Security Administrator Salary – How Much Can You Earn as a Security Administrator?

If you want to change careers or start in the workforce, finding a field that suits you is ideal. The position of a security administrator is not only a popular role but also a lucrative option.

Security administrators are there to aid in measuring and maintaining an organization’s cyber security. This job includes monitoring any vulnerabilities on a company’s website and protecting their online data.

This guide details the national salary averages, earnings levels, optimal locations for security administrator jobs, and how to successfully work in the industry.

The Need for Security Administrators

As businesses move their products and services online, the need for security administrators dramatically increases. These trained individuals to handle various aspects of cyber communications, including installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting security systems and associated software.

Online threats are a part of doing business, from small home-based companies to large corporations. However, security administrators can help minimize the drastic consequences of cyber attacks, including monetary loss and data breaches.

The National Average Annual Salary for a Security Administrator

Examining data from various organizations throughout the United States, Indeed lists the average national salary for a security administrator as $80,382. This wage constitutes approximately $41.00 per hour.

Alternatively, Salary.com states that an average annual salary for the same position is $89,526, making the hourly wage $43.04. Therefore, the total yearly salary for a security administrator can vary slightly due to several factors.

On the other hand, Payscale.com lists the average annual salary for this position as only $67,211, resulting in an hourly wage of $32.31.

To get a better idea of a more accurate average of wages, the median of these three significant sources comes to $79,039, providing an hourly pay of $38.

Naturally, the annual security administrator salary will vary depending on the location, company size, previous experience, and training. The job duties will also have a bearing on the total compensation for employees, as some security administrators will be responsible for more tasks at some organizations than other companies.

The National Starting Annual Salary for Security Administrators

Of course, the starting wage for many job roles will be slightly lower than those held by individuals with more experience and training. A security administrator’s salary is no exception.

Individuals accepting a new role as a security administrator can expect to earn between $40,000 and $54,000 annually. This wage results in individuals receiving anywhere from $19.23 to $25.96 an hour.

On average, the national starting annual salary works out to $47,000, providing an hourly wage of $22.60.

Earnings of a Security Administrator Based On Experience Level

As with many industries, individuals working as security administrators can expect a higher wage as their experience increases. Factors including time spent at an organization and additional training come into play for larger salary brackets.

According to Zippia, the annual salary for security administrators reinforces this fact. They show that individuals starting out in these roles will begin with $41,000 yearly and, with experience, can graduate to a mid-level pay scale of $71,000 a year. In addition, their data shows that senior security administrator positions maintain a higher salary of $130,000 than the industry average.

SalaryExplorer lists a guideline that can help project an average annual salary based on experience.

They state individuals with two to five years of experience should expect a wage of 26% more than those starting out in the industry or having less than two years of experience. Alternatively, their data shows that security administrators should be making, on average, double their entry-level wage once they have ten or more years of experience in the field.

The Highest Paying Cities in the United States for Security Administrators

After combining data from several employment industry websites, the five highest paying cities for security administrator positions include:

1. Los Angeles, CA (Average salary: $131,000)
2. New York City, NY (Average salary: $129,000)
3. Chicago, IL (Average salary: $125,000)
4. Dallas, TX (Average salary: $123,000)
5. San Antonio & Houston, TX (Average salary: $122,000)

Consequently, larger cities where the salaries are more than in other areas may also bring a higher cost of living.

The Highest Paying U.S. States for Security Administrators

Examining the highest security administrator salary statistics across the U.S. shows these are the five top states for industry pay.

1. Florida (Average salary: $121,000)
2. New York (Average salary: $121,000)
3. Texas (Average salary: $120,000)
4. Illinois (Average salary: $120,000)
5. California (Average salary: $118,000)

Individuals searching for the highest paying security administrator jobs will find positions in these five states that boast larger salaries than other U.S. states.

How Does a Security Administrator’s Salary Compare With Other Cyber Security Roles?

With the many facets of cyber security come various job roles and salaries. When comparing a security administrator to other positions in the industry, many corporations consider this as a mid-level role.

Other industry positions that require more specialized training and experience, such as working as a Chief Information Security Officer or a Cyber Security Architect, will bring more considerable salaries.

How To Advance a Career and Earn More as a Security Administrator

Naturally, the more education and training an individual possesses, the better chance of obtaining employment and accepting a higher salary.

Those working as security administrators can continue to advance their career by completing an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or Master’s Degree for more job opportunities. Additionally, by completing courses with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, individuals have recognizable training for advancement.

Completing software and hardware-related courses applicable to various platforms can help guide a security administrator’s career path into more specialized roles.