90% OFF - $9.99
11:59:59
Claim Lifetime Deal
2026 Salary Data — Nashville, TN
Updated April 28, 2026

Security Engineer Salary in Nashville: $142K Median

Security Engineers in Nashville, TN earn between $92K and $234K per year.

That's +0% above the US national median of $142,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Security Engineer salary in Nashville, TN is $142,000 per year — +0% above the US national median of $142,000. Salaries range from $92,300 (entry, 25th percentile) to $234,300 (90th percentile). Security Engineers in Nashville earned approximately $22,903 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$142,000
+520.0% YoY · $11,833/mo
Entry
$110,760
0–2 years
Experienced
$187,440
5+ years
Top 10%
$234,300
Senior/lead
Security Engineer Salary — Nashville vs Nearby
Nashville
$142K
Memphis
$125K
+14% vs Nashville
Fresno
$135K
+5% vs Nashville
Colorado Springs
$142K
+0% vs Nashville

Free ATS scan · Nashville employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Security Engineers in Nashville

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

Nashville Job Market

Healthcare capital with booming music, tech, and tourism industries.

Population
689K
Cost of Living
105
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.4%
Median Home
$460K

Top Industries in Nashville

HealthcareMusic/EntertainmentTechFinanceTourism

Top Employers Hiring Security Engineers

Major employers active in Nashville 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 — Nashville

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$92,300$142,000$234,300
Monthly$7,692$11,833$19,525
Weekly$1,775$2,731$4,506
Hourly$44$68$113

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($142,000) adjusted for Nashville's cost-of-living multiplier (1.00×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Security Engineer Take-Home Pay in Nashville

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$107,714
Per month$8,976
Biweekly paycheck$4,143
Effective tax rate24.1%

Tax Breakdown on $142,000

Gross salary$142,000
Federal income tax−$23,423
Tennessee state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$10,863
Take-home (net)$107,714

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 — Nashville

Career-stage progression for Security Engineers in Nashville.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$101,899
2–3 yr$110,760
4–6 yr$149,100
7–10 yr$187,440
11–15 yr$221,179
15+ yr$210,870

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Nashville's 1.00× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$22,903
2026 median:$142,000
Change:+$119,097

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
$135,238
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your Security Engineer Salary in Nashville

Walk-away anchor: $123,478 (offers below this are below market for Nashville).

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 $187K–$234K for experienced roles, citing Nashville market data and your specific zero-trust/cloud security (AWS/GCP) expertise.

Security Engineer Salary FAQ — Nashville

What is the average Security Engineer salary in Nashville, TN?
The average Security Engineer salary in Nashville is $142,000 per year as of April 2026 — $11,833/month, $2,731/week, or about $68/hour. Salaries range from $92,300 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $234,300 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Nashville's cost-of-living multiplier (1.00×).
Is $142,000 a good Security Engineer salary in Nashville?
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. Nashville's cost-of-living index is 105 (vs 100 nationally), giving $142,000 a real purchasing power of approximately $135,238 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $142,000 in Nashville?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For Nashville specifically (median home price $460,000), a $142,000 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $142,000 enough for a single person in Nashville?
A single adult in Nashville typically needs ~$47,250 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $142,000 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $142,000 enough for a couple in Nashville?
A couple (one earner) in Nashville typically needs ~$75,600 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $142,000 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $142,000 each ($284,000 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $142,000 enough for a family of 4 in Nashville?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Nashville typically needs ~$115,500 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $142,000 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 Nashville typically run $16K-$29K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Nashville?
On a $142,000 Security Engineer salary in Nashville, TN, you take home approximately $107,714 per year ($8,976/month, $4,143 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $23,423, state $0, FICA $10,863. Effective tax rate: 24.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Security Engineers in Nashville earn compared to the US average?
Security Engineers in Nashville earn approximately 0% more than the US national median for this role ($142,000 nationally vs $142,000 in Nashville). However, Nashville's cost-of-living index of 105 means real purchasing power is approximately $135,238 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Security Engineer earn in Nashville?
Entry-level Security Engineers in Nashville typically start at around $110,760 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Security Engineers earn $187,440 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $234,300+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Security Engineer salaries in Nashville increase in 2026?
Yes — Security Engineer salaries in Nashville grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $22,903 in 2025 to $142,000 in 2026 (+$119,097). 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 Nashville?
Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles. Nashville's top industries include Healthcare, Music/Entertainment, Tech, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.4% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
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 Nashville.
Who are the top employers hiring Security Engineers in Nashville?
Top employers hiring Security Engineers in or near Nashville 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 Nashville?
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 Nashville?
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 Nashville?
Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience) is the typical path. However, Nashville'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 Nashville are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($142,000) by Nashville's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.00× — 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 Nashville

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

Security Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Phoenix, AZ$142KPhiladelphia, PA$148KFort Worth, TX$145KColumbus, OH$138KCharlotte, NC$145KMemphis, TN$125KMesa, AZ$139KColorado Springs, CO$142K

Land a $142K+ Security Engineer Role in Nashville

Knowing the salary is step one. Step two: getting past the ATS. CVCraft scans your resume, finds missing keywords, and fixes formatting issues in 60 seconds.

Scan My Resume Free

No signup required · Works for all Technology roles