By Quick answer: Which cybersecurity certification pays the most in 2027?
- CISSP — US average $168,060 (Skillsoft 2025).
- CISM — $157,189.
- CISA — $155,362.
- Caution — senior credentials need years of verified experience.
Key takeaways
- The best-paid credentials require experience; pay reflects seniority.
- Security+ is the entry route toward those salaries.
- Management and audit credentials pay as well as technical ones.
Cybersecurity has some of the best-paid certifications in tech. But the top of every salary list is held by credentials that need years of verified experience, which is part of why holders earn so much. Here's what the survey data shows, and the route to get there.
Six well-paid security certifications
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalISC2 | See ISC2 page3 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 2 | CISM – Certified Information Security ManagerISACA | US$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members4 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 3 | CISA – Certified Information Systems AuditorISACA | US$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members5 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 4 | Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)EC-Council | Check the official page6 | 125 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours | Free test |
| 5 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store7 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 6 | Cisco CCNACisco | Check the official page8 | Check issuer | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- CISSP Practice TestPractise for CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional before you pay.Start free test →
- CISM Practice TestPractise for CISM – Certified Information Security Manager before you pay.Start free test →
- CISA Practice TestPractise for CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor before you pay.Start free test →
- CEH Practice TestPractise for Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification, and why holders earn well
- ISC2CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security ProfessionalThe top survey averageSee ISC2 page
- ISACACISM – Certified Information Security ManagerSecurity managementUS$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members
- ISACACISA – Certified Information Systems AuditorIT audit and assuranceUS$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members
CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cost
- See ISC2 page3
- Entry
- 5 years of paid security work experience
Skillsoft's 2025 survey put average US pay for CISSP holders at $168,060, and $146,131 globally.1 It needs five years of paid security experience. ISC2's senior credential covers eight broad security domains and requires five years of paid security experience. It's ANAB-accredited, and US holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's 2025 survey, the highest of any IT certification there.
Best forthe top survey average
CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
- Cost
- US$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members4
Holders averaged $157,189 in the same survey.1 For security managers; US$575 for ISACA members, US$760 for non-members. ISACA's credential for security managers covers governance, risk, programme management and incident management. It costs US$575 for ISACA members and US$760 for non-members and requires management experience.
Best forsecurity management
CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor
- Cost
- US$575 ISACA members / US$760 non-members5
Holders averaged $155,362.1 The standard credential for IT audit and assurance; same ISACA pricing. ISACA's audit credential covers auditing information systems, governance, operations and protection of assets. It costs US$575 for ISACA members and US$760 for non-members and is the standard for IT auditors.
Best forIT audit and assurance
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Cost
- Check the official page6
- Format
- 125 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours
Common in penetration testing and red team posts. 125 questions in four hours. EC-Council's ethical hacking exam has 125 multiple-choice questions in four hours, covering attack techniques and tools. It's ANAB-accredited and often named in penetration testing posts; check EC-Council for the fee.
Best forpenetration testing
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store7
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
The entry credential. On its own it won't bring the salaries above, but it's how most people start the climb. CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best forthe entry route into well-paid roles
Cisco CCNA
- Cost
- Check the official page8
Network security roles combine two well-paid skill sets. Cisco's associate exam proves the networking half. Cisco's associate credential covers network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity, services, security and automation. It's ANAB-accredited and widely recognised for network engineer roles; check Cisco's page for the fee.
Best fornetwork security
The route to a six-figure security salary
- Years 0–1 — Security+ and a SOC or IT role.
- Years 1–3 — specialise: cloud security, pentesting (CEH) or networking (CCNA).
- Years 3–5 — build experience toward CISSP's five-year requirement.
- Year 5+ — CISSP, or CISM if you're managing, CISA if you're auditing.
How we ranked these picks
We list certifications with published survey salary data and explain the experience behind the pay. Figures are survey averages and do not predict individual pay. Fees come from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which cybersecurity certification pays the most?
CISSP, with a US average of $168,060 in Skillsoft's 2025 survey. CISM and CISA follow closely.
Can a beginner get a high-paying security certification?
Not the top ones: CISSP needs five years of experience. ISC2 lets you earn an Associate of ISC2 by passing before you have the experience.
Is CISM or CISSP better paid?
In Skillsoft's survey, CISSP holders averaged slightly more. CISM suits management roles; CISSP suits technical leadership.
What do security professionals earn in India?
Pay varies by city, company and role. Check current data on Naukri, Glassdoor or AmbitionBox for the job title you want.
Is there a free CISSP practice test?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free CISSP, CISM, CISA and Security+ practice tests with instant results.
Sources
- Skillsoft — Top-paying IT certifications
- World Economic Forum — The Future of Jobs Report 2025
- ISC2 — CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISACA — CISM – Certified Information Security Manager, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ISACA — CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- EC-Council — Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Cisco — Cisco CCNA, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best Cybersecurity Certifications of 2027: Top 10 Ranked — related guide
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The highest-paying IT certifications for 2027, from Skillsoft's salary surveyThe highest-paying IT certifications for 2027 from Skillsoft survey data: CISSP, CISM, AWS Solutions Architect, CISA and AWS Cloud Practitioner, with fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The best cybersecurity certifications of 2027: ten from first job to CISOThe 10 best cybersecurity certifications of 2027: CompTIA Security+, ISC2 CC, CISSP, CISM, CISA, CEH, Google Cybersecurity, CCNA and more, with fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The cybersecurity certification roadmap for 2027: from first IT job to CISSPA cybersecurity certification roadmap for 2027: Google Cybersecurity or ISC2 CC, A+ and Network+, Security+, then CEH or CCNA, then CISSP, CISM or CISA.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 10 certifications and courses for 2027, ranked by what holders earn, and what that number really meansThe top 10 certifications for 2027 ranked by salary: CISSP, CISM, AWS Solutions Architect and CISA lead US pay data. See costs, prerequisites and links.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The highest-paying cloud computing certifications for 2027, from survey dataThe highest-paying cloud certifications for 2027: AWS Solutions Architect, Google Cloud ML Engineer, CKA, AZ-104 and more, with survey salaries and fees.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Top 5 cybersecurity certifications to get hired in 2027: the ones security job posts nameThe top 5 cybersecurity certifications to get hired in 2027: CompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEH, ISC2 CC and CISM, matched to security job titles.
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