What is the average Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in the US?

The national median Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary is $240,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $180,000, while senior professionals earn $400,000 or more.

Which city pays Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s the most?

New York City offers the highest median Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary at $449K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

Cybersecurity55% remote-eligible+8.5% YoY growth

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary
by City (2026)

Q: How fast are Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salaries growing?

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salaries are growing at 8.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Lead enterprise security strategy, risk management, and compliance programs. National median: $240K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$240K

Top 10% earn

$400K

Entry level

$180K

Salary growth

+8.5%/yr

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$337K	$449K	$580K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$333K	$444K	$574K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$333K	$444K	$574K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$315K	$420K	$543K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$310K	$413K	$533K	172	9.3%
San Francisco, CA	$297K	$396K	$512K	224	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$297K	$396K	$512K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$297K	$396K	$512K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$292K	$389K	$502K	162	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$284K	$379K	$490K	210	9.3%
Stamford, CT	$284K	$379K	$490K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$279K	$372K	$481K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$270K	$360K	$465K	150	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$266K	$355K	$459K	185	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$266K	$355K	$459K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$266K	$355K	$459K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$261K	$348K	$450K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$261K	$348K	$450K	145	10.75%
Seattle, WA	$256K	$341K	$440K	150	None ✓
Washington, DC	$252K	$336K	$434K	152	8.5%
Paterson, NJ	$252K	$336K	$434K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$248K	$331K	$428K	138	9.3%
Boston, MA	$248K	$331K	$428K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$248K	$331K	$428K	162	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$248K	$331K	$428K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$248K	$331K	$428K	138	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$243K	$324K	$419K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$243K	$324K	$419K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$238K	$317K	$409K	155	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$234K	$312K	$403K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$230K	$307K	$397K	155	9.3%
Austin, TX	$220K	$293K	$378K	110	None ✓
Portland, OR	$220K	$293K	$378K	130	9.9%
New Haven, CT	$220K	$293K	$378K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$216K	$288K	$372K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$212K	$283K	$366K	128	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$212K	$283K	$366K	128	None ✓
Vancouver, WA	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	None ✓
Denver, CO	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$212K	$283K	$366K	118	5.99%
Plano, TX	$207K	$276K	$357K	105	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$207K	$276K	$357K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$207K	$276K	$357K	118	2.5%
Lakewood, CO	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	4.55%
Worcester, MA	$207K	$276K	$357K	120	5%
Ann Arbor, MI	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	4.25%
Salt Lake City, UT	$207K	$276K	$357K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	5.75%
Frederick, MD	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$207K	$276K	$357K	115	5.99%
Honolulu, HI	$207K	$276K	$357K	192	11%
Dallas, TX	$202K	$269K	$347K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$202K	$269K	$347K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$202K	$269K	$347K	123	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$202K	$269K	$347K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$202K	$269K	$347K	112	4.55%
Durham, NC	$202K	$269K	$347K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$202K	$269K	$347K	112	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$202K	$269K	$347K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$202K	$269K	$347K	106	6.8%
Aurora, CO	$198K	$264K	$341K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$198K	$264K	$341K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$198K	$264K	$341K	102	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$198K	$264K	$341K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$198K	$264K	$341K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$198K	$264K	$341K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$198K	$264K	$341K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$194K	$259K	$335K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$194K	$259K	$335K	118	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$194K	$259K	$335K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$194K	$259K	$335K	104	6.8%
Boise, ID	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$194K	$259K	$335K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$189K	$252K	$326K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$189K	$252K	$326K	93	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$189K	$252K	$326K	105	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$189K	$252K	$326K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$189K	$252K	$326K	100	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$189K	$252K	$326K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$189K	$252K	$326K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$189K	$252K	$326K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$189K	$252K	$326K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$189K	$252K	$326K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$189K	$252K	$326K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$189K	$252K	$326K	108	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$189K	$252K	$326K	105	5.8%
Arlington, TX	$184K	$245K	$316K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$184K	$245K	$316K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$184K	$245K	$316K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$184K	$245K	$316K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$184K	$245K	$316K	88	5%
Missoula, MT	$184K	$245K	$316K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$180K	$240K	$310K	105	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$180K	$240K	$310K	98	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$180K	$240K	$310K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$180K	$240K	$310K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$180K	$240K	$310K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$180K	$240K	$310K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$180K	$240K	$310K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$176K	$235K	$304K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$176K	$235K	$304K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$176K	$235K	$304K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$176K	$235K	$304K	98	7.15%
Cincinnati, OH	$173K	$230K	$298K	88	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$173K	$230K	$298K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$173K	$230K	$298K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$173K	$230K	$298K	90	5.3%
Fresno, CA	$171K	$228K	$295K	102	9.3%
Bakersfield, CA	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$171K	$228K	$295K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$171K	$228K	$295K	93	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	5.75%
Detroit, MI	$171K	$228K	$295K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$171K	$228K	$295K	95	6.5%
San Antonio, TX	$166K	$221K	$285K	87	None ✓
Midland, TX	$166K	$221K	$285K	92	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$166K	$221K	$285K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$166K	$221K	$285K	95	None ✓
Athens, GA	$166K	$221K	$285K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$166K	$221K	$285K	92	6.8%
Louisville, KY	$166K	$221K	$285K	85	5%
Greenville, SC	$166K	$221K	$285K	92	6.5%
Des Moines, IA	$166K	$221K	$285K	88	4.82%
Cheyenne, WY	$166K	$221K	$285K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	4.95%
Cleveland, OH	$162K	$216K	$279K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	5.3%
New Orleans, LA	$162K	$216K	$279K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$162K	$216K	$279K	88	5.84%
Fargo, ND	$162K	$216K	$279K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$158K	$211K	$273K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$158K	$211K	$273K	92	5.75%
Greensboro, NC	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	4.75%
Memphis, TN	$158K	$211K	$273K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$158K	$211K	$273K	85	None ✓
Chattanooga, TN	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	5%
Birmingham, AL	$158K	$211K	$273K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$158K	$211K	$273K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$158K	$211K	$273K	88	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$153K	$204K	$264K	84	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	5.3%
Tulsa, OK	$153K	$204K	$264K	80	4.75%
Lafayette, LA	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	4.82%
Wichita, KS	$153K	$204K	$264K	82	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$153K	$204K	$264K	85	4.9%
El Paso, TX	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	4.82%
Little Rock, AR	$148K	$197K	$254K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$144K	$192K	$248K	78	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$144K	$192K	$248K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$140K	$187K	$242K	78	6.5%
Laredo, TX	$135K	$180K	$233K	76	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$135K	$180K	$233K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$135K	$180K	$233K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$135K	$180K	$233K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $240K Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is $240,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $180,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $310,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s nationally earn $400,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS or Security; CISSP required. This role is 55% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) compensation is growing at 8.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)s significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Salaryby City (2026)