The Top 20 Cities for CISSPs
We analyzed job postings and crunched data to determine the real value of the CISSP certificate. This list includes the top 20 US cities that have CISSP certified holders.
Your job market will determine the monetary value of the CISSP certification. If you have the CISSP certification but live in a place with few CISSP jobs, you will need to decide whether you want to move to an area with more opportunities or take a lower salary. Although remote work may be possible, many cybersecurity positions will require employees to work on-site.
This list will help you decide where to go to make the most of your CISSP certification.
Methodology
To determine the average salary range for open positions, we used raw data from job portals. The data was compiled from LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and other job sites. This list was created by analyzing and interpreting the data.
The published salary ranges are subject to a margin of error. These salaries can be negotiable. Specific skills combined with the CISSP certificate can lead to a higher salary than the published ranges. Specialized experience will allow some CISSPs to earn more than the published ranges.
The CISSP certification requires that the holder have at least five years of experience in multiple cybersecurity domains. This experience requirement means that a CISSP certification will require you to have the required or preferred experience for the positions we evaluated to determine their job market value. Although this is not true for all jobs, it is our general assumption.
Here’s a list:
1. San Francisco CA
From $100,100 up to $145,000.
San Francisco is home to nearly all CISSPs, with an average salary of more than $100K. All of the tech companies in the Silicon Valley area drive up the CISSP certification value. While the cost of living in this area is high, the salaries are also very good. There are around 1000 CISSP positions available in the region. You will be able to work in this technology hub if you are certified as CISSP.
Listed below are some companies that are actively looking for CISSPs:
- Accenture
- First Republic Bank
- Cisco
- Salesforce
- Deloitte
2. New York City
$95,000 – $145,000
The CISSP certification is highly sought-after in New York City. Both the area’s demand for cybersecurity professionals and the area’s cost of living determines the value.
The following are major employers of CISSPs in New York:
- Deloitte
- Accenture
- BNY Mellon
- Engineering Research Group Inc.
- EY
3. Chicago IL
$90,000 – $140,000
There is a lot of demand in Chicago for certified cybersecurity professionals, CISSPs. The average salary for CISSP positions is about the same as in New York City. This is a great city for cyber specialists because of its low cost of living.
These are the top employers for CISSPs Chicago:
- Accenture (16).
- Request Technology
- Crowe
- Bank of America
- Deloitte
- Avanade
4. Boston MA
$90,000-$135,000
CISSPs have great opportunities in Boston. Although the low end of this market is comparable to larger cities, five years of experience or more will result in a higher salary of $135K. Although the cost of living is higher than average in this area, there are plenty of things to do.
Some companies are actively looking for CISSP-certified professionals.
- Raytheon
- State Street
- BAE Systems
- Foreground Security
- Accenture
5. Washington DC Metro Area
From $90,000 up to $130,000
The Washington DC metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia and Maryland, is a good place to get CISSP certification. This region has approximately 10,000 job openings.
The following are major employers of CISSPs:
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- CACI
- General Dynamics Information Technology
- ManTech International Corporation
- Perspecta
These companies are government contractors that hire people based on contracts they win. The qualifications required for these positions are set by the government and are contractual. The government requires certifications at IAT Level 3 and CISSP for many cybersecurity positions. For government contracts, CISSP positions require a security clearance.
6. Los Angeles CA
$90,000 – $130,000
There are approximately 1000 open CISSP jobs in Los Angeles. This is a great opportunity for cybersecurity professionals. While the salary range for CISSPs in Los Angeles is comparable to that of Washington DC, the cost of living is a little higher. This is a great place for CISSPs if you’re willing to work in traffic and enjoy the outdoors.
The following are major employers of CISSPs within the Philadelphia region:
- Northrop Grumman
- Deloitte
- RSM US LLP
- Accenture
- Time Warner
7. San Bernardino CA
$90,000 – $130,000
Although the pay range in San Bernardino is comparable to Los Angeles’, there is a much lower demand for CISSPs. There are, however, a few hundred CISSP jobs available in this region.
Some companies in San Bernardino are actively looking for CISSP certified holders.
RSM US LLP
Accenture
Southern California Edison
Esri
Deloitte
8. Pittsburgh PA
$90,200 – $125,100
Over the past ten years, Pittsburgh has worked to attract technology businesses. Many technology companies call the ‘Burg home because of the generous tax incentives that the city provides to encourage companies to relocate to the region. This city has a few hundred job opportunities every day, so it may be a good choice for you. Steelers, go!
Some companies in Pittsburgh are actively looking for CISSPs.
- Highmark Health
- BNY Mellon
- Software Engineering Institute
- Accenture
- EQT Corporation
9. Minneapolis MN
$89,900 – $130,000
There are several hundred jobs available for CISSP-certified professionals in the twin cities. This market is a great place to work, with a wide range of compensation options that will enable you to live comfortably.
Some businesses in the Twin Cities are looking for CISSPs.
- Target
- Accenture
- UnitedHealth Group
- RSM US LLP
- Best Buy
10. Atlanta GA
$87,500 – $130,000
There are always 300-500 jobs available in Atlanta for CISSP certified people. There is plenty of opportunity for growth and a reasonable cost of living. The winters are cool, while the summers can be hot. Atlanta is a wonderful place to live.
These companies are actively looking for CISSPs in this area:
- Fiserv
- Accenture
- E*TRADE FINANCIAL
- Ernst & Young OM
- Verizon
11 Houston TX
$85,300-$135,700
Houston, an international city, is a technology hub. Many oil and energy companies, such as Shell and Exxon, call this city home. Houston and its surrounding areas have just 800 CISSP positions.
The Houston area has many major employers, including:
- Deloitte
- Accenture
- RSM US LLP
- Avanade
- General Electric
Houston is a great place to live and work for young professionals. It is lively and hot. How is the job market for cybersecurity professionals in CISSP?
12. Baltimore MD
$85,000 to $125,000
There are many open CISSP positions in Baltimore. This city is striving to be a cybersecurity hub in the US. Many companies in this region are focused on cybersecurity. This city is a great place to work as a cybersecurity professional because it’s a short drive from military bases and Washington DC.
Here are some of the top companies that are actively looking for CISSP-certified workers:
General Dynamics Information Technology
CSRA
Northrop Grumman
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
CyberLinx Solutions LLC
13. St Louis, MO
$84,400 – $121,000
Although “The Gateway City” may not be known for its technology, it still offers a good salary for CISSP-certified workers. Companies regularly advertise 100-200 vacancies in this area for positions that require the CISSP certificate.
Some of the St. Louis companies that are looking for CISSPs are:
- AT&T
- CACI
- Spectrum
- Abile Group, Inc.
- ManTech International Corporation
14. Detroit MI
$84,400 – $129,500
In the Detroit area, there are always 100-200 open CISSP jobs. The average salary for a CISSP is in the low six figures, as you would expect.
These companies are currently hiring for CISSP jobs in Detroit:
- TARGET
- Accenture
- UnitedHealth Group
- RSM US LLP
- Best Buy
15. Dallas TX
$84,100 – $130,100
Dallas is a great place to live and work for CISSPs due to its low cost of living and excellent salary prospects. This market has just 500 jobs available, and cybersecurity specialists are in high demand.
The following are major employers of CISSPs within the Dallas region:
- Verizon
- Raytheon
- Grant Thornton
- Bank of America
- Ernst & Young OM
Dallas is known as a tech hub. This area is home to many technology companies. There are lower costs for commercial real estate, tax benefits, and a large pool of skilled workers. Verizon has a large campus located just west of the city. Apple is a local company and recently announced an expansion of its workforce.
16. Denver CO
$84,000 – $125,000
There are many CISSP positions available in Denver at any given time. These positions have a salary range of as low as six figures. Denver could be the right place for you if you enjoy the outdoors and hold the CISSP certification.
Companies that hire CISSPs regularly in Denver include:
- Lockheed Martin Corp.
- AppliedTrust
- Accenture
- Raytheon
17. Miami FL
$80,100 – $120,600
There is a lot of demand in Miami for cybersecurity professionals who are CISSPs. These positions have a lower cost of living than other major cities and a salary average of about $100k.
CISSPs are hired by some of these employers:
- Enterprise Risk Management
- ADT Security Services
- ADT Corporation
- Citi
- Verizon
18. Phoenix AZ
$81,500 – $122,000
Phoenix is a great place to live if you love hot desert weather. Phoenix is a great place to live, with a very low cost of living. The CISSP certification requires a good salary.
These are the major employers of CISSPs for Phoenix:
- Vitalant
- Productive Data Solutions, Inc.
- Early Warning Services
- Wells Fargo
- Paypal
19. Tampa FL
$80,100 – $120,000
The cost of living in Tampa is lower than in other major US cities. The CISSP certification will allow you to earn a lot more than the average salary for a comfortable lifestyle.
Some employers in Tampa are actively looking for CISSPs:
Verizon
RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL
PwC
Nielsen
RSM US LLP
20. Omaha NB
$75,100 – $121,200
Omaha’s salary range is a little lower than that of larger cities but there are still cybersecurity professionals available in the region. We found approximately 500 positions that required CISSP certification, both in the private and public sectors.
The following are the major employers of CISSPs in Omaha:
- TD Ameritrade
- G4S
- Oasis System, Inc.
- LTE Technology Solutions
- SAIC
