Information Security Analysts Salary Guide 2025: Complete State-by-State Analysis
Analysis based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data.
The Bottom Line: What Information Security Analysts Actually Earn
The median Information Security Analyst salary in the United States is $124,910 in 2025 – ranking as the 3rd highest-paid technology role, reflecting the critical importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly threat-rich digital landscape. For professionals who defend against sophisticated attacks 24/7, compensation should reflect the high-stakes nature of their expertise. The gap between highest and lowest paying states reaches $83,400, creating significant opportunities for those who understand both cyber threats and market positioning.
Strategic Overview:
National median: $124,910 gross salary (3rd among tech roles)
Salary range: $59,520 - $142,920 across states
Typical Education: Bachelor's degree
States above national median: 16 out of 52 (31%)
Estimated take-home calculations based on single filer, standard deduction. Individual situations vary significantly.
The Digital Defender's Market Position
You understand threat vectors, vulnerability assessments, and incident response better than any other professional. Your expertise protects organizations from financial losses that can reach millions of dollars per breach. The same analytical thinking that drives your security posture should guide your compensation strategy.
This isn't just about base salary – it's about strategic positioning in a field where your expertise directly prevents catastrophic business losses and ensures regulatory compliance.
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Strategic Market Analysis: Where Cybersecurity Experts Maximize Value
Top 10 Highest Paying States (Gross vs. Estimated Take-Home)
Understanding real earning power requires analyzing both gross salary and estimated take-home pay:
Washington - $142,920 gross | ~$108,000 estimated take-home (+14.4% gross vs national)
California - $142,850 gross | ~$93,700 estimated take-home (+14.4% gross vs national)
Virginia - $139,590 gross | ~$93,700 estimated take-home (+11.8% gross vs national)
New York - $138,490 gross | ~$91,000 estimated take-home (+10.9% gross vs national)
Massachusetts - $136,090 gross | ~$90,500 estimated take-home (+8.9% gross vs national)
District of Columbia - $135,790 gross | ~$94,500 estimated take-home (+8.7% gross vs national)
Colorado - $135,000 gross | ~$97,400 estimated take-home (+8.1% gross vs national)
New Jersey - $134,950 gross | ~$88,600 estimated take-home (+8.0% gross vs national)
Maryland - $134,370 gross | ~$93,300 estimated take-home (+7.6% gross vs national)
Connecticut - $133,350 gross | ~$92,400 estimated take-home (+6.8% gross vs national)
Strategic Insight: Washington State's leadership reflects the concentration of major technology companies (Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing) requiring enterprise-level cybersecurity expertise, combined with zero state income tax creating superior take-home positioning.
Tax-Advantaged Cybersecurity Markets
Zero state income tax jurisdictions offer enhanced financial positioning for security professionals:
Washington - $142,920 gross | ~$108,000 take-home (tech hub concentration + tax efficiency)
Texas - $122,870 gross | ~$93,600 take-home (energy & financial services security)
Nevada - $118,450 gross | ~$90,700 take-home (gaming & hospitality security)
Florida - $115,680 gross | ~$88,400 take-home (aerospace & defense contractors)
Tennessee - $108,990 gross | ~$83,500 take-home (healthcare & logistics security)
Market Realities: Cybersecurity Skills Gaps
Bottom 10 States for Information Security Analyst Compensation
Strategic career planning requires honest assessment of market limitations:
Puerto Rico - $59,520 gross | ~$54,900 take-home (-52.3% below national)
South Dakota - $75,110 gross | ~$62,500 take-home (-39.9% below national)
West Virginia - $78,080 gross | ~$66,200 take-home (-37.5% below national)
Mississippi - $80,630 gross | ~$68,500 take-home (-35.4% below national)
Arkansas - $83,070 gross | ~$70,400 take-home (-33.5% below national)
Montana - $86,210 gross | ~$72,000 take-home (-31.0% below national)
North Dakota - $89,030 gross | ~$75,800 take-home (-28.7% below national)
Kansas - $91,640 gross | ~$74,400 take-home (-26.6% below national)
Iowa - $94,110 gross | ~$79,200 take-home (-24.6% below national)
Nebraska - $95,820 gross | ~$78,100 take-home (-23.3% below national)
Financial Reality: An information security analyst in Washington takes home $53,100 more annually than one in Puerto Rico – over $1.06 million more over a 20-year career.
Tax estimates based on single filer, standard deduction. Actual amounts vary by individual circumstances, additional income sources, and deductions.
Growth Markets: Expanding Cybersecurity Demand
Fastest Growing Information Security Markets
High growth rates indicate expanding opportunities and critical skills shortages:
Utah - +22.8% growth ($119,740 gross | ~$91,400 take-home)
Idaho - +19.2% growth ($98,450 gross | ~$76,200 take-home)
Nevada - +18.7% growth ($118,450 gross | ~$90,700 take-home)
Arizona - +17.3% growth ($118,900 gross | ~$91,300 take-home)
Texas - +16.9% growth ($122,870 gross | ~$93,600 take-home)
Florida - +16.1% growth ($115,680 gross | ~$88,400 take-home)
North Carolina - +15.8% growth ($117,590 gross | ~$90,200 take-home)
Colorado - +15.2% growth ($135,000 gross | ~$97,400 take-home)
Washington - +14.7% growth ($142,920 gross | ~$108,000 take-home)
Virginia - +14.3% growth ($139,590 gross | ~$93,700 take-home)
Strategic Opportunity: Utah's 22.8% growth reflects the state's emergence as a major technology hub ("Silicon Slopes") with significant cybersecurity investment from both startups and enterprise relocations seeking business-friendly environments.
📊 Market Intelligence: High growth markets often experience salary acceleration as demand outpaces supply. Get early access to our market intelligence platform when it launches
Compensation Structure Analysis
National Salary Distribution Framework
Understanding your market position within cybersecurity compensation ranges enables strategic career planning:
National Compensation Percentiles:
25th percentile: $96,200 gross | ~$73,600 estimated take-home
50th percentile (median): $124,910 gross | ~$93,000 estimated take-home
75th percentile: $158,110 gross | ~$115,600 estimated take-home
Average: $129,300 gross | ~$96,200 estimated take-home
Strategic Market Positioning by Security Tier
Elite Cybersecurity Markets (≥$135K gross): 10 states
Washington, California, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, DC, Colorado, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut
Average estimated take-home: ~$95,100
Premium Markets ($120K-$135K gross): 6 states
Delaware, Oregon, Alaska, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas
Average estimated take-home: ~$91,800
Above Median ($110K-$120K gross): 10 states
Growing regional cybersecurity centers
Average estimated take-home: ~$85,400
Below National Median (<$125K gross): 26 states
Emerging markets with significant skills gaps
Average estimated take-home: ~$75,200
Strategic Analysis: 69% of states offer information security analyst compensation above $100K, indicating widespread recognition of cybersecurity's critical value, though geographic concentration remains significant.
Professional Requirements and Threat Landscape
Typical Education: Bachelor's degree (standardized across all markets)
Strategic Implications:
Entry barriers consistent nationwide, typically in cybersecurity, computer science, or IT
Industry certifications (CISSP, CISM, CEH, Security+) command significant premiums
Cloud security expertise (AWS, Azure, GCP) increasingly critical for career advancement
Threat intelligence and incident response skills drive compensation differentiation
Market Intelligence: Cybersecurity roles increasingly reward hands-on technical expertise and incident response capabilities over general IT knowledge, with specialized skills commanding substantial premiums.
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The Cybersecurity Professional's Competitive Advantage
Leveraging Security Expertise for Career Advancement
Your Critical Value Proposition:
Direct protection of organizational assets and intellectual property
Regulatory compliance expertise reducing legal and financial risk
Incident response capabilities minimizing breach impact and recovery time
Threat intelligence analysis preventing sophisticated attacks
Strategic Positioning Opportunities:
Document prevented security incidents and potential cost savings
Quantify compliance improvements and audit success rates
Demonstrate incident response time reductions and containment effectiveness
Show measurable improvements in security posture and risk reduction
High-Demand Specialization Areas
Premium Skill Categories:
Cloud Security Architecture: Multi-cloud environment protection and compliance
Threat Hunting: Proactive threat detection and advanced persistent threat (APT) analysis
DevSecOps Integration: Security automation and continuous compliance
Zero Trust Implementation: Identity-based security architecture design
Incident Response Leadership: Crisis management and forensic investigation
Emerging Technologies:
AI/ML Security: Protecting and securing artificial intelligence implementations
IoT Security: Industrial and consumer device security frameworks
Blockchain Security: Cryptocurrency and distributed ledger protection
Quantum Cryptography: Next-generation encryption and security protocols
Financial Impact of Strategic Security Positioning
Real-World Career Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Regional SOC Analyst
Current position: $80,000 in Mississippi
Estimated take-home: ~$68,500
5-year trajectory with 3% annual increases: $426,000 total gross earnings
Scenario 2: The Strategic Market Mover
Relocates to Washington: $142,920 starting
Estimated take-home: ~$108,000
5-year trajectory with 3% annual increases: $761,000 total gross earnings
Strategic advantage: +$335,000 in additional gross earnings over 5 years
Scenario 3: The High-Growth Market Entry
Relocates to Utah: $119,740 starting (22.8% growth market)
Estimated take-home: ~$91,400
5-year trajectory with accelerated growth: $700,000+ total gross earnings
Growth market advantage: Rapid salary progression in expanding tech hub
Calculations assume single filer, standard deduction. Your specific situation with married filing jointly, security clearance premiums, and additional certifications will vary significantly.
Industry Context: The Cybersecurity Skills Premium
Information security analysts command premium compensation reflecting critical organizational needs:
The Value Proposition:
Direct protection against financial losses averaging $4.45 million per breach
Regulatory compliance expertise reducing potential fines and penalties
Business continuity maintenance through proactive threat management
Intellectual property and customer data protection
Performance-Based Compensation Trends:
Security clearance premiums for government and defense contractors
Incident response bonuses for successful breach containment
Certification achievement bonuses and continuing education support
Equity participation in cybersecurity startups and growth companies
The Complete Security Intelligence Advantage
Generic salary data provides market ranges. Strategic compensation intelligence provides actionable insights for maximizing your career trajectory and family's financial future.
This analysis leverages Bureau of Labor Statistics data to establish market baselines, but strategic career decisions require understanding your complete financial picture including:
Security clearance premiums and specialized certification values
Expense tracking and professional development deduction optimization
Multiple income scenarios including consulting and freelance opportunities
Real-time margin analysis based on your specific financial situation
Market Positioning Insight: Cybersecurity professionals with specialized certifications and clearances can command premiums of 20-40% above base market rates depending on location and specialization.
💼 Strategic Intelligence: Ready to move beyond general market data to personalized compensation analysis? Join the waitlist for our complete financial intelligence platform
Strategic Decision Framework
You now possess foundational market intelligence. The strategic question becomes: how will you leverage this data for maximum career impact?
If your current compensation is below market:
Document security improvements and incident prevention metrics for negotiations
Build expertise in high-demand areas like cloud security and threat hunting
Research remote security operations opportunities in higher-paying markets
Consider specialized certifications (CISSP, CISM) for market differentiation
If you're considering strategic relocation:
Analyze complete cost-of-living implications beyond gross salary
Factor security clearance requirements and specialized market demands
Evaluate cybersecurity industry concentration in target markets
Consider government contracting opportunities and defense industry presence
If you're already competitively positioned:
Understand your percentile ranking for future negotiations
Monitor emerging threat trends and required skill developments
Plan career advancement based on specialized expertise and leadership
Consider CISO progression path or cybersecurity consulting opportunities
Strategic Advantage: Cybersecurity professionals who understand complete compensation intelligence consistently outperform those making decisions based on incomplete market data.
🚀 Maximize Your Position: Transform market data into personalized strategy with complete compensation analysis, expense optimization, and margin intelligence. Get early access to What It Pays™ when we launch
Your Next Strategic Move
This market analysis provides the foundation for data-driven career decisions. Strategic cybersecurity professionals leverage complete compensation intelligence – not just salary averages – to maximize their career trajectory and family's financial future.
What It Pays™ empowers information security analysts with the market intelligence needed for confident negotiations, strategic relocations, and optimized financial planning. Whether you're planning your next security role or positioning for a CISO position, complete compensation intelligence drives superior outcomes.
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Data Sources & Disclaimers
Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025 data. Analysis by What It Pays™ compensation intelligence team.
Important Disclaimers:
Educational Purpose Only: This analysis is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or career advice.
BLS Data Limitations: Salary figures represent median annual wages for Information Security Analysts (SOC Code 15-1212) and include base salary only. Total compensation including bonuses, clearance premiums, equity, and benefits may vary significantly.
Tax Estimates: Take-home pay calculations are estimates based on single filer status, standard deduction, and flat state tax rates. Actual tax liability varies significantly based on individual circumstances, filing status, deductions, additional income sources, and other factors.
Individual Variation: Your specific situation may differ substantially from these estimates. Consult qualified tax and financial professionals for personalized advice.
No Guarantees: Salary ranges and growth projections are historical data and do not guarantee future compensation or market conditions.
Platform Launch: What It Pays™ will provide personalized analysis including married filing jointly scenarios, multiple income sources, expense tracking, deduction optimization, and complete financial margin analysis tailored to your specific circumstances.
