Cybersecurity55% remote-eligible+8% YoY growth

Director of Cybersecurity Salary
by City (2026)

Lead cybersecurity teams, manage security programs, and report to executive leadership. National median: $195K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$195K

Top 10% earn

$305K

Entry level

$155K

Salary growth

+8%/yr

Director of Cybersecurity salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$256K	$322K	$404K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$245K	$308K	$387K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$231K	$290K	$365K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$229K	$289K	$363K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$229K	$288K	$362K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$229K	$288K	$362K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$220K	$277K	$348K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$221K	$277K	$349K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$218K	$274K	$345K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$217K	$273K	$343K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$214K	$269K	$338K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$214K	$269K	$338K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$212K	$267K	$335K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$212K	$267K	$335K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$210K	$264K	$331K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$209K	$263K	$331K	163	9.3%
Arlington, VA	$209K	$263K	$331K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$206K	$260K	$326K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$205K	$257K	$323K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$204K	$256K	$322K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$202K	$254K	$319K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$200K	$251K	$316K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$198K	$250K	$314K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$198K	$249K	$313K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$198K	$249K	$313K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$195K	$246K	$309K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$195K	$246K	$309K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$191K	$240K	$302K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$189K	$238K	$299K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$190K	$238K	$300K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$189K	$238K	$299K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$190K	$238K	$300K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$190K	$238K	$300K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$183K	$230K	$289K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$183K	$230K	$289K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$183K	$230K	$289K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$178K	$224K	$282K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$178K	$224K	$282K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$178K	$224K	$282K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$178K	$224K	$282K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$178K	$224K	$282K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$178K	$224K	$282K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$178K	$224K	$282K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$176K	$222K	$278K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$174K	$219K	$276K	120	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$174K	$218K	$274K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$174K	$218K	$274K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$174K	$218K	$274K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$174K	$218K	$274K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$174K	$218K	$274K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$174K	$218K	$274K	106	6.8%
Frisco, TX	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$173K	$217K	$273K	118	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$171K	$215K	$270K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$171K	$215K	$270K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$171K	$215K	$270K	102	4.75%
Provo, UT	$171K	$215K	$270K	100	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$171K	$215K	$270K	118	6.99%
Anchorage, AK	$171K	$215K	$270K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$170K	$214K	$269K	115	5.99%
Irving, TX	$167K	$211K	$265K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$167K	$211K	$265K	118	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$168K	$211K	$265K	112	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$167K	$211K	$265K	105	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$168K	$211K	$265K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$168K	$211K	$265K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$167K	$211K	$265K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$166K	$209K	$262K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$164K	$207K	$260K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$163K	$205K	$257K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$163K	$205K	$257K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$163K	$205K	$257K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$163K	$205K	$257K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$163K	$205K	$257K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$163K	$205K	$257K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$163K	$205K	$257K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$163K	$205K	$257K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$162K	$203K	$256K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$162K	$203K	$256K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$162K	$203K	$256K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$162K	$203K	$256K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$162K	$203K	$256K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$159K	$200K	$252K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$159K	$200K	$252K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$158K	$199K	$250K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$158K	$199K	$250K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$158K	$199K	$250K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$158K	$199K	$250K	88	5%
Denton, TX	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$157K	$198K	$249K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$156K	$196K	$246K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$155K	$195K	$245K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$155K	$195K	$245K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$155K	$195K	$245K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$155K	$195K	$245K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$155K	$195K	$245K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$155K	$195K	$245K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$153K	$193K	$242K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$152K	$191K	$240K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$152K	$191K	$240K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$152K	$191K	$240K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$152K	$191K	$240K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$151K	$190K	$238K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$151K	$190K	$238K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$151K	$190K	$238K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$151K	$190K	$238K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$151K	$190K	$238K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$149K	$188K	$236K	90	2.5%
Cincinnati, OH	$149K	$187K	$235K	88	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$149K	$187K	$235K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$149K	$187K	$235K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$149K	$187K	$235K	90	5.3%
Pasadena, TX	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$147K	$185K	$233K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$147K	$185K	$233K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$147K	$185K	$233K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$147K	$185K	$233K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$147K	$185K	$233K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$145K	$182K	$229K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$143K	$179K	$225K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$143K	$179K	$225K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$143K	$179K	$225K	95	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$143K	$179K	$225K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$143K	$179K	$225K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$142K	$179K	$225K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$141K	$177K	$222K	80	5%
Cleveland, OH	$140K	$176K	$221K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$140K	$176K	$221K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$140K	$176K	$221K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$140K	$176K	$221K	88	5.84%
Abilene, TX	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$139K	$175K	$220K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$137K	$172K	$216K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$136K	$172K	$216K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$136K	$172K	$216K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$136K	$172K	$216K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$136K	$172K	$216K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$136K	$172K	$216K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$136K	$172K	$216K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$136K	$172K	$216K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$136K	$172K	$216K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$136K	$172K	$216K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$137K	$172K	$216K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$137K	$172K	$216K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$132K	$166K	$208K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$132K	$166K	$208K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$132K	$166K	$208K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$127K	$160K	$201K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$127K	$160K	$201K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$124K	$156K	$196K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$116K	$146K	$184K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $195K Director of Cybersecurity 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 →

Director of Cybersecurity Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Director of Cybersecurity is $195,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $155,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $245,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Director of Cybersecuritys nationally earn $305,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS; CISSP; 10+ years experience. 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

Director of Cybersecurity compensation is growing at 8% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Director of Cybersecuritys significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Director of Cybersecurity salary FAQ

How much does a Director of Cybersecurity make?

The median Director of Cybersecurity salary in the US is $195,000 per year — about $94/hour. Most earn between $155,000 (25th percentile) and $245,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Director of Cybersecurity?

Entry-level Director of Cybersecurity positions typically start around $155,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Director of Cybersecuritys earn?

The top 10% of Director of Cybersecuritys earn $305,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Director of Cybersecuritys the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Director of Cybersecurity salary at $322K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Director of Cybersecurity salaries going up?

Yes — Director of Cybersecurity pay is growing about 8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Director of Cybersecurity Salaryby City (2026)