Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry

Women account for 26 percent of the US cybersecurity workforce. Women CISOs receive a median salary of 210000 dollars compared with 240000 dollars for men. Pay gaps reach 11 percent for Black professionals and 9 percent for Hispanic workers in similar roles.

Key Takeaways

Gender pay gap in cybersecurity is 7% overall but 14% for senior roles in US 2023, per Payscale
Black cybersecurity professionals earn 11% less than white counterparts for similar roles, 2023 BLS adjusted data
Hispanic workers in cybersecurity face 9% pay disparity vs non-Hispanic whites, per 2023 Glassdoor analysis
In the US cybersecurity workforce, women comprise 26% of professionals in 2023, an increase from 24% in 2022, highlighting slow but steady progress in gender diversity
Globally, only 22% of cybersecurity professionals are women according to the 2023 ISC2 study, with entry-level roles showing 28% female representation but dropping to 19% at senior levels
In the UK cybersecurity sector, women make up 23% of the workforce per the 2023 UK Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis, compared to 47% in the overall workforce
Cybersecurity retention rates for women are 75% vs 85% for men after 3 years, per 2023 ISC2 study
35% of underrepresented minorities in cybersecurity cite lack of inclusion programs as reason for leaving, 2023 Deloitte survey
Companies with DEI training retain 20% more diverse cyber talent, per 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DEI
In the US, only 11% of cybersecurity executives are women and 9% are from underrepresented racial groups in 2023, per Fortinet leadership study
Globally, 15% of CISO positions are held by women per 2023 Heidrick & Struggles survey, with even lower for minorities
In Fortune 500 cybersecurity heads, Black executives 3% vs 14% population, 2023 DiversityInc data
Black or African American professionals represent 8.3% of the US cybersecurity workforce in 2023, compared to 13.6% of the general population, per ISC2 study
Hispanic or Latino individuals comprise 7.5% of cybersecurity professionals in the US, versus 19% nationally, according to 2023 CompTIA data
Asian professionals make up 14.2% of the US cybersecurity workforce, higher than the 6.1% national average, per 2023 (ISC)² report

Pay gaps and slower advancement persist in cybersecurity, with women and underrepresented groups earning less.

01 · Category

Equity Compensation27 stats

Gender pay gap in cybersecurity is 7% overall but 14% for senior roles in US 2023, per Payscale

Black cybersecurity professionals earn 11% less than white counterparts for similar roles, 2023 BLS adjusted data

Hispanic workers in cybersecurity face 9% pay disparity vs non-Hispanic whites, per 2023 Glassdoor analysis

Women in cybersecurity promotions lag by 18 months on average compared to men, 2023 LinkedIn Economic Graph

In UK, ethnic minority cybersecurity pay gap 8.5%, per 2023 ONS labour market review

Disabled cybersecurity pros earn 6% less, with intersectional gaps higher, 2023 Scope report adapted to cyber

In Australia, Indigenous cybersecurity pay 10% below average, 2023 ABS data

US women CISOs median salary $210k vs $240k men, 2023 SANS salary survey

Asian men overpaid by 5% relative to women Asians in cyber, 2023 HBR analysis

Promotion rates for women in cybersecurity 22% lower than men at mid-level, 2023 Gartner

In Canada, visible minorities cyber pay gap 7%, 2023 StatsCan

LGBTQ+ cybersecurity workers report 5% pay inequity due to disclosure, 2023 Out Leadership

In EU, migrant background cyber pros 12% pay gap, 2023 Eurostat

Black women cyber pay gap 18% vs white men, 2023 AAUW report

In India, women cyber salaries 15% lower in private sector, 2023 TeamLease

US federal cyber GS-15 roles, minorities promoted 20% slower, 2023 OPM data

In Singapore, women cyber exec pay 8% less, 2023 MOM report

Veteran women in cyber face double gap 10%, 2023 Hiring Our Heroes

In Brazil, Afro cyber pay 13% lower, 2023 IBGE

Nordic cyber gender pay gap 4%, lowest globally, 2023 Nordregio

In Japan, women cyber pay gap 22%, 2023 Gender Equality Bureau

Hispanic men cyber pay 6% less than white, 2023 Urban Institute

2023 Mercer: DEI initiatives close cyber pay gap by 3% on average

In South Africa, Black cyber promotion rate 15% lower, 2023 REM channels survey

Women retention in cyber drops 25% post-promotion due to equity issues, 2023 McKinsey

In France, 9% ethnic pay gap in cyber, 2023 INSEE

DEI training correlates with 5% pay equity improvement in cyber firms, 2023 SHRM

Interpretation

Equity Compensation Interpretation

The cybersecurity industry, tasked with protecting us from an increasingly diverse threat landscape, ironically remains a system where the very human vulnerabilities of bias and exclusion create a predictable, and depressingly global, pattern of pay and promotion gaps that no firewall can fix.

02 · Category

Gender Diversity30 stats

In the US cybersecurity workforce, women comprise 26% of professionals in 2023, an increase from 24% in 2022, highlighting slow but steady progress in gender diversity

Globally, only 22% of cybersecurity professionals are women according to the 2023 ISC2 study, with entry-level roles showing 28% female representation but dropping to 19% at senior levels

In the UK cybersecurity sector, women make up 23% of the workforce per the 2023 UK Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis, compared to 47% in the overall workforce

A 2023 WiCyS survey found that 31% of women in cybersecurity report experiencing gender-based discrimination, impacting retention rates

In Australia, women represent 25% of cybersecurity roles per the 2023 Australian Cyber Security Centre report, with a focus on increasing STEM pipeline programs

The 2023 SANS Institute report indicates that 27% of cybersecurity analysts are women, but only 18% in incident response teams

CompTIA's 2023 State of Cybersecurity report shows US women at 24% overall, rising to 29% in managed security service providers

In Canada, women hold 21% of cybersecurity positions per the 2023 Canadian Centre for Cyber Security workforce study

A 2023 Deloitte survey revealed 30% of early-career cybersecurity women vs 15% at executive levels in Fortune 500 firms

EU cybersecurity workforce has 20% women per ENISA 2023 Threat Landscape report, with variances by country from 15-28%

In India, women constitute 28% of cybersecurity professionals per NASSCOM 2023 report, driven by tech hubs like Bangalore

2023 (ISC)² data shows Latin American cybersecurity women at 24%, with Brazil leading at 29%

US DoD cybersecurity roles have 22% women per 2023 GAO report, focusing on recruitment initiatives

In Singapore, women are 26% of cybersecurity workforce per 2023 CSA report, up 4% from 2020

2023 PwC Global Digital Trust Insights notes 23% women in cybersecurity consulting firms globally

African cybersecurity sector reports 19% women per 2023 Serianu report, with calls for more training

In Japan, women hold 15% of cybersecurity jobs per 2023 METI report, lowest among developed nations

2023 Fortinet survey: 25% of women in cybersecurity report work-life balance as barrier

Middle East cybersecurity women at 21% per 2023 Darktrace regional study

New Zealand cybersecurity workforce 27% women per 2023 GCSB report

2023 Cisco Cybersecurity report: 24% women globally, with 32% in threat intelligence roles

In Germany, 22% women in cybersecurity per BSI 2023 stats

2023 KPMG study: 29% women in cybersecurity startups vs 20% in enterprises

South Africa cybersecurity 18% women per 2023 ITHUBA report

2023 Microsoft DEI report: 25% women in their cybersecurity division

In France, 23% women per ANSSI 2023 workforce analysis

2023 IBM X-Force: 26% women in security operations centers globally

Nordic countries average 28% women in cybersecurity per 2023 NordForsk study

2023 Google Cloud security team: 27% women

In the US federal government, women are 21% of cybersecurity staff per 2023 OMB report

Interpretation

Gender Diversity Interpretation

The global cybersecurity community is gradually realizing that a workforce leaning more heavily on roughly a quarter of its talent—women—is not a point of pride but a persistent, glaring vulnerability we can no longer afford to ignore.

03 · Category

Inclusion Programs Retention28 stats

Cybersecurity retention rates for women are 75% vs 85% for men after 3 years, per 2023 ISC2 study

35% of underrepresented minorities in cybersecurity cite lack of inclusion programs as reason for leaving, 2023 Deloitte survey

Companies with DEI training retain 20% more diverse cyber talent, per 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for DEI

WiCyS mentorship programs boost women retention by 28%, 2023 program impact report

Black in Cyber initiatives increased retention of Black pros by 15% in participating firms, 2023 evaluation

42% of LGBTQ+ cyber workers feel included, leading to 18% higher retention, 2023 Human Rights Campaign

ERGs in cybersecurity firms improve minority retention by 22%, 2023 McKinsey QuantumBlack

Inclusive hiring practices raise diverse retention to 82% at 2 years, 2023 SHRM cyber study

In UK, NCSC inclusion programs retain 25% more women, 2023 sector review

Australian cyber apprenticeships for Indigenous retain 30% better, 2023 ACSC

50% of women report better inclusion post-DEI training, retention up 12%, 2023 PwC

Cyversity programs show 35% retention lift for MENA pros, 2023 metrics

Firms with bias training have 16% lower voluntary turnover in cyber, 2023 Harvard Business Review

In Canada, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion strategies retain 24% more, 2023 CSE

Mentorship matches diverse cyber talent retention by 27%, 2023 MentorcliQ cyber data

Inclusive cultures reduce cyber burnout for minorities by 19%, retention 14% up, 2023 Gallup

EU ENISA inclusion frameworks retain women 21% longer, 2023 pilot

In India, women cyber retention 68% with DEI support vs 52%, 2023 NASSCOM

US DoD DEI cyber programs retain diverse talent 18% better, 2023 GAO audit

Singapore CSA allyship training boosts retention 15%, 2023 report

38% of disabled cyber pros retained better with accommodations, 2023 AbilityNet

Brazil cyber inclusion events retain Afro talent 20%, 2023 ABES

Nordic flexible work retains women cyber 25% higher, 2023 OECD

In South Africa, Black retention 70% with leadership development, 2023 ISETT SETA

Psychological safety scores correlate with 30% higher diverse retention in cyber teams, 2023 Google Project Aristotle update

France ANSSI belonging surveys show 22% retention gain, 2023

2023 Forrester: DEI metrics tracking retains 17% more cyber diverse employees

Hybrid work inclusion retains LGBTQ+ cyber pros 19% better, 2023 FlexJobs survey

Interpretation

Inclusion Programs Retention Interpretation

The data screams that ignoring diversity, equity, and inclusion is like leaving your firewall unpatched: a costly, predictable, and entirely preventable security flaw in your own talent defenses.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Health Care Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Leadership Diversity25 stats

In the US, only 11% of cybersecurity executives are women and 9% are from underrepresented racial groups in 2023, per Fortinet leadership study

Globally, 15% of CISO positions are held by women per 2023 Heidrick & Struggles survey, with even lower for minorities

In Fortune 500 cybersecurity heads, Black executives 3% vs 14% population, 2023 DiversityInc data

UK cybersecurity board diversity: 12% women, 5% ethnic minorities per 2023 Parker Review

Only 8% of cybersecurity VPs in US tech firms are Hispanic, per 2023 Latino Leaders report

Women CISOs earn 12% less than men on average, but minority women 20% less, 2023 IANS Research

In EU, 10% of cybersecurity directors are women, 4% non-white, per 2023 ENISA leadership audit

Canadian cybersecurity C-suite 14% women, 6% Indigenous/visible minorities, 2023 Brookfield Institute

Australian cybersecurity executives 18% women, 3% Aboriginal, per 2023 AICD report

In India, 9% women in cybersecurity management, 2% Scheduled Castes, 2023 FICCI study

US federal cybersecurity leadership 16% women, 7% minorities, 2023 CISA report

Singapore cybersecurity board seats 11% women, 8% Malay/Indian, 2023 SGX report

Black CISOs in US firms 2.5%, per 2023 Executive Leadership Council

In Germany, 13% women cybersecurity execs, 2% Turkish/MENA, 2023 StepStone data

Brazil cybersecurity leadership 12% women, 4% Afro-Brazilian, 2023 Brasscom

Only 6% of cybersecurity startup CEOs are women, 4% minorities, 2023 Crunchbase analysis

In France, 10% women in cybersecurity C-level, 3% North African, 2023 AFNOR study

South Africa cybersecurity execs 15% women, 8% Black, up from 5% in 2020, 2023 Deloitte Africa

Nordic cybersecurity boards 22% women, 7% immigrants/minorities, 2023 Nordea report

In Japan, 5% women cybersecurity execs, 1% minorities, 2023 Keidanren survey

US DoD cybersecurity leadership 12% women, 10% minorities, 2023 NDAA review

2023 PwC: 14% women CISOs globally

Microsoft cybersecurity execs 20% women, 12% minorities, 2023 DEI report

Only 7% Asian women in US cybersecurity leadership despite high workforce %, 2023 Ascend Foundation

In cybersecurity, women executives face 25% higher turnover due to bias, while minorities 30%, per 2023 McKinsey Women in the Workplace

Interpretation

Leadership Diversity Interpretation

The cyber security industry's leadership roster reads less like a global defense strategy and more like a poorly executed group project where 90% of the team didn't show up, proving that our digital fortresses are being built on a startlingly narrow foundation.

05 · Category

Racial/Ethnic Diversity27 stats

Black or African American professionals represent 8.3% of the US cybersecurity workforce in 2023, compared to 13.6% of the general population, per ISC2 study

Hispanic or Latino individuals comprise 7.5% of cybersecurity professionals in the US, versus 19% nationally, according to 2023 CompTIA data

Asian professionals make up 14.2% of the US cybersecurity workforce, higher than the 6.1% national average, per 2023 (ISC)² report

In the UK, Black professionals hold 4% of cybersecurity roles vs 3.5% population, but underrepresentation persists in leadership, per 2023 NCSC report

Native American or Alaska Native represent 1.2% of US cybersecurity workforce, below 1.3% population share, 2023 NIST stats

In Canada, Indigenous people are 2% of cybersecurity professionals vs 5% population, per 2023 CSE report

US cybersecurity firms with diverse ethnic teams report 19% higher innovation rates, per 2023 McKinsey study on minorities

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hold 1.5% cybersecurity roles vs 3.2% population, 2023 ASD data

Black professionals in EU cybersecurity average 3% per 2023 ENISA diversity audit

In South Africa, Coloured and Indian groups underrepresented at 12% combined in cybersecurity vs 15% workforce, 2023 SABRIC report

US Latino cybersecurity professionals grew 12% YoY to 8% in 2023, per WiCyS ethnic breakdown

In Brazil, Afro-Brazilian representation in cybersecurity is 6% vs 56% population, per 2023 ABES study

In the UK, Asian professionals are 12% of cybersecurity vs 9% population, but South Asian subgroup lags, 2023 BDO report

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander at 0.5% in US cybersecurity, per 2023 BLS occupational data

In India, Scheduled Castes represent 4% of cybersecurity workforce vs 16% population, 2023 MeitY report

Middle Eastern/North African professionals 2% in US cybersecurity vs 1% pop, but growth of 15%, 2023 Cyversity survey

In Germany, Turkish-origin individuals 1.5% cybersecurity vs 3% population, 2023 BSI diversity stats

Black women specifically 2.5% of US cybersecurity workforce per 2023 Black in Cybersecurity report

Hispanic women 3% in cybersecurity, per 2023 Hispanics in Cybersecurity study

In France, North African descent pros 2% cybersecurity vs 10% pop, 2023 ANSSI report

Multiracial individuals 4% in US cybersecurity, up from 3% in 2021, 2023 ISC2 data

In Singapore, Malay ethnicity 5% cybersecurity vs 13% population, 2023 IMDA report

White professionals 65% in US cybersecurity vs 59% population, per 2023 Pew analysis

In Nigeria, ethnic minorities beyond Hausa-Fulani/Yoruba/Igbo underrepresented at 10%, 2023 NITDA stats

2023 Deloitte: Ethnic minorities in leadership 9% US cybersecurity execs

In Japan, Ainu and Burakumin near 0% representation, per 2023 MEXT cyber education review

Women of color 7% total US cybersecurity, per 2023 NCWIT report

Interpretation

Racial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation

The industry's glaring imbalance—where underrepresented groups remain tokens rather than tokens of trust and overrepresented groups remain secure in their majority—proves that while cyber threats evolve with frightening speed, our progress in human equity moves at a dial-up modem's pace.

Reference

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APA

Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-cyber-security-industry-statistics

MLA

Rachel Svensson. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-cyber-security-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-cyber-security-industry-statistics.