Security engineers are vital for protecting digital systems from cyber threats. Discover and compare the median security engineer salary in the UK by level of experience, area of expertise, location, and more.
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.
According to Glassdoor, the average annual base salary for a security engineer in the United Kingdom is 拢50,000 []. The potential additional pay, which may include commissions, profit-sharing, or bonuses, is in the region of 拢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.
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 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 拢62,000 annually []. Additional pay averages around 拢4,000 annually and may consist of bonuses, commissions, tips, or profit-sharing.
The average UK salary for a security engineer who specialises in network security is 拢46,000 per year, with the potential to earn an additional 拢4,000 per year in profit-sharing, commissions, and bonuses [].
The typical UK salary for a principal security engineer is substantially higher than that of a security engineer, averaging 拢87,000 per year []. The estimated additional annual pay, potentially including bonuses, commissions, and profit sharing, is 拢12,000.听
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 Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
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 []:
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鈥1 year: 拢42,000
1鈥3 years: 拢50,000
4鈥6 years: 拢55,000
7鈥9 years: 拢57,000
10鈥14 years: 拢59,000
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鈥檚 salary at 拢37,564, highlights several UK cities offering the highest annual wages for security engineers []:
Edinburgh: 拢44,675
London: 拢41,536
North London: 拢41,456
Reading: 拢40,922
Leeds: 拢40,221
Manchester: 拢38,942听
Bristol: 拢38,177
Birmingham: 拢36,662
Glasgow: 拢34,819
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 [].
Meta: 拢89,000鈥撀177,000
GitLab: 拢85,000鈥撀100,000
Apple: 拢81,000鈥撀166,000听
Thought Machine: 拢80,000鈥撀130,000
Amazon Web Services: 拢78,000鈥撀149,000
JPMorganChase: 拢74,000鈥撀133,000
Check Point Software Technologies: 拢73,000鈥撀111,000
If the prospect of pursuing a career as a security engineer appeals to you, some related job titles you can consider include:
Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): 拢24,000 []
As a security administrator, your role entails the development and administration of IT security systems capable of shielding organisations鈥 assets from unforeseen threats. Additionally, you may actively monitor computer networks to identify potential security issues.
Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): 拢41,000 []听
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鈥 performance.
Average annual UK base salary (Glassdoor): 拢41,000 []
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鈥檚 security. Precision and a methodical approach are crucial in this role, as tasks can vary across industries and projects.听
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 拢13.2 billion in revenue and 拢7.8 billion in Gross Value Added []. 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.
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 糖心vlog官网观看.
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Glassdoor UK. ", https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salaries/information-security-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm." Accessed 5 July 2025.
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