The median CompTIA Security+ holder earns $92,000 per year in the US. The median CompTIA A+ holder earns $52,000. That $40,000 gap tells you almost everything you need to know about CompTIA salary strategy: the cert you pick matters far more than simply "having a CompTIA certification."
This guide breaks down CompTIA salary data cert by cert, maps each credential to the job titles it actually leads to, and gives you a straight answer on which path offers the best return on the time and money you're about to spend.
CompTIA Salary by Certification (2026 Data)
CompTIA publishes annual compensation surveys, and third-party sources like Glassdoor, Lightcast, and Bureau of Labor Statistics fill in the gaps. Here's where each major cert lands:
- CompTIA ITF+ — Pre-entry level. Most holders are students or career-changers who haven't landed their first role yet. Not a meaningful salary driver on its own.
- CompTIA A+ — $45,000–$58,000. IT support specialist, help desk, field technician. The floor of IT work. Useful as a starting credential but you should be pursuing Network+ or Security+ within 12–18 months.
- CompTIA Network+ — $58,000–$78,000. Network technician, junior network administrator. Meaningful step up, especially if you pair it with a vendor cert (Cisco CCNA).
- CompTIA Security+ — $78,000–$105,000. Security analyst, SOC analyst, compliance analyst, junior penetration tester. This is the single highest-leverage CompTIA cert for salary growth relative to cost and time investment. DoD 8570 approval means federal contractors essentially require it.
- CompTIA CySA+ — $88,000–$118,000. Threat intelligence analyst, incident responder, security operations. The next logical step after Security+ for defenders who want to stay in the blue team lane.
- CompTIA PenTest+ — $95,000–$130,000. Penetration tester, vulnerability analyst, red team operator. Fewer job postings than Security+ or CySA+ but higher ceiling pay in specialized roles.
- CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+) — $110,000–$145,000. Senior security architect, enterprise security engineer, security program manager. This is an expert-level cert—most holders have 8–10 years in the field already.
- CompTIA Cloud+ — $90,000–$125,000. Cloud engineer, cloud security specialist. The catch: employer recognition is lower than AWS/Azure/GCP certs, so Cloud+ often works best as a supplement rather than a standalone credential.
- CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001) — Newly launched in 2025. Targets AI security roles, which are paying $105,000–$140,000 for mid-level candidates. No salary data yet but the job market demand is real.
CompTIA Salary by Job Title
Certs don't pay you—job titles do. Here's how CompTIA credentials map to actual roles and what those roles pay:
Help Desk / IT Support Specialist (A+)
$42,000–$58,000. High supply of candidates, low barrier to entry. CompTIA A+ is almost table stakes here. Don't stay in this tier longer than two years if you're salary-motivated.
Network Administrator (Network+)
$60,000–$82,000. Network+ validates foundational knowledge but employers in this space often also want Cisco or Juniper experience. Network+ as a stepping stone is more valuable than Network+ as a destination.
SOC Analyst / Security Analyst (Security+)
$78,000–$105,000. The Security+ sweet spot. Tier 1 SOC analysts can land this cert with 1–2 years of experience. Tier 2 and threat hunters push toward CySA+. Federal contracting roles frequently list Security+ as a hard requirement under DoD 8570/8140 compliance.
Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker (PenTest+)
$95,000–$130,000. Note that PenTest+ competes with OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) in this job market. OSCP is generally more respected in pure offensive security roles. PenTest+ works better for compliance-driven environments and government contractors.
Security Architect / Senior Security Engineer (SecurityX)
$110,000–$145,000. You're not getting here through certs alone. SecurityX holders at this salary level have a decade of experience backing up the credential. The cert helps with title recognition and federal compliance requirements more than it determines the salary itself.
Is CompTIA Worth It for Salary Growth?
The honest answer: it depends on where you're starting.
If you have zero IT experience: A+ gives you a credible first entry point, but the salary ceiling is low. Budget $300–$500 for materials and exam fees. ROI is positive but the absolute dollar gains are modest. Treat it as a door-opener, not a career outcome.
If you have 1–3 years of IT experience: Security+ is arguably the best ROI in the entire CompTIA catalog. Exam costs ~$404. Study time is typically 60–120 hours. The salary jump from help desk ($52K) to SOC analyst ($88K) frequently happens within 6–12 months of passing. That's a $30,000+ annual return on a $500 investment.
If you're targeting federal or defense sector work: Security+ is non-negotiable for DoD 8570 compliance. In this specific market, it's less about salary delta and more about employment eligibility. Federal security roles routinely pay 15–25% above private sector equivalents.
If you're already mid-career in security: CySA+, PenTest+, or SecurityX extend your credentialing stack but the marginal salary lift per cert shrinks. At this level, specialized experience and specific tool expertise (SIEM platforms, cloud security tooling, code review) drive pay more than additional CompTIA letters.
CompTIA Salary vs. Competing Certifications
Context matters. Here's how CompTIA stacks up against alternative credentials in the same job categories:
- CompTIA Security+ vs. CISSP: CISSP holders average $125,000–$145,000 but require 5 years of experience to sit. Security+ has no experience prerequisite. They target different career stages, not the same role.
- CompTIA Cloud+ vs. AWS Solutions Architect Associate: AWS SAA holders consistently command $10,000–$20,000 higher salaries in cloud-specific roles. If your target is cloud engineering (not cloud security specifically), AWS/Azure/GCP certifications have stronger employer recognition.
- CompTIA PenTest+ vs. OSCP: OSCP ($1,499) is 3–4x the cost of PenTest+, takes significantly more time, and is more technically demanding. In offensive security job postings, OSCP is mentioned more frequently. PenTest+ is easier to obtain but carries less weight in specialist roles.
- CompTIA Network+ vs. Cisco CCNA: CCNA holders generally earn $5,000–$15,000 more in network-focused roles. Network+ is faster to obtain; CCNA is harder but more employer-recognized in large network environments.
The CompTIA advantage is vendor-neutrality and accessibility. The CompTIA disadvantage is that vendor-neutral can also mean lower recognized specialization in roles where employers want demonstrated tool proficiency.
Top Courses for CompTIA Certification Exam Prep
These are the highest-rated prep courses currently available. All are structured around the current exam objectives and updated for 2026 exam versions.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep 2026 - For Beginners
The most comprehensive Security+ prep available for the current SY0-701 objectives. Covers all domains with the depth a first-time test-taker needs—strong on the practical scenarios that dominate the new exam format. Rated 9.5 on Udemy.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) 1,000+ Practice Questions 2026
Practice question volume is the single best predictor of pass rates. This bank covers every domain and includes performance-based question formats that mirror what the actual exam throws at you. Rated 9.5 on Udemy.
CompTIA SecAI+ Fundamentals: AI Cybersecurity Basics CY0-001
The new SecAI+ cert targets a genuinely high-demand niche—AI security and adversarial machine learning threats. If you're positioning for AI security roles ($105K–$140K range), this course covers the CY0-001 objectives in a way that the thin existing study materials don't. Rated 9.6 on Udemy.
CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001) Course + EBook + Exams (ALL IN ONE)
Bundles video instruction, supplementary reading, and practice exams for CY0-001 in a single package. More cost-efficient than buying prep materials separately, and the exam questions track closely with the current objective domains. Rated 9.6 on Udemy.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 6 Practice Tests [2026]
Updated for the 220-1201 exam revision. Six full-length tests is substantial volume for A+ prep—most candidates over-study video content and under-practice questions. This flips that ratio. Rated 9.4 on Udemy.
CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) 6 Practice Exams
SecurityX is an expert-level exam and the question style is significantly more scenario-heavy than Security+. Six full practice exams at this difficulty level is genuinely rare—most CAS-005 prep materials are thin. Useful if you're targeting senior security or federal architect roles. Rated 9.0 on Udemy.
FAQ: CompTIA Salary Questions
What is the average CompTIA salary?
There's no single answer because "CompTIA certified" covers everything from A+ (entry-level IT support at $50K) to SecurityX (senior security architect at $140K+). If you forced a single number, the median across all CompTIA certification holders in the US lands around $72,000–$80,000, but that average is almost meaningless without knowing which cert you're targeting.
Which CompTIA certification pays the most?
CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+) holders have the highest median salary—$110,000–$145,000—but it's an expert-level cert requiring years of experience. For the best return on investment relative to time and cost, Security+ is the answer: it's attainable within a few months and regularly produces $30,000–$40,000 salary jumps from entry IT roles to security analyst positions.
Does CompTIA Security+ actually increase your salary?
Yes, particularly for three groups: people transitioning from IT support into cybersecurity, professionals working toward federal or DoD contracting roles (where it's a compliance requirement), and help desk workers who want to break the $60K ceiling. The salary increase is not automatic—it requires actually transitioning into a security-focused role—but the cert is frequently the qualifying factor that gets you the interview.
How much does a CompTIA A+ holder earn?
$45,000–$58,000 in most US markets. Higher in major metros (NYC, SF, DC) where cost of living adjustments push rates up 15–25%. A+ on its own doesn't scale well—it's an entry credential. Plan for Network+ or Security+ as the next move if salary growth is the goal.
Is CompTIA recognized by employers for higher salaries?
Security+ and CySA+ have strong recognition, particularly in federal, defense, and compliance-heavy industries. A+ and Network+ are recognized but aren't usually differentiating factors at mid-career. Cloud+ has weaker employer recognition than AWS, Azure, or GCP equivalents in most private-sector hiring. SecAI+ is new enough that employer recognition is still developing, but the underlying skills (AI security, adversarial ML) are in high demand regardless of the credential name.
How long does it take to get a CompTIA certification?
A+: 3–6 months of part-time study (two exams required). Network+: 6–8 weeks if you have A+ or equivalent experience. Security+: 8–12 weeks of focused study for most candidates. CySA+: 10–14 weeks, assumes Security+ background. SecurityX: 3–6 months, assumes significant existing experience. Study time shrinks substantially with structured practice-question drilling versus passive video consumption.
Bottom Line: Which CompTIA Path Is Worth It for Salary?
If you're currently in IT support or making a career change into tech: A+ → Security+ is the highest-ROI path in the CompTIA catalog. The cost is under $1,000 combined, the study time is 3–6 months total, and the salary outcome—when you successfully move into a security analyst role—is typically a $30,000–$50,000 annual increase.
If you're already in cybersecurity and looking to advance: CySA+ or PenTest+ extends your credential stack in the direction of your specialization (defense or offense). The salary lift per cert is smaller at this stage, but the credentials satisfy compliance requirements in government and enterprise that determine whether you're eligible for certain roles at all.
If you're targeting the emerging AI security space: CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001) is worth watching. The job market for AI security roles is real and growing, and being an early credentialed candidate in a new discipline has historically been a strong career move.
One thing to avoid: treating CompTIA certs as endpoints. The practitioners earning $110,000+ with CompTIA credentials got there by stacking credentials with hands-on experience in security operations, cloud platforms, or specialized tooling. The cert gets you the interview; the experience gets you the offer and the salary.