1$162k median salary
Validates knowledge of securing cloud environments, including architecture, data, platforms, applications, operations and cloud legal and compliance requirements.
734AdvancedHas prerequisites
Highest-Paying Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026
Cybersecurity credentials cover hands-on defense, penetration testing, cloud security and security leadership. Compare their advertised salary rankings, then explore the technical focus and experience requirements of the certifications that fit your next role.
2$161k median salary
Validates knowledge of securing AWS workloads, including threat detection, incident response, infrastructure security, identity, data protection and governance.
300AdvancedNo prerequisites
3$159k median salary
Validates knowledge of information security governance, risk management, security program development and management, and incident management.
810AdvancedHas prerequisites
4$155k median salary
Validates knowledge of building security into software, from requirements and design to testing, deployment and supply chain.
734AdvancedHas prerequisites
5$153k median salary
Validates practical penetration testing skills, including enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, Active Directory attacks and professional reporting.
1,749AdvancedNo prerequisites
6$152k median salary
Validates knowledge of designing and managing security programs, including risk, architecture, access control, operations and software security.
884AdvancedHas prerequisites
7$142k median salary
Validates knowledge of attacker tools and techniques, including reconnaissance, system, network, web, wireless and cloud attacks, and cryptography.
1,050IntermediateHas prerequisites
8$142k median salary
Validates knowledge of enterprise security architecture and engineering, including governance, risk, compliance and security operations.
544AdvancedNo prerequisites
9$141k median salary
Validates practical skills in detecting, investigating and responding to security incidents, including attacker techniques, credential attacks and exploitation.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
10$135k median salary
Validates knowledge of IT auditing, covering audit processes, IT governance, systems development, operations, resilience and information asset protection.
810AdvancedHas prerequisites
11$130k median salary
Validates knowledge of access control, networking, cryptography, Linux and Windows security, cloud security and incident handling.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
12$130k median salary
Validates knowledge of security operations, including alert and log analysis, vulnerability prioritization, incident handling and reporting.
439IntermediateNo prerequisites
13$128k median salary
Validates practical skills in planning, performing and reporting penetration tests, from scoping and reconnaissance to exploitation and post-exploitation.
439IntermediateNo prerequisites
14$128k median salary
Validates knowledge of authorizing and maintaining secure systems, including scoping, control selection, implementation, assessment and ongoing compliance.
734IntermediateHas prerequisites
15$127k median salary
Validates knowledge of security threats, protective controls, risk management and incident response across modern IT environments.
439EntryNo prerequisites
16$114k median salary
Validates practical skills in implementing access controls, monitoring risk, responding to incidents and securing networks, systems and applications.
384IntermediateHas prerequisites
Median annual advertised pay in US postings that mention each certification, Sep 2025–Aug 2026. Source