Information Security Analyst Salary (2026), outlook and how to become one

Information Security Analysts earn a median of $129,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 153% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $62.11/hr. The middle half earn between $97,810 and $163,500. The top 10% earn $199,850 or more.

The median hourly wage for information security analysts is $62.11 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $129,180 annual median works out to about $10,770 a month before tax.

BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of information security analysts earn less than $75,090 a year and the bottom quarter less than $97,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.

Yes, more often than not. The median is $129,180, so more than half of information security analysts earn over $100,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 41 states the median itself is above $100,000: Washington ($154,940), Maryland ($139,640), California ($138,570), Delaware ($137,030), and 37 more.

The highest state medians for Information Security Analysts are Washington ($154,940), Maryland ($139,640), California ($138,570) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

BLS does not split information security analysts' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $199,850, against a median of $129,180 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Washington ($154,940), Maryland ($139,640), California ($138,570). BLS also counts a specialty career inside this occupation (AI red teamer), which shares its federal pay figures.

Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Information Security Analysts, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.6% hold bachelor's degree.

BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for information security analysts is a bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation. O*NET classes the work as needing considerable preparation.

Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 21.0% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 14,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. A core O*NET task: document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.

Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 62% of information security analysts usually work more than 40 hours a week, 31% work exactly 40 and 6% work fewer. 90% say their schedule is regular and 10% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.

O*NET scores Information Security Analysts highest on the Conventional, Investigative and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.

Women make up 15.9% of information security analysts, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. Only 17.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 41.5 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.