This salary guide was originally published on SRF Developer. Check out the blog for the full state-by-state breakdown.
The tech market is strange right now. Coding jobs are competitive, but cybersecurity has a 3.5 million worker shortage.
If you’re in the US (or looking for remote jobs in the US), salaries for 2026 look huge. But you must choose the right “Path”.
Here’s the breakdown of the top 3 entry-level routes and what they pay.
🛡️ 1. The defender: SOC analyst
This is where 80% of beginners start. You monitor the logs (Splunk) and catch the bad guys.
– Average salary: $85,000 – $110,000
– Certificate required: CompTIA Security+ or CySA+
– Stress level: ⭐⭐⭐ (Shift work is common)
🏗️ 2. The Builder: Safety Engineer
You build the firewalls and protect the cloud (AWS/Azure). You don’t just look at screens; you write code.
– Average salary: $120,000 – $165,000
– Required Skill: Python, Linux, AWS Security
– Stress level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚔️ 3. The attacker: penetration tester (ethical hacker)
The “cool” job. Companies pay you to access their systems before real hackers do.
– Average salary: $105,000 – $140,000
– Certificate required: CEH or OSCP (Difficult!)
– Stress level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🗺️ The 2026 roadmap
“Okay, I want the $120,000 job. How do I get there?”
You can’t just apply. You need a specific stack of Labs + Certs.
I have created a complete step-by-step roadmap to 2026.