10 High-Paying Jobs in Information Security in 2025
As threats become more constant, companies are offering top-dollar salaries to professionals who can stay ahead of hackers, secure infrastructure, and respond quickly to incidents.
Information security has moved from the server room to the boardroom. With cybercrime expected to cost the global economy over $10.5 trillion annually in 2025, protecting digital systems and data is now a business imperative—not just an IT function.
As threats become more complex and constant, companies are offering top-dollar salaries to professionals who can stay ahead of hackers, secure infrastructure, and respond quickly to incidents. The cybersecurity workforce gap is estimated to be over 3 million professionals globally, and in the U.S. alone, there are hundreds of thousands of open roles.
For those with the skills—or those looking to gain them—this field offers some of the highest-paying jobs in tech today. Here are the top-paying roles in information security in 2025.
/1. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
As the top-ranking executive in charge of cybersecurity, a CISO is responsible for developing and overseeing an organization’s entire security strategy. They coordinate everything from risk management and regulatory compliance to incident response and security awareness training.
CISOs often report directly to the CEO or board and play a critical role in aligning security initiatives with business goals. Compensation reflects the pressure and responsibility with the average salary of this role being a whopping $310,318 annually.
/2. Director of Information Security
Sitting just below the CISO, the Director of Information Security leads the operational side of cybersecurity. This role typically involves managing teams, overseeing the implementation of security policies, coordinating audits, and ensuring all systems meet compliance standards.
The director acts as the bridge between executive strategy and hands-on execution. Average pay sits around $270,810 per year, with experienced professionals in high-risk industries or major corporations earning even more.
/3. Cybersecurity Architect
Cybersecurity architects are responsible for designing secure IT systems from the ground up. They select the frameworks, controls, tools, and infrastructure used to keep networks and data safe from threats.
This job blends technical depth with strategic oversight and requires staying ahead of emerging technologies and attack vectors. With an average of $184,829 per annum, this role reflects the importance in planning and resilience.
/4. Information Security Manager
These professionals oversee daily security operations, supervise technical teams, manage vendor relationships, and ensure compliance with security frameworks like ISO, NIST, or SOC 2.
They also create incident response plans and are often the first in command when a breach occurs. Information Security Managers earn anywhere around $185,848 per year on average, though compensation increases with team size, scope, and industry risk level.
/5. Cybersecurity Engineer
Cybersecurity engineers build and maintain the tools that defend an organization’s digital assets. They configure firewalls, develop intrusion detection systems, run vulnerability scans, and ensure that infrastructure remains secure and up to date. They also often assist in penetration testing and remediation.
With their deep technical skillset, these engineers average $156,446 annually, and senior engineers in cloud-heavy or regulated environments can exceed $200,000.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
/6. Application Security Engineer
These specialists work directly with software development teams to ensure that applications are secure throughout the development lifecycle. They review code for vulnerabilities, recommend secure coding practices, and conduct security testing.
Given the rise in web app and mobile breaches, this role has become increasingly critical. Salaries range between $131,000 and $196,000, with an average salary of $159,026 per year, making it one of the highest-paying technical roles in cybersecurity.
/7. Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker)
Penetration testers simulate cyberattacks on networks, systems, and applications to uncover vulnerabilities before real attackers can exploit them. Their work requires a hacker mindset, deep technical skills, and strong ethical standards.
Many are certified (e.g., OSCP or CEH) and work as consultants or in-house testers. On average, they earn around $150,790, with more experienced testers making past that, especially in sectors like finance and government.
Kelechi Edeh
/8. Digital Forensic Analyst
When a security incident occurs, forensic analysts step in to trace the origin, analyze compromised systems, and recover lost data. They use specialized tools to investigate breaches, support legal cases, and provide detailed post-incident reports. This role requires both analytical thinking and investigative skills. The average annual salary is $101,551, with higher earnings in consulting or federal positions.
/9. Information Security Analyst
This mid-level role involves monitoring networks for threats, managing alerts, running vulnerability scans, and supporting compliance initiatives. Security analysts are often the first to detect unusual behavior and are essential to maintaining secure systems day to day.
With job openings across every industry, analysts earn around $94,267 annually on average. This can rise above $111,000 in markets like New York, and reaching up to $141,000 in high-demand metro areas.
David Adubiina
/10. IT Security Specialist
IT Security Specialists focus on securing an organization's hardware, software, and network systems. They install and maintain firewalls, antivirus software, encryption protocols, and access controls.
Often acting as generalists, these professionals provide support across many layers of defense. The average salary for this role is about $111,079 per year, but experienced specialists in larger firms or specialized environments can make more.
Louis Eriakha
Conclusion
Information security isn’t just another tech career; It’s a high-stakes, high-reward field that’s becoming mission-critical in every industry. From defending systems as a CISO to testing them as an ethical hacker, each role plays a vital part in protecting the digital world.
With salaries ranging from $100K to $300K+, it’s clear why security pros are in such demand. And those entering the field today are likely entering one of the most lucrative and impactful tech careers available.
Salary data sourced from Glassdoor and Indeed.
