Careers / Information Security Engineers
Information Security Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$116,580
United States, 2025
Employment
435,370
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies. Build, maintain and upgrade security technology, such as firewalls, for the safe use of computer networks and the transmission and retrieval of information. Design and implement appropriate security controls to identify vulnerabilities and protect digital files and electronic infrastructures. Monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation. May oversee the assessment of information security systems.
- O*NET code
- 15-1299.05
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Typical tasks
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Coordinate monitoring of networks or systems for security breaches or intrusions.
- Assess the quality of security controls, using performance indicators.
- Train staff on, and oversee the use of, information security standards, policies, and best practices.
- Scan networks, using vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities.
- Develop response and recovery strategies for security breaches.
- Conduct investigations of information security breaches to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate the damage.
- Develop or install software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$55,940
25th percentile
$79,370
75th percentile
$157,500
90th percentile
$188,470
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Monitoring3.6
- Writing3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Systems Evaluation3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 17 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
17
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Writing | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 3.5 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Programming | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 | — | Not selected | — |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $134,050
Compare with Information Security EngineersSupplemental
National median $61,860
Compare with Information Security EngineersSupplemental
National median $104,300
Compare with Information Security EngineersSupplemental
National median $175,140
Compare with Information Security EngineersSupplemental
National median $116,580
Compare with Information Security EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $184,430 | 16,680 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,700 | 16,930 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $160,520 | 7,850 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $156,640 | — | 2025 |
| DC | $156,590 | 17,200 | 2025 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $148,700 | 350 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $147,590 | 1,120 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $144,680 | 1,000 | 2025 |
| MD | $144,680 | 19,060 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | 220 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $140,750 | 800 | 2025 |
| CO | $139,580 | 11,800 | 2025 |
| VA | $139,030 | 17,000 | 2025 |
| DE | $137,470 | 860 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $136,120 | 10,710 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $135,600 | 9,010 | 2025 |
| CA | $134,440 | 80,150 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $131,730 | 500 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | $131,600 | 1,590 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $129,940 | 2,410 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Information Security Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.