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2026 Salary Data — Cleveland, OH
Updated April 28, 2026

Security Engineer Salary in Cleveland: $131K Median

Security Engineers in Cleveland, OH earn between $85K and $216K per year.

That's -8% below the US national median of $142,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Security Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH is $130,640 per year — -8% below the US national median of $142,000. Salaries range from $84,916 (entry, 25th percentile) to $215,556 (90th percentile). Security Engineers in Cleveland earned approximately $21,071 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$130,640
+520.0% YoY · $10,887/mo
Entry
$101,899
0–2 years
Experienced
$172,445
5+ years
Top 10%
$215,556
Senior/lead
Security Engineer Salary — Cleveland vs Nearby
Cleveland
$131K
Columbus
$138K
-5% vs Cleveland
Oklahoma City
$125K
+5% vs Cleveland
Louisville
$129K
+1% vs Cleveland

Free ATS scan · Cleveland employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Security Engineers in Cleveland

Security engineers design and implement systems that protect organizations from cyber threats. They build secure infrastructure, perform threat modeling, and respond to incidents.

Core Responsibilities

  • Design secure infrastructure and architectures
  • Perform threat modeling and risk assessments
  • Implement zero-trust controls and EDR tooling
  • Lead incident response and forensics
  • Build security automation and tooling

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience)

In-demand certifications

CISSPSecurity+OSCPCEHCISMAWS Security Specialty

Cleveland Job Market

Major medical hub anchored by Cleveland Clinic.

Population
372K
Cost of Living
88
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Cleveland

Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic)FinanceManufacturingTechEducation

Top Employers Hiring Security Engineers

Major employers active in Cleveland or hiring remotely from this metro.

CrowdStrike
Palo Alto Networks
Mandiant
Microsoft
Google
Amazon
Cloudflare
Okta

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Security Engineer listings.

zero-trustcloud security (AWS/GCP)threat modelingEDR/XDRKubernetes securityAI security

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

CISSPzero-trustthreat modelingEDRSIEMpenetration testingcloud securityIAMincident responseNIST
Career Outlook
+32% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles.

Security Engineer Salary Breakdown — Cleveland

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$84,916$130,640$215,556
Monthly$7,076$10,887$17,963
Weekly$1,633$2,512$4,145
Hourly$41$63$104

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($142,000) adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Security Engineer Take-Home Pay in Cleveland

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$93,417.44
Per month$7,785
Biweekly paycheck$3,593
Effective tax rate28.5%

Tax Breakdown on $130,640

Gross salary$130,640
Federal income tax−$20,696.6
Ohio state tax−$3,266
Cleveland local tax−$3,266
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$9,993.96
Take-home (net)$93,417.44

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Security Engineer Salary by Experience — Cleveland

Career-stage progression for Security Engineers in Cleveland.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$93,747
2–3 yr$101,899
4–6 yr$137,172
7–10 yr$172,445
11–15 yr$203,485
15+ yr$194,001

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Cleveland's 0.92× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$21,071
2026 median:$130,640
Change:+$109,569

Technology sector growth driven by demand for zero-trust and cloud security (AWS/GCP).

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$148,455
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Security Engineer Salary in Cleveland

Walk-away anchor: $113,600 (offers below this are below market for Cleveland).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $172K–$216K for experienced roles, citing Cleveland market data and your specific zero-trust/cloud security (AWS/GCP) expertise.

Security Engineer Salary FAQ — Cleveland

What is the average Security Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH?
The average Security Engineer salary in Cleveland is $130,640 per year as of April 2026 — $10,887/month, $2,512/week, or about $63/hour. Salaries range from $84,916 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $215,556 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier (0.92×).
Is $130,640 a good Security Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Cleveland's cost-of-living index is 88 (vs 100 nationally), giving $130,640 a real purchasing power of approximately $148,455 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $130,640 in Cleveland?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Cleveland specifically (median home price $175,000), a $130,640 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $130,640 enough for a single person in Cleveland?
A single adult in Cleveland typically needs ~$39,600 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $130,640 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $130,640 enough for a couple in Cleveland?
A couple (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$63,360 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $130,640 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $130,640 each ($261,280 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $130,640 enough for a family of 4 in Cleveland?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Cleveland typically needs ~$96,800 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $130,640 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Security Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Cleveland typically run $13K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Cleveland?
On a $130,640 Security Engineer salary in Cleveland, OH, you take home approximately $93,417.44 per year ($7,785/month, $3,593 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $20,696.6, state $3,266, local $3,266, FICA $9,993.96. Effective tax rate: 28.5%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Security Engineers in Cleveland earn compared to the US average?
Security Engineers in Cleveland earn approximately 8% less than the US national median for this role ($142,000 nationally vs $130,640 in Cleveland). However, Cleveland's cost-of-living index of 88 means real purchasing power is approximately $148,455 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Security Engineer earn in Cleveland?
Entry-level Security Engineers in Cleveland typically start at around $101,899 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Security Engineers earn $172,445 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $215,556+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Security Engineer salaries in Cleveland increase in 2026?
Yes — Security Engineer salaries in Cleveland grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $21,071 in 2025 to $130,640 in 2026 (+$109,569). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by zero-trust and cloud security (AWS/GCP) demand.
What's the job outlook for Security Engineers in Cleveland?
Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles. Cleveland's top industries include Healthcare (Cleveland Clinic), Finance, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Security Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Security Engineers are: zero-trust, cloud security (AWS/GCP), threat modeling, EDR/XDR, Kubernetes security, AI security. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Cleveland.
Who are the top employers hiring Security Engineers in Cleveland?
Top employers hiring Security Engineers in or near Cleveland include: CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Mandiant, Microsoft, Google, Amazon. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Security Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Security Engineer salary in Cleveland?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (zero-trust, cloud security (AWS/GCP), threat modeling) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., CISSP or Security+). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Security Engineer in Cleveland?
Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience) is the typical path. However, Cleveland's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Security Engineer salary figures for Cleveland are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($142,000) by Cleveland's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.92× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Cleveland

Cybersecurity Analyst →DevOps Engineer →Software Engineer →Data Scientist →Product Manager →Web Developer →

Security Engineer Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$132KJacksonville, FL$131KColumbus, OH$138KIndianapolis, IN$132KDetroit, MI$132KMemphis, TN$125KOklahoma City, OK$125KLas Vegas, NV$135K

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