SOC 2135 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals

Cyber security professionals Salary

Median salary £54,816 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £55,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For cyber security professionals, £54,647 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +40% versus the national average. Experienced cyber security professionals (top 25%) earn over £73,083.

About this role

Cyber security professionals protect organisations from digital threats by designing, implementing and managing security systems, conducting vulnerability assessments, responding to incidents and ensuring compliance with data protection and security standards.

Key responsibilities

Designing and implementing cybersecurity controls and architecture
Monitoring networks and systems for security threats
Conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Responding to security incidents and managing remediation
Developing security policies and ensuring regulatory compliance

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a degree in cybersecurity, computer science or a related field. Professional certifications are essential: CISSP, CISM, CEH, CompTIA Security+ and cloud security certifications (AWS Security, Azure Security) are widely recognised.

Career outlook

Exceptional demand with a significant skills shortage. Salaries are rising rapidly. AI security, cloud security and operational technology (OT) security are particularly in-demand specialisms.

Key skills

Network security Threat analysis Incident response Security architecture Compliance (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR)

Common industries

Financial services
Technology
Government and defence
Healthcare
Critical national infrastructure

Data coverage

SOC code 2135

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 27,000

Median Salary

£54,816

Mean Salary

£59,569

Jobs (000s)

27k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £42,704Median: £54,816P75: £73,083

P10: £32kP25: £43kMedian: £55kP75: £73kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£32,302

0-2 years

Mid Level

£42,704

3-7 years

Senior

£73,083

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +126% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +13.2%Real growth: -8.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£54,816

Full-time Only

£54,647

Full-time premium: +£-169

Cyber security professionals salary: common questions

How much do cyber security professionals earn in the UK?

Cyber security professionals earn a median of £54,647 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £42,704 and £73,083.

Is £54,647 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for cyber security professionals?

Entry-level cyber security professionals typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £42,704, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £32,302.

Have cyber security professionals salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median cyber security professionals pay has risen from £49,836 to £54,647 — +10% in cash terms, or -11% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).