Is Security Analyst a good career in 2026?
B+
73/100 · Above Average
Solid career with steady demand. Upskill continuously to stay above automation floor.
$88K
Median pay
+42%
vs US average
32%/yr
Demand growth
70/100
Future-proof
Reasons it's worth it
- ✓Pays 42% above the US average wage ($88K vs $62K).
- ✓Strong demand — growing ~32% a year.
- ✓Relatively automation-resilient (70/100 future-proof).
- ✓In-demand skills: SIEM, SOC, Threat Intelligence, Incident Response.
Things to weigh
- !Competition can be high for the best-paid positions — keep skills current.
Dig into the numbers
Common questions
Is Security Analyst a good career in 2026?
On our data, Security Analyst scores 73/100 (Above Average). Solid career with steady demand. Upskill continuously to stay above automation floor. Median pay is $88K (42% above the US average), demand is ~32%/yr, and automation risk is 30/100.
Does Security Analyst pay well?
The median Security Analyst earns about $88K, which is 42% above the US average wage of $62K.
Will Security Analyst be automated by AI?
Automation risk is 30/100 (70/100 future-proof). Most of the role is hard to fully automate near-term.
Career score blends demand growth and automation risk; pay from BLS-anchored medians. A guide, not a guarantee.