On the Money

In 2005, the average salary of security professionals in the United States rose to $90,000 from $85,600 in 2004. The median salary rose 5 percent to $79,000 from $75,000—besting inflation for that period by more than 2 percent. These findings from our soon-to-be-released 2006 ASIS U.S. Security Salary Survey show that compensation in 2005 continued along the upward trajectory of previous years. Median wages rose 6 percent in 2004 and 4.9 percent in 2003.

Other notable findings: Seventeen percent of respondents indicated that a portion of that compensation came from performance bonuses averaging $12,000, with a median bonus of $6,000. Stock options and profit-sharing were reported by only 4 percent of respondents, however. Five percent indicated that an average of $10,000 of their total compensation came from other security-related income. Those with international security responsibilities and those who report directly to the CEO receive compensation well above the median. The department or executive that the security department reports to also correlates to average and median salaries. Certifications also make a notable difference.

This year, for the first time we have explored the influence of other quantifiable factors —such as gender and military experience—from which the data provides new insight into some long-held assumptions. Apart from compensation, we include a look at trends in security budgets and staffing.