The salary of a Chief Security Officer

• From 2018 to 2023, the average base pay for a CSO increased by 1.3% to $345,266 annually. When including bonuses, the total compensation rose by 5.3% to $471,638 annually.
• The survey methodology involves gathering data from human resources professionals rather than relying on self-reporting.
• The Long-Term Incentive (LTI) target for CSOs saw a significant rise of 36% between 2018 and 2023, reaching $204,897 annually.

The 22nd annual Security and Compliance Compensation report, produced by The Foushée Group, provides a comprehensive analysis of the salaries and compensation trends in the security and compliance sector. This survey, conducted annually for the last 22 years, aims to offer accurate and timely compensation information for 78 security and compliance positions. The survey targets a broad range of companies, varying in revenue from under $500 million to over $250 billion, to help them benchmark their salaries against the national market.

The survey methodology involves gathering data from human resources professionals rather than relying on self-reporting. These professionals match their job descriptions to those in the survey, ensuring that the data aligns with the Department of Justice’s safe harbor guidelines for reporting compensation information. The report presents its findings in various formats, including weighted averages, median, percentile distributions, and other relevant data, while maintaining the confidentiality of individual company information.

For the 2023 survey, data was collected as of January 2023, reflecting the salaries and compensation at that specific time. Economic challenges, including rising inflation and monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve Board, marked this period. The survey revealed that merit increases for security and compliance positions were trending higher than in previous years, with an average annual growth of 4.1%. This increase came amidst the “great resignation,” where many employees chose early retirement or did not return to work due to dissatisfaction with work-from-home policies.

Specifically focusing on the Chief Security Officer (CSO) role, the report compares data from the 2018 and 2023 surveys. Over these five years, the average base pay for a CSO increased by 1.3% to $345,266 annually. When including bonuses, the total compensation rose by 5.3% to $471,638 annually. Bonuses, contingent on company and personal performance, fluctuate in various factors, including profitability and company goals. Additionally, the Long-Term Incentive (LTI) target for CSOs saw a significant rise of 36% over this period, reaching $204,897 annually. This shift suggests a growing emphasis on aligning the CSO’s compensation with long-term company objectives, potentially offering a more substantial reward throughout the incentive plan.

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