GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Cyber Security Industry Statistics

Hiring cybersecurity talent is extremely difficult due to severe industry shortages.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Average cybersecurity salary $120,000 in US 2023

Statistic 2

CISO average compensation $250,000+

Statistic 3

15% annual bonus standard in cybersecurity

Statistic 4

Equity packages offered to 40% of senior cyber roles

Statistic 5

Health benefits cover 95% of cybersecurity employees

Statistic 6

401k matching at 4-6% average

Statistic 7

Remote work stipend $1,000/year for 70%

Statistic 8

Paid cert reimbursements up to $5,000 annually

Statistic 9

25% salary premium for cleared cybersecurity roles

Statistic 10

Gender pay gap 12% in cybersecurity

Statistic 11

Total comp growth 8% YoY 2023

Statistic 12

60% offer unlimited PTO in cyber firms

Statistic 13

Mental health benefits expanded to 85%

Statistic 14

35% provide student loan repayment assistance

Statistic 15

Sign-on bonuses average $20,000

Statistic 16

50% comp tied to performance metrics

Statistic 17

EU cybersecurity salaries 20% below US average

Statistic 18

Relocation packages for 45% of hires

Statistic 19

72% satisfaction with comp packages

Statistic 20

Overtime pay mandatory in 80% of cyber ops roles

Statistic 21

Childcare benefits offered by 30% of firms

Statistic 22

65% provide gym memberships/wellness

Statistic 23

Retention bonuses at 10-15% of salary

Statistic 24

55% offer sabbaticals after 5 years

Statistic 25

Comp benchmarking tools used by 90% HR

Statistic 26

48% report comp as top motivator

Statistic 27

Pet insurance in 25% of benefits packages

Statistic 28

62% of cybersecurity workforce is male

Statistic 29

Women hold 25% of cybersecurity positions globally

Statistic 30

14% of cybersecurity leaders are women

Statistic 31

Ethnic minorities represent 22% of workforce

Statistic 32

LGBTQ+ inclusion programs in 40% of firms

Statistic 33

55% of firms have DEI goals for cyber hiring

Statistic 34

Age diversity: 30% under 30, 40% 30-45

Statistic 35

Veteran hiring targets 20% of roles

Statistic 36

Neurodiversity initiatives in 15% of companies

Statistic 37

65% report improved innovation with diverse teams

Statistic 38

Bias training mandatory for 70% HR in cyber

Statistic 39

ERGs active in 50% of large cyber firms

Statistic 40

Gender parity goal by 2030 in 45% orgs

Statistic 41

28% Black/Hispanic in US cyber workforce

Statistic 42

Accessibility accommodations for 60%

Statistic 43

52% diverse teams have better retention

Statistic 44

Mentorship for underrepresented groups 35%

Statistic 45

18% non-binary/trans in surveys

Statistic 46

ROI on DEI programs 3.5x in cyber

Statistic 47

75% prioritize diverse vendor partnerships

Statistic 48

Cultural competency training 48%

Statistic 49

41% women in entry-level cyber roles

Statistic 50

Inclusive hiring up 30% post-2020

Statistic 51

67% believe diversity improves security outcomes

Statistic 52

Pay equity audits annual in 55%

Statistic 53

Global south representation 12%

Statistic 54

Global cybersecurity workforce gap of 3.5 million professionals in 2023

Statistic 55

82% of cybersecurity professionals report difficulty hiring qualified candidates

Statistic 56

75% of organizations increased cybersecurity hiring budgets by 10% in 2023

Statistic 57

Average time to hire cybersecurity talent is 84 days

Statistic 58

64% of HR managers in cybersecurity cite skills mismatch as top hiring barrier

Statistic 59

90% of cybersecurity firms use LinkedIn for recruitment

Statistic 60

Entry-level cybersecurity roles receive 200+ applications per posting

Statistic 61

55% of cybersecurity hires come from internal referrals

Statistic 62

70% of organizations plan to hire 20+ cybersecurity staff in 2024

Statistic 63

Remote hiring for cybersecurity roles up 40% post-pandemic

Statistic 64

68% of HR leaders report talent shortage as biggest challenge

Statistic 65

Cybersecurity job postings grew 30% YoY in 2023

Statistic 66

45% of hires lack formal cybersecurity certifications

Statistic 67

Diversity hiring initiatives cover 60% of cybersecurity firms

Statistic 68

AI tools used in 35% of cybersecurity candidate screening

Statistic 69

78% of cybersecurity roles require 3+ years experience

Statistic 70

Campus recruitment yields 15% of junior cybersecurity hires

Statistic 71

52% of HR budgets allocated to cybersecurity recruitment

Statistic 72

Freelance cybersecurity hiring up 25%

Statistic 73

61% turnover before hiring due to poor candidate experience

Statistic 74

89% of firms offer signing bonuses for cybersecurity roles

Statistic 75

Global cybersecurity job demand projected to grow 12% annually

Statistic 76

40% of cybersecurity hires from non-traditional backgrounds

Statistic 77

HR tech spend on cybersecurity ATS up 50%

Statistic 78

73% of recruiters lack cybersecurity domain knowledge

Statistic 79

Cybersecurity bootcamp grads hired at 65% rate

Statistic 80

56% of organizations use RPO for cybersecurity hiring

Statistic 81

Job offer acceptance rate 72% for cybersecurity roles

Statistic 82

67% prioritize soft skills in cybersecurity interviews

Statistic 83

Cybersecurity intern-to-hire conversion 48%

Statistic 84

70% turnover rate for women in cyber after 2 years

Statistic 85

Average tenure 3.2 years in cybersecurity

Statistic 86

45% cite burnout as top turnover reason

Statistic 87

60% of firms track employee NPS for retention

Statistic 88

Exit interviews reveal 35% leave for better pay

Statistic 89

Engagement scores average 68/100 in cyber

Statistic 90

50% turnover cost equals 1.5x salary

Statistic 91

Flexible hours retain 75% of staff

Statistic 92

42% voluntary turnover rate annually

Statistic 93

Career pathing reduces turnover by 25%

Statistic 94

80% stay for strong company culture

Statistic 95

Predictive analytics cut turnover 20%

Statistic 96

55% millennials plan to leave within 2 years

Statistic 97

Alumni rehiring rate 30%

Statistic 98

65% turnover linked to poor management

Statistic 99

Retention bonuses effective for 70%

Statistic 100

Pulse surveys monthly in 50% firms

Statistic 101

38% leave due to lack of advancement

Statistic 102

Hybrid work boosts retention 15%

Statistic 103

72% loyalty from recognition programs

Statistic 104

Turnover highest in SOC analysts 52%

Statistic 105

Succession planning covers 60% roles

Statistic 106

48% report work-life balance issues

Statistic 107

Stay interviews implemented by 40%

Statistic 108

66% retained via internal mobility

Statistic 109

Gen Z turnover 28% higher

Statistic 110

3.4 million cybersecurity professionals needed in US by 2025

Statistic 111

65% of cybersecurity workforce lacks advanced certifications

Statistic 112

Annual training spend per employee $2,500 in cybersecurity firms

Statistic 113

82% report skills gap in cloud security

Statistic 114

70% of firms mandate CISSP certification for senior roles

Statistic 115

Upskilling programs cover 55% of cybersecurity staff annually

Statistic 116

AI/ML skills demanded in 40% of cybersecurity job postings

Statistic 117

58% of professionals seek training in zero-trust architecture

Statistic 118

Bootcamps reduce skills gap by 30% for new hires

Statistic 119

75% of cybersecurity training is online/virtual

Statistic 120

Certification renewal rates 92% among trained staff

Statistic 121

49% lack incident response training

Statistic 122

Gamified training improves retention by 50%

Statistic 123

63% of firms partner with universities for skills programs

Statistic 124

DevSecOps skills gap affects 67% of organizations

Statistic 125

80% plan to invest in quantum-resistant skills by 2026

Statistic 126

Micro-credentials adopted by 45% of cybersecurity HR

Statistic 127

Training ROI measured at 4:1 in cybersecurity

Statistic 128

71% of staff complete annual phishing training

Statistic 129

Threat hunting skills trained for 38% of teams

Statistic 130

Women in cybersecurity seek more leadership training (55%)

Statistic 131

52% use VR for cybersecurity simulations

Statistic 132

Skills refresh cycles every 6 months for 60%

Statistic 133

66% report gap in ransomware response training

Statistic 134

Apprenticeships train 20% of entry-level cyber staff

Statistic 135

74% of training focuses on compliance (GDPR/NIST)

Statistic 136

Mentor programs boost skills by 40%

Statistic 137

59% lack supply chain security skills

1/137

Sources

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Amidst a digital battlefield where a staggering 3.5 million-person workforce gap leaves organizations dangerously exposed, human resources has become the critical frontline in the cybersecurity industry's fight for survival and talent.

Key Takeaways

Global cybersecurity workforce gap of 3.5 million professionals in 2023
82% of cybersecurity professionals report difficulty hiring qualified candidates
75% of organizations increased cybersecurity hiring budgets by 10% in 2023
3.4 million cybersecurity professionals needed in US by 2025
65% of cybersecurity workforce lacks advanced certifications
Annual training spend per employee $2,500 in cybersecurity firms
Average cybersecurity salary $120,000 in US 2023
CISO average compensation $250,000+
15% annual bonus standard in cybersecurity
62% of cybersecurity workforce is male
Women hold 25% of cybersecurity positions globally
14% of cybersecurity leaders are women
70% turnover rate for women in cyber after 2 years
Average tenure 3.2 years in cybersecurity
45% cite burnout as top turnover reason

Hiring cybersecurity talent is extremely difficult due to severe industry shortages.

Compensation and Benefits

Average cybersecurity salary $120,000 in US 2023
CISO average compensation $250,000+
15% annual bonus standard in cybersecurity
Equity packages offered to 40% of senior cyber roles
Health benefits cover 95% of cybersecurity employees
401k matching at 4-6% average
Remote work stipend $1,000/year for 70%
Paid cert reimbursements up to $5,000 annually
25% salary premium for cleared cybersecurity roles
Gender pay gap 12% in cybersecurity
Total comp growth 8% YoY 2023
60% offer unlimited PTO in cyber firms
Mental health benefits expanded to 85%
35% provide student loan repayment assistance
Sign-on bonuses average $20,000
50% comp tied to performance metrics
EU cybersecurity salaries 20% below US average
Relocation packages for 45% of hires
72% satisfaction with comp packages
Overtime pay mandatory in 80% of cyber ops roles
Childcare benefits offered by 30% of firms
65% provide gym memberships/wellness
Retention bonuses at 10-15% of salary
55% offer sabbaticals after 5 years
Comp benchmarking tools used by 90% HR
48% report comp as top motivator
Pet insurance in 25% of benefits packages

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

Despite the glittering perks that make cybersecurity roles resemble tech industry royalty—from the siren song of unlimited PTO to the quiet dignity of pet insurance—the 12% gender pay gap remains the unpatched vulnerability in the system, proving that even in a field dedicated to protection, some flaws are still being exploited.

Diversity and Inclusion

62% of cybersecurity workforce is male
Women hold 25% of cybersecurity positions globally
14% of cybersecurity leaders are women
Ethnic minorities represent 22% of workforce
LGBTQ+ inclusion programs in 40% of firms
55% of firms have DEI goals for cyber hiring
Age diversity: 30% under 30, 40% 30-45
Veteran hiring targets 20% of roles
Neurodiversity initiatives in 15% of companies
65% report improved innovation with diverse teams
Bias training mandatory for 70% HR in cyber
ERGs active in 50% of large cyber firms
Gender parity goal by 2030 in 45% orgs
28% Black/Hispanic in US cyber workforce
Accessibility accommodations for 60%
52% diverse teams have better retention
Mentorship for underrepresented groups 35%
18% non-binary/trans in surveys
ROI on DEI programs 3.5x in cyber
75% prioritize diverse vendor partnerships
Cultural competency training 48%
41% women in entry-level cyber roles
Inclusive hiring up 30% post-2020
67% believe diversity improves security outcomes
Pay equity audits annual in 55%
Global south representation 12%

Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

While the cybersecurity industry is finally starting to collect the data that proves diversity is its greatest defense, the numbers themselves reveal we're still in the early, patchy stages of building a truly resilient and inclusive human firewall.

Recruitment and Hiring

Global cybersecurity workforce gap of 3.5 million professionals in 2023
82% of cybersecurity professionals report difficulty hiring qualified candidates
75% of organizations increased cybersecurity hiring budgets by 10% in 2023
Average time to hire cybersecurity talent is 84 days
64% of HR managers in cybersecurity cite skills mismatch as top hiring barrier
90% of cybersecurity firms use LinkedIn for recruitment
Entry-level cybersecurity roles receive 200+ applications per posting
55% of cybersecurity hires come from internal referrals
70% of organizations plan to hire 20+ cybersecurity staff in 2024
Remote hiring for cybersecurity roles up 40% post-pandemic
68% of HR leaders report talent shortage as biggest challenge
Cybersecurity job postings grew 30% YoY in 2023
45% of hires lack formal cybersecurity certifications
Diversity hiring initiatives cover 60% of cybersecurity firms
AI tools used in 35% of cybersecurity candidate screening
78% of cybersecurity roles require 3+ years experience
Campus recruitment yields 15% of junior cybersecurity hires
52% of HR budgets allocated to cybersecurity recruitment
Freelance cybersecurity hiring up 25%
61% turnover before hiring due to poor candidate experience
89% of firms offer signing bonuses for cybersecurity roles
Global cybersecurity job demand projected to grow 12% annually
40% of cybersecurity hires from non-traditional backgrounds
HR tech spend on cybersecurity ATS up 50%
73% of recruiters lack cybersecurity domain knowledge
Cybersecurity bootcamp grads hired at 65% rate
56% of organizations use RPO for cybersecurity hiring
Job offer acceptance rate 72% for cybersecurity roles
67% prioritize soft skills in cybersecurity interviews
Cybersecurity intern-to-hire conversion 48%

Recruitment and Hiring Interpretation

Cybersecurity HR is frantically throwing money, referral bonuses, and LinkedIn messages at a yawning talent gap, only to often find that the candidates knocking at the door don't have the right key, while many of the recruiters answering it don't even know what the lock looks like.

Retention and Turnover

70% turnover rate for women in cyber after 2 years
Average tenure 3.2 years in cybersecurity
45% cite burnout as top turnover reason
60% of firms track employee NPS for retention
Exit interviews reveal 35% leave for better pay
Engagement scores average 68/100 in cyber
50% turnover cost equals 1.5x salary
Flexible hours retain 75% of staff
42% voluntary turnover rate annually
Career pathing reduces turnover by 25%
80% stay for strong company culture
Predictive analytics cut turnover 20%
55% millennials plan to leave within 2 years
Alumni rehiring rate 30%
65% turnover linked to poor management
Retention bonuses effective for 70%
Pulse surveys monthly in 50% firms
38% leave due to lack of advancement
Hybrid work boosts retention 15%
72% loyalty from recognition programs
Turnover highest in SOC analysts 52%
Succession planning covers 60% roles
48% report work-life balance issues
Stay interviews implemented by 40%
66% retained via internal mobility
Gen Z turnover 28% higher

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

The cybersecurity industry is hemorrhaging talent—especially women—at a staggering rate, primarily due to burnout and poor management, yet it paradoxically holds the proven antidotes in its own hands: better pay, flexible work, clear career paths, and a decent culture would solve most of its self-inflicted wounds.

Skills and Training

3.4 million cybersecurity professionals needed in US by 2025
65% of cybersecurity workforce lacks advanced certifications
Annual training spend per employee $2,500 in cybersecurity firms
82% report skills gap in cloud security
70% of firms mandate CISSP certification for senior roles
Upskilling programs cover 55% of cybersecurity staff annually
AI/ML skills demanded in 40% of cybersecurity job postings
58% of professionals seek training in zero-trust architecture
Bootcamps reduce skills gap by 30% for new hires
75% of cybersecurity training is online/virtual
Certification renewal rates 92% among trained staff
49% lack incident response training
Gamified training improves retention by 50%
63% of firms partner with universities for skills programs
DevSecOps skills gap affects 67% of organizations
80% plan to invest in quantum-resistant skills by 2026
Micro-credentials adopted by 45% of cybersecurity HR
Training ROI measured at 4:1 in cybersecurity
71% of staff complete annual phishing training
Threat hunting skills trained for 38% of teams
Women in cybersecurity seek more leadership training (55%)
52% use VR for cybersecurity simulations
Skills refresh cycles every 6 months for 60%
66% report gap in ransomware response training
Apprenticeships train 20% of entry-level cyber staff
74% of training focuses on compliance (GDPR/NIST)
Mentor programs boost skills by 40%
59% lack supply chain security skills

Skills and Training Interpretation

The industry is trying to fill a bathtub of 3.4 million cybersecurity professionals with a training hose that leaks certified talent, patches holes with gamified VR and quantum-resistant band-aids, while half the staff is still unsure how to turn off the ransomware faucet.