Salary for Senior-level / Expert Security Engineer during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Security Engineer salary lies between USD 135,000 and USD 224,034 globally. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 17, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Security Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Engineer job listings are Security, Python and Engineering. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Security | 160 jobs Python | 139 jobs Engineering | 123 jobs Machine Learning | 106 jobs AWS | 89 jobs Architecture | 84 jobs Computer Science | 73 jobs Azure | 70 jobs Testing | 69 jobs Privacy | 55 jobs Java | 52 jobs Research | 46 jobs GCP | 45 jobs CI/CD | 43 jobs JavaScript | 39 jobs Kubernetes | 38 jobs APIs | 35 jobs Pipelines | 32 jobs Terraform | 32 jobs LLMs | 31 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Security Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Security Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 120 jobs Health care | 77 jobs Equity / stock options | 60 jobs Flex hours | 57 jobs Competitive pay | 50 jobs Team events | 48 jobs Insurance | 46 jobs Medical leave | 45 jobs Wellness | 40 jobs Startup environment | 40 jobs Flex vacation | 35 jobs Salary bonus | 32 jobs Parental leave | 28 jobs 401(k) matching | 21 jobs Relocation support | 11 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 10 jobs Fertility benefits | 10 jobs Home office stipend | 7 jobs Conferences | 6 jobs Flexible spending account | 6 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level/Expert Security Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically comprises several components. The fixed base salary is the largest portion, often accounting for 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or tied to company profits, usually make up 10-20%. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies, and other benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. The exact composition can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech giants in Silicon Valley might offer substantial stock options, while companies in other regions might focus more on cash bonuses.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 166,500, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas of AI/ML security, such as adversarial machine learning or secure data pipelines.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into managerial or director-level positions, which often come with higher pay.
• Consulting: Offer your expertise as a consultant, which can command higher hourly rates.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML and security to remain competitive.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities.

Educational Requirements

Most senior-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve complex problem-solving and research. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of machine learning algorithms, data structures, and security protocols, which are crucial for this role.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

These certifications can validate your skills in both security and machine learning, making you a more attractive candidate.

Required Experience

Typically, a senior-level position requires at least 5-10 years of experience in security engineering, with a significant portion of that time spent working with AI/ML systems. Experience in designing and implementing security measures for data-driven applications, as well as a proven track record of managing security incidents, is crucial. Familiarity with regulatory compliance and risk management in AI/ML contexts is also beneficial.

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