Information security analysts
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Information security analysts in the United States earn a median salary of $129,180 per year — about $62 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 183K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +29%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is entirely digital, involving tasks like monitoring networks, analyzing vulnerabilities, and writing reports that are highly susceptible to AI automation. While AI increases the demand for security to counter AI-driven threats, it also significantly automates the core functions of threat detection, log analysis, and incident response, drastically increasing individual worker productivity.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $176,120 | Above avg (110.4) | $159,496 |
| Asheville, NC | $149,350 | Below avg (96.5) | $154,757 |
| Wilmington, NC | $145,170 | Below avg (96.4) | $150,557 |
| Decatur, AL | $130,400 | Below avg (87.2) | $149,521 |
| Boulder, CO | $154,990 | Above avg (105.2) | $147,326 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $143,640 | Average (98.2) | $146,337 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,780 | Above avg (111.1) | $145,573 |
| Peoria, IL | $132,090 | Below avg (91.2) | $144,786 |
| Jackson, MI | $130,010 | Below avg (91.8) | $141,655 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $129,980 | Below avg (92.0) | $141,217 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $162,310 | Above avg (115.6) | $140,391 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $127,860 | Below avg (91.1) | $140,308 |
| Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | Below avg (93.1) | $140,031 |
| Mobile, AL | $121,810 | Below avg (88.1) | $138,266 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $120,950 | Below avg (87.9) | $137,548 |