191,000, respectively.
• IT backgrounds dominate among security professionals. Over 70% of security engineers and more than 50% of security analysts and security architects say their IT backgrounds were essential to landing their current roles.
• Regional pay differences vary considerably. The U.S. West region offers the highest cybersecurity salaries, followed by the Northeast. The Southeast and Central U.S. report lower salaries. The annual compensation disparity between the highest and lowest regions is $61,000 Canada consistently lags behind all U.S. regions.
• Specialized skills drive premium salaries. Cybersecurity professionals with deep expertise in cloud security, application security, and threat intelligence earn significantly more, reinforcing the value of specialization.
• Employee satisfaction remains low. Only one-third of cybersecurity professionals would recommend their employer. Low satisfaction coincides with perceptions of limited career growth, with fewer than 40% of respondents satisfied with their advancement opportunities and more than 45% expressing frustration over slow progression. While compensation remains a factor, the ability to develop new skills and advance within an organization has a greater impact on retention.

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“In today’s competitive hiring market, companies win top cybersecurity talent when they offer competitive salaries and clear growth potential in the organization,” said Steve Martano, IANS Faculty member and partner at Artico Search. “CISOs who create growth opportunities for their high-performing team members through leadership training, mentorship, and skill development have a far greater ability to attract and retain top security professionals.”

The 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Benchmark Summary Report is now available for download, offering a high-level look at salary trends, job satisfaction data, and recommendations for CISOs to attract and retain staff.

Survey Methodology
The 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Benchmark Report is based on the annual Cybersecurity Staff Compensation and Career Survey, conducted jointly by IANS Research and Artico Search. Data was collected between June 2024 and December 2024, with responses from over 500 cybersecurity professionals representing a broad range of industries, company sizes, and organizational structures across the U.S. and Canada.

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Source: PR Newswire