CCNA vs CompTIA Security+
CCNA costs less and pays $7K/yr more than Security+. Both are wrong for different careers. CCNA is for network engineers; Security+ is the baseline for cybersecurity. Pick your domain first.
Compare ROI at Your Salary
Full Comparison: CCNA vs CompTIA Security+
# # Guidelines: # - 50-70 words (AI Overviews cite 50-70 word blocks most reliably — shorter gets skipped) # - Start with a direct answer sentence containing a specific number or fact # - Include at least 2 specific data points (dollar amounts, percentages, comparisons) # - Include location/context where applicable # - End with a personal-context hook ("use the calculator below to...") # - Do NOT use for H2s that label interactive form sections (calculator inputs, results) # - DO use for H2s that pose or imply a question readers would search for %>CCNA wins on salary premium and exam cost. Security+ is DoD 8570 approved (CCNA is not) and is the standard entry credential for cybersecurity roles. These target different careers — choose based on your direction.
| Factor | CCNA | CompTIA Security+ |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $330 | $404 |
| Annual premium | +$20,000/yr | +$13,000/yr |
| Payback | ~5 months | ~10 months |
| DoD 8570 approved | No | Yes (IAT Level II) |
| Career domain | Network engineering | Cybersecurity |
| Next cert | CCNP ($35K/yr) | CISSP ($40K/yr) |
These Certs Aren't Comparable — They're for Different Careers
CCNA is the entry credential for network engineering at Cisco-heavy organizations. It teaches routing, switching, VLANs, and Cisco IOS. Security+ teaches defensive security concepts, threat analysis, and incident response.
If you're unclear which direction to take, consider the day-to-day work: configuring routers and switches (CCNA) vs monitoring alerts and responding to security incidents (Security+). The salary math is secondary.