The current Security+ certification is not a generic "cyber" badge. CompTIA frames SY0-701 around five weighted domains, hands-on performance-based work, and a fixed exam window of 90 minutes. The voucher price is $425, the exam can include maximum of 90 questions, and the passing score is 750 on a scale of 100-900.
Security+ salary context
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $124,910 for information security analysts based on May 2024 data. State-level variation reflects differences in industry mix, cost of living, and defense/government spending concentration. High-paying markets for information security analysts have historically included California, Washington, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Where Security+ pays most
States with heavy federal government contracting presence — particularly Virginia and Maryland in the DC metro area — show strong demand for Security+-credentialed professionals due to DoD 8570/8140 requirements. California and Washington benefit from large technology industry clusters. Remote work has reduced the geographic salary premium for some roles, but cleared and compliance-adjacent positions still carry location-based compensation.