IT Security Analyst.
Raleigh.
$113,000
median salary, 3% above the national average
$84,000 to $152,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what IT Security Analysts actually make in Raleigh: $84,000 at the 25th percentile, $113,000 at the median, and $152,000 at the 75th. That is 3% above the national average. Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $102,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$73,000
to $90,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$96,000
to $119,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$124,000
to $147,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$141,000
to $175,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$113,000
Equity
$16,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $141,000
How Raleigh compares
Raleigh, NC
$113,000
Cost of living: 1% below average
National Average
$110,000
Raleigh is $3,000 above
IT Security Analyst salary by city
Salary by role in Raleigh
What you should know
If you are interviewing for IT Security Analyst roles in Raleigh, here is what you are walking into. Raleigh sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of America's premier tech and life sciences corridors. Cisco, Red Hat, Epic Games, and numerous biotech firms drive strong demand for engineering, research, and product roles. The combination of top tier universities and moderate living costs creates an exceptionally favorable salary to expense ratio. Analysts specializing in compliance frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS earn steady premiums in regulated industries. Those who combine audit and assessment skills with hands-on vulnerability scanning and SIEM management command 15 to 20% above pure compliance roles. Government and defense contractors pay top rates for cleared analysts.
Help desk or junior IT staff start at $50,000 to $65,000, advancing to security analyst at $82,000 to $148,000 in three to five years. Senior security analysts earn $140,000 to $170,000, while security managers or directors of information security reach $175,000 to $240,000. In Raleigh, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses of 8 to 12% are common, with certification reimbursement covering CompTIA Security+, CEH, and CISA exams. Some employers offer retention bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000 given the high turnover rate in security operations roles. And on the tax side: north Carolina's flat 4.5% income tax keeps the burden low. Raleigh has no city income tax, and the Triangle's affordable housing amplifies your take home purchasing power. When someone quotes you $113,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Cite Research Triangle talent competition in your negotiation. Employers here compete directly with each other and with remote offers, creating favorable leverage for candidates. The range for IT Security Analysts in Raleigh runs from $84,000 to $152,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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