How Much Do Cybersecurity Jobs Pay in London?

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Key Takeaways

• High Demand and Competitive Salaries: Cybersecurity roles in London offer salaries ranging from £35,000 to over £800,000, reflecting the industry’s high demand and critical importance.
• Variety of Career Paths: From analysts to CISOs, cybersecurity provides diverse roles with opportunities to specialise and grow in the field.
• Importance of Training and Skills: The cybersecurity programs equip professionals with the necessary technical skills and industry insights to succeed in this lucrative career.

Introduction

London faces a 35% shortage of cybersecurity talent, driving salary inflation and longer hiring cycles, as per Morgan Spencer. In 2026, the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to surge, driven by escalating cyber threats and the increasing reliance on digital infrastructure!

Recognising the critical need to protect sensitive data in industries, from finance to healthcare and beyond, cybersecurity is a pivotal part of strategic business operations. This shift has had a significant impact on salaries and career opportunities in the field. In this blog, we’ll explore how much cybersecurity jobs pay in London, the trends shaping the industry, and how training programs like those offered by Fortray can help you tap into this lucrative field!

The Salary Landscape for Cybersecurity Jobs in London

Cybersecurity salaries in London have seen a remarkable increase in recent years. The demand outpaces supply, and there’s always been a requirement for these professionals!

In 2026, the average salary for a cybersecurity professional in the United Kingdom is approximately £55,000 per year, reflecting a steady rise driven by the ongoing shortage of skilled workers​. For entry-level positions in cybersecurity, such as a Cyber Security Analyst, salaries typically start at £40,000 to £55,000 annually. These roles generally require foundational knowledge of security protocols, threat detection, and data protection, making them ideal for professionals just starting their careers.

However, the salary range significantly increases as professionals gain more experience. For instance, cybersecurity engineers, who are responsible for implementing and managing security systems, can earn between £70,000 and £80,000 annually​. With 5+ years of experience, this figure can jump to anywhere between £80,000 and £95,000​. In addition, roles that require specialised skills, such as a Cloud Security Engineer or Network Security Expert, can command even higher salaries, often reaching the £100,000 mark or more

At the highest level, positions such as Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) or Security Architects offer the most competitive pay, often ranging from £120,000 to £300,000, depending on the size and nature of the organization

Closer Look at Cybersecurity Roles

The cybersecurity industry offers a variety of career paths, each with its own set of responsibilities, required skills, and salary expectations. Here’s a breakdown of the most common roles in cybersecurity and what you can expect in terms of salary:

1. Cybersecurity Analyst:

• Salary Range: £50,000 – £65,000
• Role Overview: Cybersecurity analysts are responsible for identifying potential security threats and mitigating them. They use tools to monitor networks and systems for unusual activity and respond to incidents as they arise.
• Skills Required: Knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and incident response protocols

2. Cybersecurity Engineer:

• Salary Range: £70,000 – £80,000
• Role Overview: Cybersecurity engineers design and implement security infrastructures for organisations, ensuring that all systems are protected against breaches. They also conduct vulnerability assessments and work on security automation.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in network security, encryption, and threat prevention.

3. Network Security Engineer

• Salary Range: £55,000 – £75,000
• Role Overview: These engineers focus specifically on the security of the network infrastructure. They deploy and maintain security hardware and software, such as VPNs, Load Balancers, and Next-Gen Firewalls, ensuring the perimeter is impenetrable.
• Skills Required: Expertise in routing/switching (Cisco/Juniper), VPN configuration, and Firewall management (Palo Alto, Fortinet).

4. Ethical Hacker

• Salary Range: £50,000 – £90,000
• Role Overview: Ethical hackers are legally authorized to “hack” into systems to find vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. They provide comprehensive reports on how to patch these holes and improve overall defense.
• Skills Required: Knowledge of scripting (Python, Bash), exploit development, and specialized tools like Metasploit and Nmap.

5. Penetration Tester

• Salary Range: £45,000 – £80,000
• Role Overview: Often confused with ethical hackers, “Pen Testers” are usually more focused on specific, time-bound testing of web apps, mobile apps, or network segments to find and exploit weaknesses as part of a compliance or audit process.
• Skills Required: Web Application Security (OWASP Top 10), Burp Suite, and Black-box/White-box testing methodologies.

6. Cybersecurity Manager

• Salary Range: £80,000 – £110,000
• Role Overview: This is a leadership role focused on strategy and policy. They oversee the security team, manage budgets, ensure the company meets legal compliance (like GDPR), and communicate risks to the board of directors.
• Skills Required: Risk management framework knowledge (ISO 27001, NIST), leadership, and incident management strategy.

7. Network Security Expert (Senior/Architect)

• Salary Range: £90,000 – £125,000
• Role Overview: This is a top-tier technical role. Experts design the high-level security blueprints for an entire organization’s global network. They act as the final point of escalation for complex security breaches and technology transitions.
• Skills Required: Advanced architectural design, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and high-level certifications like CCIE Security or CISSP.

8. Cybersecurity Consultant:

• Salary Range: £85,000 – £120,000
• Role Overview: Security consultants assess the cybersecurity posture of organisations and provide recommendations on how to strengthen it. They often work on a contractual basis and have deep knowledge of a variety of cybersecurity domains.
• Skills Required: Expertise in risk assessment, compliance, and a variety of security technologies.

9. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):

• Salary Range: £120,000 – £300,000
• Role Overview: The CISO is a top-level executive responsible for overseeing an organisation’s entire cybersecurity strategy. They ensure that all departments are aligned with security best practices and are prepared for potential cyber threats.
• Skills Required: Leadership skills, risk management expertise, and a comprehensive understanding of business operations.

Industry Trends Driving Salary Growth

Several factors are contributing to the rising salaries in the cybersecurity field in 2026:

• The AI “Arms Race” and Agentic Threats: 2026 has seen the rise of Agentic AI, autonomous cybercrime agents that can execute entire attack chains without human intervention. To counter this, companies are offering 20–30% salary premiums for “AI-Defensive” specialists who can manage AI-powered Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and secure generative AI models against data poisoning and prompt injection.
• The Critical Skills Gap & “Skills-Based” Hiring: The United Kingdom continues to face a significant talent shortage, with recent data showing that nearly 50% of businesses have a basic technical skills gap. However, the market has shifted; 2026 marks the decline of degree-first hiring in favor of proven competency. Professionals who can demonstrate hands-on expertise through labs, bug bounties, and specialized certifications (like OSCP or cloud-native security) are commanding top-tier salaries regardless of formal education.
• Next-Gen Regulatory Compliance (Cyber Security and Resilience Bill): While GDPR remains a foundation, the introduction of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill in UK and European standards like NIS2 and DORA have intensified the legal stakes. Organisations now face mandatory 24-hour incident reporting and strict supply chain vetting. This has created an unprecedented demand for GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) Specialists and Third-Party Risk Analysts, driving their compensation into the upper quartiles.
• Hyper-Specialization in “Quantum Readiness”: Once we approach the “Q-Day” threshold (the point where quantum computers could break standard encryption), demand has skyrocketed for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) experts. This is currently the most niche and highest-paid technical specialization, with roles in finance and national infrastructure reaching record-breaking salary levels as organizations rush to migrate to quantum-resistant architectures.
• Shift to Zero Trust and Cloud-Native Security: With remote and hybrid work now fully standardised, the “network perimeter” has vanished. Companies are moving away from general network security toward Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). This shift has made Cloud Security Engineers and Identity Access Management (IAM) experts essential, as misconfigurations in multi-cloud environments remain the #1 cause of major breaches in 2026.

The Role of Cybersecurity Training Programs

Given the high demand and lucrative salaries in the cybersecurity industry, entering this field is an appealing prospect. However, breaking into cybersecurity requires the right skills and experience. The tailored cybersecurity programs at Fortray can help bridge this gap by equipping you with the knowledge necessary to thrive in these roles.

The cybersecurity engineer program, for instance, provides a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from network security to penetration testing, preparing you for both entry-level and advanced positions. Fortray further offers valuable career support, including job placement assistance, to help you land your first role in cybersecurity. The programs are designed not only to equip you with technical skills but also to ensure you are job-ready, with a solid understanding of the industry’s best practices and real-world applications.

UK Industry Insights: The Future of Cybersecurity

Looking ahead, the UK cybersecurity sector shows no signs of slowing down! The global cybersecurity spending is expected to reach USD 21.51 billion by 2030, as predicted by Mordor Intelligence​. In the United Kingdom, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also stepped up its efforts to combat cyber threats, underscoring the critical need for cybersecurity professionals.

Moreover, the rise of technologies such as AI and machine learning is expected to play a key role in both the defence and offence against cyber threats. As these technologies evolve, they will create new opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to build sophisticated defence systems and stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Conclusion: A Lucrative Career Path

Cybersecurity jobs in London offer some of the most competitive salaries in the tech industry today. With salaries ranging from £35,000 for entry-level positions to over £800,000 for top executive roles, the potential for financial reward is high. However, the key to unlocking these opportunities lies in acquiring the right skills and qualifications.

If you’re ready to embark on a cybersecurity career, Fortray’s expert-led training programs can help you gain the technical expertise and hands-on experience required to excel in this high-demand field. Whether you’re looking to start as a security analyst or aiming for a more senior role, Fortray is here to help you secure your future in cybersecurity.

Ready to take the next step in your cybersecurity career? Explore Fortray’s programs today and start your journey toward a rewarding, high-paying job in cybersecurity.

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