The Top 19 Best-Paying Cities for Security Engineers in 2023
These are the top 19 best-paying cities for security engineers in the United States in 2023, according to the more than 8 million verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Blind ranked the best-paying cities by the highest average total compensation. Total compensation is a combination of a job’s annual salary, stock-based compensation or equity, and a bonus if paid by an employer.
The average salary of a security engineer in the United States is between $105,528 and $177,100 in 2023, according to Blind and its exclusive pay data and insights. Salaries can be significantly higher for security engineers or directors of security engineering.
A security engineer’s pay is often higher when taking into account total compensation. According to Blind’s pay benchmarking tool, the average total compensation of a security engineer in the United States can be as high as $273,971 in 2023.
1. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $273,971
- Median total compensation: $281,500
- Average annual salary: $165,571
- Median annual salary: $170,000
2. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $244,300
- Median total compensation: $221,250
- Average annual salary: $177,100
- Median annual salary: $180,000
3. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $220,959
- Median total compensation: $205,000
- Average annual salary: $164,935
- Median annual salary: $160,000
4. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $219,962
- Median total compensation: $226,625
- Average annual salary: $161,500
- Median annual salary: $165,000
5. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $219,384
- Median total compensation: $190,000
- Average annual salary: $167,404
- Median annual salary: $160,000
6. New York
- Average total compensation: $219,128
- Median total compensation: $198,000
- Average annual salary: $157,645
- Median annual salary: $162,360
7. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $212,631
- Median total compensation: $189,000
- Average annual salary: $153,687
- Median annual salary: $147,000
8. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $204,833
- Median total compensation: $230,750
- Average annual salary: $149,250
- Median annual salary: $164,500
9. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $200,371
- Median total compensation: $177,500
- Average annual salary: $147,714
- Median annual salary: $150,000
10. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $200,233
- Median total compensation: $187,000
- Average annual salary: $146,843
- Median annual salary: $145,000
11. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $197,442
- Median total compensation: $192,000
- Average annual salary: $141,571
- Median annual salary: $140,000
12. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $189,129
- Median total compensation: $162,550
- Average annual salary: $143,152
- Median annual salary: $140,000
13. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $179,800
- Median total compensation: $185,388
- Average annual salary: $157,188
- Median annual salary: $153,840
14. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $171,429
- Median total compensation: $162,250
- Average annual salary: $133,227
- Median annual salary: $135,600
15. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $170,687
- Median total compensation: $149,975
- Average annual salary: $130,500
- Median annual salary: $127,500
16. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $156,141
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average annual salary: $141,760
- Median annual salary: $132,500
17. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $150,110
- Median total compensation: $142,500
- Average annual salary: $127,736
- Median annual salary: $130,000
18. Boston
- Average total compensation: $143,344
- Median total compensation: $134,000
- Average annual salary: $120,222
- Median annual salary: $115,000
19. Raleigh, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $117,528
- Median total compensation: $88,000
- Average annual salary: $105,528
- Median annual salary: $85,000
Methodology
Blind analyzed the annual salaries and total compensation submitted by security engineers in the United States on its total compensation and salary benchmarking tool. The list excludes seniority titles, such as senior security engineer or similar designations.
Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual salary paid in cash and, if applicable, any stock-based compensation and bonuses.
All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.