The highest CompTIA pay in the US — and the highest cost of living to match.
Salary data for California.
Averages below cover the 2 metros in this region. A Security+ role averages $127,500, topping out at $130,000 in San Jose.
regional average
Range $125,000–$130,000 · top pay in San Jose
regional average
Range $105,000–$110,000 · top pay in San Jose
regional average
Range $85,000–$90,000 · top pay in San Jose
| City | Security+ | Network+ | A+ | Test centers | Job market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $130,000 | $110,000 | $90,000 | 12 | very high |
| San Francisco, CA | $125,000 | $105,000 | $85,000 | 15 | very high |
Salaries are average estimates for certified professionals; test-center counts are approximate Pearson VUE locations in each metro area.
San Jose and San Francisco anchor the highest-paying IT market in this dataset. California also taxes that income at among the highest state rates in the country, and Bay Area cost of living runs well above every other metro on this page. Weigh take-home pay and rent against the headline salary, not just the sticker number.
SecuSpark is online-only — you study from anywhere in the region. The Security+ exam itself costs $439 at a Pearson VUE center; practicing here is free.
7,500+ practice questions across 7 certification paths, with AI explanations on every answer.
CySA+ and PenTest+ are advanced roles. No per-city pay here, but both question banks are free to practice.
Pick a path and start — 7,500+ free questions, no signup required.
Take a free practice exam