Security Engineer Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Security engineers, also known as cybersecurity engineers, play a crucial role in the cybersecurity landscape. In this role, you often strategise, design, develop, and manage tools and systems that protect digital data and devices. Formulating rules or protocols to assess the efficiency of security procedures is also within their purview. Read on to learn more about what a career in this field could be like, including the average salary for security engineers and key factors that may influence it.

Security engineer salary

According to Glassdoor, the average annual base salary for a security engineer in the United Kingdom is £50,000 [1]. The potential additional pay, which may include commissions, profit-sharing, or bonuses, is in the region of £7,000. Keep in mind that factors like your industry, specialisation, and experience level can impact your yearly wage. The following sections provide more information about average salaries at different career stages, in different counties throughout the UK, and by area of expertise.

In-demand fields for security engineers

Due to the growing need to defend digital systems and counteract evolving cyber threats, security engineers are becoming more in demand in various fields in the UK. These positions are essential to protecting organisations and guaranteeing their ability to withstand potential technological setbacks. Demand for the specialised knowledge of these professionals is high in the UK, especially in key areas such as finance, health care, and government sectors, alongside other industries.

Cloud security engineer salary

Cloud computing is an in-demand field. As a result, the annual pay for a cloud security engineer in the UK is a bit higher, averaging at £62,000 annually [2]. Additional pay averages around £4,000 annually and may consist of bonuses, commissions, tips, or profit-sharing.

Network security engineer salary

The average UK salary for a security engineer who specialises in network security is £46,000 per year, with the potential to earn an additional £4,000 per year in profit-sharing, commissions, and bonuses [3].

Principal security engineer salary

The typical UK salary for a principal security engineer is substantially higher than that of a security engineer, averaging £87,000 per year [4]. The estimated additional annual pay, potentially including bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing, is £12,000. 

Certifications for security engineers

Certifications help validate your expertise to current and prospective employers by demonstrating your commitment to staying updated with industry advancements and best practices. The following list compiles popular certifications to consider if you want to increase your pay as a security engineer:

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Yearly salary by levels of experience

The estimated median annual salaries are based on varying levels of experience. Typically, the more experience you have, the higher your earning potential. Explore the salary difference you can earn as a security engineer as you gain expertise [1]:

The salary information below is the average annual base pay from Glassdoor as of July 2025. These figures do not include additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

• 0–1 year: £42,000

• 1–3 years: £50,000

• 4–6 years: £55,000

• 7–9 years: £57,000

• 10–14 years: £59,000

Security engineer salaries by location

Salaries often differ with geographical location, but keep in mind that the average cost of living in a given area contributes to the salary range. As of July 2025, Indeed, which calculates the average security engineer’s salary at £37,564, highlights several UK cities offering the highest annual wages for security engineers [5]:

• Edinburgh: £44,675

• London: £41,536

• North London: £41,456

• Reading: £40,922

• Leeds: £40,221

• Manchester: £38,942 

• Bristol: £38,177

• Birmingham: £36,662

• Glasgow: £34,819

Highest-paying companies for security engineers in the UK

Pay can vary considerably from company to company due to a range of factors, including company size, industry, location, financial performance, and the demand for particular skill sets. The following list outlines the average salary ranges for the highest-paying companies in the UK [1].

• Meta: £89,000–£177,000

• GitLab: £85,000–£100,000

• Apple: £81,000–£166,000 

• Thought Machine: £80,000–£130,000

• Amazon Web Services: £78,000–£149,000

• JPMorganChase: £74,000–£133,000

• Check Point Software Technologies: £73,000–£111,000

Related job titles

If the prospect of pursuing a career as a security engineer appeals to you, some related job titles you can consider include:

Security administrator

Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): £24,000 [6]

As a security administrator, your role entails the development and administration of IT security systems capable of shielding organisations’ assets from unforeseen threats. Additionally, you may actively monitor computer networks to identify potential security issues.

Security analyst 

Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): £41,000 [7] 

In your position as a security analyst, you will test new security systems, upgrade existing systems, possibly conduct penetration testing, and more. You could also be tasked with gathering end-user feedback to assess systems’ performance.

Security auditor

Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): £41,000 [8]

Security auditors, sometimes referred to as information security auditors, review and assess the security measures of services, organisations, or programs. Their expertise helps build trust in a company’s security. Precision and a methodical approach are crucial in this role, as tasks can vary across industries and projects. 

Job outlook for security engineers

The Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology released its Cybersecurity Sectoral Analysis 2025 report via GOV.UK. It highlights significant progress in cybersecurity, with the sector achieving record contributions to the economy, including £13.2 billion in revenue and £7.8 billion in Gross Value Added [9]. It also reports the creation of 6,600 new jobs in the space of a year, bringing the estimated employment in the UK's cybersecurity sector to 67,300. This translates to an employment increase of 11 percent (from 60,689 jobs last year), surpassing the previous study's 5 percent growth and aligning with the typical annual increase of 8 to 12 percent.

Prepare for a role in security engineering with Coursera

Security engineers, or cybersecurity engineers, are providing increasingly crucial services across the field of cybersecurity, which is reflected in the job growth over the last year. If this thriving sector is of interest to you, learn more about the industry-standard tools and technology by enrolling in Google's Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. You'll work with Python programming, Linux, SQL, and security information, plus event management (SIEM) tools.

Another great option to consider is Microsoft's Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, which is also available on Coursera.