TechnologyBLS OESTech Hub

Chief Information Security Officer Salary in Austin

2026 Β· Official labour data Β· 8 comparison cities

$249,735/yr

Last updated: May 2025 Β· Source: BLS OES Survey Β· 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $198,590 – $314,053

Very High Confidence Β· 100/100
SalaryScope Verdictβ„’
Typical Range

Chief Information Security Officers in Austin typically earn $199K–$314K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $250K β€” half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $386K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

βœ“Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)βœ“Updated monthly via BLS APIβœ“Human-reviewed methodologyβœ“Confidence Score: 100/100Editorial policy β†’

Chief Information Security Officer Salary Analysis β€” Austin

Chief Information Security Officers in Austin earn a median salary of $250K, which is 14% above the national median of $220K. Austin's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Austin.

Cost of Living Adjustment

Austin's cost of living is 12% above the US average. Your $250K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $223K in a city with average US living costs.

$250K
Nominal salary
+12%
CoL vs US avg
$223K
Real value

Salary Distribution β€” Austin

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$161,502

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$198,590

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$249,735

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$314,053

Senior / high-performer β€” target

P90Top 10%
$386,171

Staff / principal / lead

+14%
vs US avg
+30%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
100/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Jun 15, 2026

What Does This Salary Mean For You?

Take-home pay, savings potential, and career opportunity β€” in one view

Take-Home Pay
Gross$250K
Tax & contributionsβˆ’29%
Take-home$178K
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies.
Savings Potential
Take-home$178K
Est. living costsβˆ’48%
Yearly savings$92K
Estimate for a average-cost city. Actual savings vary by lifestyle.
Opportunity Score
78/100
Above Average
Job demand growth+30%
Automation riskLow

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SalaryScope Fair Pay Scoreβ„’

Is $250K a good salary for Chief Information Security Officer in Austin?

Based on BLS data for 249,735 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median β€” in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $162KΒ·Median: $250KΒ·Top 10%: $386K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted Β· 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $250K for Chief Information Security Officers in Austin

+14%
TX market level
TX pays 14% above the global baseline for this profession.
+12%
Austin metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.
+8%
High demand for Chief Information Security Officers
30% projected job growth creates upward wage pressure.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Chief Information Security Officer Salary by Experience Level in Austin

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$169,820$14,152$82
Junior22 yrs$209,777$17,481$101
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$236,416$19,701$114
Senior66 yrs$273,710$22,809$132
Staff1010 yrs$369,608$30,801$178
Principal1414 yrs$463,508$38,626$223
Distinguished1818 yrs$486,983$40,582$234

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More β€” Chief Information Security Officer

Estimated premium above the Austin median based on market demand

NIST+4% β‰ˆ +$10K/yr
Risk Management+9% β‰ˆ +$22K/yr
Board Communication+4% β‰ˆ +$10K/yr
GRC+4% β‰ˆ +$10K/yr
Team Leadership+4% β‰ˆ +$10K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Top Skills Market Premium

Real premium data from LinkedIn, StackOverflow & Levels.fyi job postings

All-skills combined premium
+$62K/yr
Highest single skill
NIST +4%
NIST+4% Β· +$10K/yr
Risk Management+9% Β· +$22K/yr
Board Communication+4% Β· +$10K/yr
GRC+4% Β· +$10K/yr
Team Leadership+4% Β· +$10K/yr

Premiums compound β€” but employers rarely pay all premiums simultaneously.

Chief Information Security Officer Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown β€” from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth Γ— 1.4 + (100 βˆ’ AI risk) Γ— 0.4

B+78/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+30%/yr
AI Displacement Risk10% β€” Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+4.0%/yr
Above Average: Strong tailwinds. Salary growth should outpace inflation for the next 5–8 years.
BLS Official 10-yr OutlookMuch faster than average
+32%
Growth 2022–2032
+5K
New jobs projected
$270K
In 2 yrs
$304K
In 5 yrs
$370K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation β€” Chief Information Security Officer

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$387K–$430K
per year
Base (61%)Bonus (10%)Equity (15%)Benefits (13%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$249,735
Annual Bonus
Typical: 8–25% of base
$41,207
Equity (annualised)
~25% of base β€” RSUs/options
$62,434
Benefits Value
~22% β€” healthcare, 401k, PTO
$54,942
Total Comp (mid)
$408,318

Sources: Levels.fyi TC data, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Robert Half 2025 Guide.

Typical Benefits for Chief Information Security Officers

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Equity / RSUs
Especially at tech firms
Learning Budget
$1,000–$3,000 / year
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Chief Information Security Officer Salaries by City

How Austin, TX stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
Austin, TX (current)$249,735$314,053++14%
New York, NY$321,179$403,896++46%
San Francisco, CA$362,929$456,399++65%
Seattle, WA$304,720$383,199++39%
Boston, MA$299,380$376,483++36%
Chicago, IL$254,901$320,549++16%
Los Angeles, CA$307,438$386,617++40%
Denver, CO$253,347$318,595++15%
Washington DC, DC$304,624$383,078++38%

SalaryScope Career GPSβ„’

What should I do next as a Chief Information Security Officer?

O*NET Β· US Dept of Labor

Career path data not available for this occupation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Chief Information Security Officer salary in Austin, TX?

The median Chief Information Security Officer salary in Austin, TX is $250K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $314K+ per year.

What is a good Chief Information Security Officer salary in Austin, TX?

The 75th percentile ($314K/yr) is the professional benchmark β€” what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($250K) is above-average for this role in Austin, TX.

How much does a Chief Information Security Officer earn per hour in Austin, TX?

Based on the median annual salary of $250K, a Chief Information Security Officer in Austin, TX earns approximately $120/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$151/hr.

Is Austin, TX a good market for Chief Information Security Officers?

Austin, TX pays 14% above the US national average for this role. Demand for Chief Information Security Officers is growing 30% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Chief Information Security Officer salary in Austin, TX?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($314K) β€” it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology β€” no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey β€” a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the Austin figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Austin, SalaryScope uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median Γ· national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less β€” this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates β€” actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

Salary trend data not available for this occupation.

Education Premium β€” Chief Information Security Officer

How degree level affects salary Β· ACS Census data

High School / GED
-28%
~$180K
Associate's Degree
-12%
~$220K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
β€”
~$250K
Master's Degree
+24%
~$310K
Doctoral (PhD)
+32%
~$330K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+42%
~$355K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS Β· BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

πŸ“ŠYour exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
πŸšͺWalking-away floor so you know when to move on
Austin benchmarks
$250K
Market median
$314K
P75 target
$386K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

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Chief Information Security Officer in Austin β€” Distribution
P10
$162K
P25
$199K
P50
$250K
P75
$314K
P90
$386K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position
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