Top 10 Highest-Paying Cyber Security Certifications of 2019

The cyber security profession entered 2019 with an extraordinary talent shortage that drove compensation to levels rivaling the most lucrative corners of the technology industry. Organizations across every sector were grappling with increasingly sophisticated threat landscapes, mounting regulatory compliance pressures, and a global shortage of qualified security professionals estimated in the millions. This combination of surging demand and constrained supply created a market environment where certified cyber security professionals commanded premium salaries that outpaced nearly every other technology discipline, making security certifications among the most financially rewarding credentials available to technology workers.

Certifications in cyber security serve a purpose beyond simple credential accumulation. They validate that a professional has demonstrated mastery of specific technical domains, methodologies, and ethical frameworks that are difficult to assess through interviews or resumes alone. Employers in 2019 increasingly used certification requirements as a baseline screening mechanism, particularly for roles involving access to sensitive infrastructure, regulated data, or national security systems. This institutional reliance on certifications as a proxy for competence created a direct link between credential attainment and compensation, with certain designations commanding salary premiums of tens of thousands of dollars over uncertified peers in comparable roles.

Understanding How Certification Value Connects to Salary Outcomes

Before examining specific certifications and their associated salary figures, it is worth understanding the mechanisms through which certifications actually translate into higher compensation rather than simply assuming the correlation is straightforward. The salary premium associated with any given cyber security certification in 2019 reflected a combination of factors including the difficulty and exclusivity of the credential, the experience prerequisites required to sit for the exam, the breadth of employer demand for that specific knowledge domain, and the degree to which holding the certification expanded a professional’s ability to pursue high-value contract or consulting work in addition to salaried employment.

Certifications associated with the highest salaries in 2019 shared several characteristics. They typically required candidates to demonstrate years of professional experience before becoming eligible to sit for the exam, which meant that holders were already mid-career professionals with established track records. They also tended to cover domains with high employer demand such as security architecture, risk management, penetration testing, and cloud security, where specialized expertise commanded disproportionate compensation. Understanding these underlying dynamics helps professionals make informed decisions about which certifications to pursue based on their current career stage and long-term compensation goals rather than simply chasing whichever credential appeared at the top of salary surveys.

CISSP: The Reigning Gold Standard of Security Credentials

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional credential offered by ISC2 occupied the top position in virtually every major cyber security salary survey conducted in 2019, with holders reporting average salaries ranging from one hundred ten thousand to one hundred forty thousand dollars annually in the United States. The CISSP covers eight domains of security knowledge collectively known as the Common Body of Knowledge, spanning areas including security and risk management, asset security, security architecture, network security, identity management, security assessment, security operations, and software development security. This breadth of coverage means that CISSP holders can contribute meaningfully across virtually every dimension of an enterprise security program.

What distinguished the CISSP from other high-value certifications in 2019 was not merely its salary correlation but the degree to which it had become embedded in employer requirements for senior security roles. Many organizations explicitly required CISSP certification for positions such as Chief Information Security Officer, Security Director, Security Architect, and Senior Security Analyst, creating a formal credential gate that made the certification effectively mandatory for career advancement into the most lucrative security leadership positions. The five-year professional experience prerequisite further enhanced its exclusivity and ensured that the market for CISSP holders remained constrained relative to demand, sustaining the salary premium year after year.

CISM: The Credential That Elevated Security Management Professionals

The Certified Information Security Manager certification from ISACA established itself in 2019 as the premier credential for security professionals whose work centered on governance, risk management, and the strategic alignment of security programs with organizational business objectives. Average salaries for CISM holders in 2019 ranged from one hundred five thousand to one hundred thirty thousand dollars, reflecting the certification’s strong recognition among large enterprises and government agencies that needed security leaders capable of building and managing comprehensive security programs rather than simply executing technical tasks.

The CISM examination covers four domains: information security governance, information risk management, information security program development and management, and information security incident management. This governance and management focus distinguishes CISM from more technically oriented credentials and positions it as the credential of choice for security professionals transitioning from technical roles into management and executive tracks. Organizations that had matured their security programs beyond the initial deployment phase and were focused on continuous improvement, board-level reporting, and regulatory compliance placed particularly high value on CISM holders, creating strong demand in financial services, healthcare, and government contracting sectors where governance and compliance demands were most intense.

CCIE Security: Cisco’s Elite Credential for Network Security Architects

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Security certification represented one of the most technically demanding credentials in the entire cyber security landscape in 2019, and its difficulty directly correlated with exceptional compensation for those who achieved it. CCIE Security holders reported average salaries ranging from one hundred fifteen thousand to one hundred forty-five thousand dollars in 2019, with many experienced holders commanding substantially more through senior architecture roles or independent consulting engagements. The certification requires candidates to pass both a written qualification exam and a grueling eight-hour hands-on lab exam administered only at specific Cisco testing facilities worldwide.

The CCIE Security lab exam demands that candidates design, deploy, operate, and troubleshoot complex security solutions across Cisco’s security product portfolio in real time under significant time pressure. This combination of breadth and practical depth creates a credential that is exceptionally difficult to fake or acquire through superficial preparation, which is precisely why employers place such high value on it. Network security architects holding CCIE Security certifications were in intense demand in 2019 from telecommunications companies, large enterprises, and managed security service providers that needed professionals capable of designing and maintaining sophisticated perimeter and internal network security architectures at scale.

OSCP: The Penetration Testing Credential That Commands Elite Compensation

The Offensive Security Certified Professional certification carved out a unique and highly respected position in the cyber security credential landscape by 2019 through its uncompromising commitment to practical, hands-on assessment rather than multiple-choice examination. Unlike most certifications that test knowledge through written exams, the OSCP requires candidates to complete a twenty-four-hour practical exam during which they must successfully compromise a set of target machines in a controlled lab environment using only the skills and techniques developed during the official training course. This format made it virtually impossible to pass through memorization alone, ensuring that every OSCP holder had genuinely demonstrated offensive security capability.

Penetration testers holding the OSCP credential commanded salaries ranging from ninety-five thousand to one hundred thirty thousand dollars in 2019, with senior practitioners and those combining OSCP with additional experience often exceeding these figures substantially. The certification became a baseline requirement at many dedicated penetration testing firms and red team operations, and its reputation for rigor made it highly regarded even at organizations that did not explicitly require it. Security professionals who combined OSCP with experience in web application testing, network exploitation, or social engineering were particularly sought after in 2019 as organizations increasingly recognized the value of offensive security perspectives in strengthening their defensive capabilities.

CRISC: Governing Risk Brought Exceptional Compensation Rewards

The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control certification from ISACA focused specifically on the intersection of enterprise risk management and information systems control, occupying a niche that proved extraordinarily valuable in 2019 as regulatory complexity and board-level attention to cyber risk reached new heights. CRISC holders reported average salaries ranging from one hundred thousand to one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in 2019, reflecting strong demand from financial services firms, healthcare organizations, and multinational enterprises navigating complex compliance environments that required professionals capable of translating technical risk into business language.

The CRISC examination covers four domains: IT risk identification, IT risk assessment, risk response and mitigation, and risk and control monitoring and reporting. This risk-centric focus made CRISC an ideal credential for professionals working at the intersection of audit, compliance, and security, including roles such as Risk Manager, IT Auditor, and Compliance Officer with security responsibilities. The certification complemented both CISSP and CISM well, and professionals holding all three credentials from ISACA and ISC2 were particularly well-positioned for senior governance, risk, and compliance leadership roles that commanded the highest compensation in the non-technical track of the cyber security profession.

GIAC Security Expert: The Pinnacle of Technical Security Mastery

The GIAC Security Expert designation from the SANS Institute represented the apex of the GIAC certification hierarchy in 2019 and one of the most exclusive credentials in the entire cyber security industry. Earning the GSE requires candidates to first hold multiple GIAC certifications in relevant security domains, then pass a written exam and complete an intensive multi-day practical lab examination administered in person at SANS facilities. The combination of prerequisites, written assessment, and hands-on lab evaluation ensured that the GSE holder population remained extremely small, which directly contributed to the exceptional compensation these professionals commanded.

GSE holders in 2019 reported compensation that frequently exceeded one hundred thirty thousand dollars annually, with many operating in senior consulting, advisory, or research roles that provided additional income beyond base salary. The credential was particularly valued at government agencies, defense contractors, and elite managed security service providers that needed professionals capable of leading incident response efforts, designing comprehensive security architectures, and mentoring teams of security analysts. The SANS Institute’s strong reputation for technical rigor and practical relevance meant that GSE holders were regarded as genuinely elite practitioners whose credentials carried weight among technical peers as well as hiring managers, a combination that sustained exceptional compensation outcomes.

CEH: The Ethical Hacking Credential With Broad Enterprise Adoption

The Certified Ethical Hacker credential from EC-Council occupied an interesting position in the 2019 cyber security certification landscape as a credential that generated some debate among practitioners regarding its technical depth while simultaneously demonstrating remarkable commercial success in terms of employer adoption and salary association. CEH holders reported average salaries ranging from eighty-five thousand to one hundred ten thousand dollars in 2019, with compensation varying significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and whether the credential was held in combination with more technically rigorous certifications.

The CEH examination covers a broad curriculum including footprinting and reconnaissance, scanning networks, enumeration, vulnerability analysis, system hacking, malware threats, sniffing, social engineering, denial of service attacks, session hijacking, web server attacks, web application hacking, SQL injection, wireless network hacking, mobile platform attacks, cloud computing security, and cryptography. This comprehensive coverage of offensive security concepts made it attractive to organizations seeking to establish baseline ethical hacking competency across their security teams, and its vendor-neutral approach meant that the knowledge transferred across different technology environments. For professionals early in their security careers, CEH served as a valued credential that opened doors to penetration testing and vulnerability assessment roles that would not otherwise have been accessible without more extensive experience.

CompTIA Security Plus and Advanced Security Practitioner Pathways

CompTIA’s security certification pathway occupied a foundational but commercially important position in the 2019 cyber security salary landscape. While the entry-level Security Plus certification itself was associated with salaries in the fifty-five thousand to eighty thousand dollar range, it served as a critical prerequisite and foundational building block for professionals advancing toward the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner credential, which targeted experienced security practitioners and was associated with substantially higher compensation in the eighty-five thousand to one hundred ten thousand dollar range. The Department of Defense’s inclusion of CompTIA certifications in its approved baseline certification requirements for information assurance workforce members created particularly strong demand for these credentials among defense contractors and government agencies.

The CASP examination, which was the advanced credential in the CompTIA security pathway, required candidates to demonstrate enterprise security competency across complex environments including the integration of enterprise components, implementation of cryptographic techniques, and management of risk in complex environments involving hybrid cloud, on-premises, and mobile infrastructure. This enterprise focus distinguished CASP from more tactical certifications and positioned it as a credential suitable for senior security practitioners who preferred to remain technically hands-on rather than transitioning into pure management roles. The CompTIA pathway’s vendor-neutral approach and DoD recognition created a distinct market segment where these credentials delivered exceptional salary outcomes relative to their preparation requirements.

Cloud Security Alliance CCSP: Meeting the Cloud Security Imperative

The Certified Cloud Security Professional credential from the Cloud Security Alliance and ISC2 emerged as one of the most timely and rapidly growing credentials in the 2019 cyber security landscape, coinciding with an accelerating enterprise migration to cloud infrastructure that created urgent demand for professionals capable of securing cloud environments. CCSP holders reported average salaries ranging from one hundred thousand to one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in 2019, reflecting both the technical complexity of cloud security and the relative scarcity of professionals with formal credentials validating their cloud security expertise specifically.

The CCSP examination covers six domains: cloud concepts, architecture, and design; cloud data security; cloud platform and infrastructure security; cloud application security; cloud security operations; and legal, risk, and compliance. The credential’s dual sponsorship from ISC2 and the Cloud Security Alliance brought together the institutional credibility of the world’s leading cyber security professional organization with the domain-specific expertise of the leading cloud security standards body, creating a credential with strong recognition across both traditional enterprise security teams and cloud-native technology organizations. For CISSP holders seeking to extend their credentials into the cloud domain, the CCSP offered a natural and highly valued extension that justified significant salary premiums in roles specifically focused on cloud security architecture, governance, and compliance.

How to Choose the Right High-Value Certification for Your Career Stage

Selecting the optimal certification from among the highest-paying options requires matching credential requirements and content to your current experience level and career trajectory rather than simply pursuing whichever certification appears at the top of salary rankings. Many of the most lucrative certifications in 2019 carried substantial experience prerequisites that made them inaccessible to early-career professionals regardless of their study motivation or intellectual capability. The CISSP, for example, required five years of professional security experience across two or more of its eight domains, while the CISM required four years of information security management work experience. Attempting to pursue these credentials before meeting the experience thresholds would result in ineligibility rather than a marketable credential.

A more productive approach involves mapping your current experience level to the appropriate tier of certifications and planning a sequential credential path that builds both knowledge and professional experience simultaneously. Early-career professionals might appropriately begin with CompTIA Security Plus, CEH, or OSCP depending on their technical background and role focus. Mid-career professionals with several years of experience can credibly pursue CISSP, CISM, CRISC, or CCSP depending on whether their work has been more technical or governance-oriented. Senior practitioners with deep specializations can target CCIE Security, GSE, or advanced specialty credentials that require both broad foundational knowledge and demonstrated expertise in specific technical domains.

Geographic Variation in Cyber Security Certification Salary Outcomes

Salary data for cyber security certifications in 2019 varied considerably by geography, and understanding these regional differences is essential for interpreting survey data accurately and setting realistic compensation expectations. The highest salaries for virtually every cyber security certification were found in major metropolitan technology hubs including the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Washington DC, Seattle, and Boston. In these markets, professionals holding premium certifications like CISSP or CCIE Security could expect total compensation packages that significantly exceeded national averages, often by thirty to fifty thousand dollars or more when base salary, bonuses, and equity compensation were included.

Geographic variation in cyber security compensation reflected differences in cost of living, concentration of major employers, presence of defense and government contracting activity, and density of financial services organizations with intensive security requirements. The Washington DC metropolitan area showed particularly strong demand and compensation for professionals holding certifications relevant to government and defense work, including CISSP, CompTIA certifications approved for DoD positions, and credentials from ISACA relevant to audit and compliance roles in federal agencies. Professionals willing to relocate to high-demand markets or engage in remote work arrangements with employers in premium markets could access compensation significantly above what their local market might otherwise support.

The Role of Experience in Amplifying Certification Salary Premiums

A consistent finding across 2019 cyber security compensation research was that certifications delivered their highest salary premiums when combined with substantial professional experience rather than functioning as standalone qualifications. A professional with two years of security experience and a CISSP would not command the same compensation as a professional with fifteen years of progressive security experience and the same credential, even though both technically held the same certification. Employers recognized this distinction clearly and factored experience depth, breadth of exposure to different security domains, and evidence of increasing responsibility into compensation decisions alongside credential status.

This dynamic has important implications for how professionals should think about the relationship between earning certifications and accumulating experience simultaneously. The most financially successful cyber security careers in 2019 belonged to professionals who had been strategic about both dimensions throughout their careers, taking on roles that expanded their security experience while pursuing certifications that validated and formalized the expertise they were building in practice. Professionals who pursued certifications intensively while remaining in roles that did not provide relevant experience found that their credentials delivered less salary impact than expected, while those who built rich practical experience without formalizing it through credentials sometimes found their compensation limited by the absence of universally recognized validation of their capabilities.

Conclusion

The landscape of highest-paying cyber security certifications in 2019 painted a vivid picture of a profession undergoing rapid transformation in response to intensifying threat environments, mounting regulatory demands, and an acute global shortage of qualified security professionals. From the universally recognized CISSP to the technically elite CCIE Security and the practically rigorous OSCP, the credentials that commanded the highest salaries shared a common thread of genuine depth, real prerequisite requirements, and demonstrated alignment with the most pressing security challenges facing organizations of every size and sector.

What the salary data from 2019 ultimately revealed was not merely which credentials were worth pursuing in that specific year but a deeper truth about how cyber security careers generate exceptional financial outcomes over the long term. The certifications associated with the highest compensation were not shortcuts or quick credentials designed for professionals seeking rapid salary advancement without genuine expertise development. They were challenging, time-intensive, experience-dependent credentials that reflected substantial investment in professional mastery, and employers compensated holders accordingly because they recognized the genuine value that such mastery delivered.

The professionals who made the most effective use of certification data in 2019 were those who used it not as a simple guide to which exam to take next but as a map of the expertise domains where the security industry placed the highest value. By aligning their study, experience accumulation, and credential pursuits with those high-value domains, they built careers that delivered not just strong compensation in any given year but sustained and growing financial rewards as their expertise deepened and their credentials portfolio expanded over time.

For anyone entering or advancing within the cyber security profession, the 2019 certification salary landscape offered an important lesson that remains relevant regardless of the year: the greatest career investments are those that combine rigorous credential attainment with genuine expertise development, professional experience in high-demand specializations, and continuous learning habits that keep pace with an industry where the threat landscape, the technology, and the regulatory environment evolve constantly. The certifications that paid best in 2019 did so because they represented real expertise, and real expertise will always find a willing and generous market among organizations that understand what it costs to be unprepared for the security challenges of the modern world.