Is CompTIA Security+ or CISSP better for salary?

CISSP wins by a wide margin. Security+ averages $13,000 above base salary. CISSP averages $40,000 above base. Both are security certifications, but they target different career stages. Security+ is entry-level — it gets you into security roles. CISSP is senior-level — it commands a premium once you're already in the field. If you have 5 years of security experience and can pass CISSP, the salary math is clear.

Should I get Security+ before CISSP?

Only if you're new to security and need a credential to get your first role. Security+ is an entry point, not a stepping stone to CISSP. CISSP requires 5 years of paid experience in 2 of 8 security domains — no certification substitutes for that. Once you have the experience, go straight to CISSP. The Security+ salary premium ($13,000) is significantly smaller than CISSP's ($40,000), so spending time on Security+ when you're CISSP-eligible is mostly opportunity cost.

How much does each exam cost?

Security+ (SY0-701) costs $392. CISSP costs $749. Study materials for Security+ run $50–$150; CISSP study materials run $200–$500. Security+ is cheaper upfront, but CISSP's $40,000 salary premium pays back the entire cost in about 9 days. Security+ at $13,000/year takes roughly 2 months to pay back the $392 exam. Both have fast payback periods — the difference is the ongoing annual income gap.

CompTIA Security+ vs CISSP: Entry-Level vs Senior Security Cert ROI

Q: Can I skip Security+ and go straight to CISSP?

Yes, if you meet the experience requirements. CISSP needs 5 years of paid security work in at least 2 of 8 domains. No prerequisite certifications required. If you have the experience, skip Security+ entirely. If you're new to security (under 2 years of experience), Security+ is the right move — it's specifically designed for that career stage and is required by DoD 8570.01-M for many government and defense contractor roles.

Security+ pays $13,000/year on a $392 exam. CISSP pays $40,000/year on a $749 exam. These aren't competing certifications — they target different career stages. If you're eligible for CISSP, there's no comparison.

CompTIA Security+

$13,000/yr premium

Exam: $392

Study materials: $50–$150

Renewal: $50/yr (CEU maintenance)

Payback: ~2 months

Experience: None required (2 yrs recommended)

CISSP

$40,000/yr premium

Exam: $749

Study materials: $200–$500

Renewal: $125/yr CPE maintenance

Payback: ~9 days

Experience: 5 yrs in 2 of 8 domains

Compare ROI at Your Salary

Current salary

Years to model

Full Comparison: Security+ vs CISSP

Factor	Security+	CISSP
Exam fee	$392	$749
Study materials	$50–$150	$200–$500
Annual maintenance	$50/yr CEU	$125/yr CPE
Salary premium	+$13,000/yr	+$40,000/yr
Payback period	~2 months	~9 days
5-year net ROI (at $85K)	+$64,108	+$198,126
Experience required	None (2 yrs recommended)	5 yrs in 2 of 8 domains
DoD 8570 compliance	IAT Level II	IAM Level III
Best for	Entry-level security roles	Senior security / architect / CISO

5-year ROI: (annual premium × 5) − exam − study materials − (annual CEU/CPE × 5). Salary data: CompTIA IT Industry Outlook 2025, (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2025.

These Aren't Competing Certifications

Security+ is a career entry point. CISSP is a senior-level credential. The question "Security+ vs CISSP" only makes sense for someone deciding whether to pursue CISSP now or spend time on Security+ first.

If you have 5 years of security experience: pursue CISSP. The $27,000/year salary gap compounds fast — at $85,000, that's over $130,000 in additional earnings over 5 years. Security+ won't get you there.

Security+ Is the Right Move in Specific Situations

Two situations where Security+ makes sense even if you could theoretically qualify for CISSP: you're under 4 years of experience and need a credential now, or you're targeting DoD/government contract work where Security+ satisfies IAT Level II requirements at your specific job level.

Security+ is also the right call if you're transitioning from general IT into security — the exam content (network attacks, cryptography, identity management, PKI) is foundational. Passing it without hands-on experience is possible but harder. Passing it with 2 years of helpdesk or network admin experience is practical.

CompTIA's trifecta for government IT: A+, Network+, Security+. All three together cover most DoD baseline requirements and cost under $1,200 total in exam fees.

CISSP's 9-Day Payback Is Real

$749 exam + $350 study materials = $1,099 upfront. $40,000/year salary premium = $3,333/month. Payback: under 10 days of additional income. No other certification comes close to that ratio at the senior level.

The catch is the experience requirement. You cannot buy your way to CISSP eligibility. Five years in 2 of 8 domains is non-negotiable. If you're at year 3, the right move is to target roles that build experience in remaining domains, not to pursue another certification.

CISSP also has a ~20% first-attempt pass rate. Budget for one possible retake ($749 again). Even with two exam attempts, the payback period stays under 3 weeks.

After Security+: What's Actually Next?

The standard Security+ path in commercial security: Security+ → 3 years experience → CySA+ or CEH → 5 years total → CISSP. But many practitioners skip the middle certifications entirely and go straight from Security+ to CISSP after building the experience. The middle credentials add cost without proportional salary impact.

CISSP Associate status is available for those who pass the exam but don't yet meet the 5-year experience requirement. It demonstrates exam competency while you complete the experience requirement. Worth doing if you're confident in your exam prep but not yet at 5 years.

Common Questions

Is Security+ or CISSP better for salary?

CISSP: ~$40,000 annual premium. Security+: ~$13,000. CISSP pays back in days, not months. The difference isn't about quality of exam — it's about career stage. Security+ gets you into security. CISSP commands senior-level pay once you're already there.

Can I skip Security+ and go straight to CISSP?

Yes. CISSP has no prerequisite certifications — only 5 years of paid experience in 2 of 8 security domains. If you have the experience, skip Security+ entirely and invest the prep time and $392 into CISSP study materials instead.

Does Security+ count toward CISSP experience?

No. CISSP experience must come from paid work in the 8 CBK domains. Certifications, training, and education don't count as experience. The one exception: a 4-year college degree or approved credential can waive one year of the 5-year requirement — but Security+ is not on that approved list.

Which cert is better for government/DoD jobs?

Depends on the job level. Security+ satisfies DoD 8570 IAT Level II and IAM Level I requirements — common for helpdesk, IT support, and junior analyst roles. CISSP satisfies IAM Level III and IAT Level III — required for senior security architect, ISSO, and ISSM positions. Most government IT programs require Security+ at entry level and CISSP for senior roles.

Security+ ROI

Full cost, salary, and payback breakdown

CISSP ROI

Senior security cert — full breakdown

CISSP vs CISM

Two senior security certs compared

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