10 highest-paying IT security jobs

With increasing concern around identity theft, hacking, data security and privacy, and with a number of high-profile data breaches in the news, organizations are doubling down on their need for qualified, talented security professionals. Not surprisingly, salaries are increasing right along with demand.

“Security plays a key role in a company’s success, which is why we’re seeing more demand for professionals with security skills. With that in mind, if companies and recruiters want to lure top security talent, they need to offer generous compensation packages and benefits,” says Shravan Goli, president of Dice.com.

“A number of our clients have really ramped up their hiring in security because of concerns around these issues,” says Jason Berkowitz, vice president of client services for recruiting process outsourcing firm Seven Step RPO.

“They’re investing heavily in the talent with the skills and experience to protect against these threats. If I were advising an IT pro where they should focus their energies, or a student entering college for an IT degree, I’d tell them you can’t go wrong with a computer science degree and a specialization in security,” says Berkowitz. Here are the 10 highest-paying security roles, based on average salary data from Dice.com clients’ job postings.