Lower cost of living; insurance and logistics IT.
Salary data for Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana.
Averages below cover the 4 metros in this region. A Security+ role averages $88,000, topping out at $95,000 in Chicago.
regional average
Range $82,000–$95,000 · top pay in Chicago
regional average
Range $69,000–$80,000 · top pay in Chicago
regional average
Range $56,000–$65,000 · top pay in Chicago
| City | Security+ | Network+ | A+ | Test centers | Job market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $95,000 | $80,000 | $65,000 | 15 | high |
| Minneapolis, MN | $90,000 | $75,000 | $61,000 | 6 | high |
| Columbus, OH | $85,000 | $71,000 | $58,000 | 6 | moderate |
| Indianapolis, IN | $82,000 | $69,000 | $56,000 | 5 | moderate |
Salaries are average estimates for certified professionals; test-center counts are approximate Pearson VUE locations in each metro area.
Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus, and Indianapolis pair lower costs of living with deep insurance, logistics, and corporate-IT employers. Salaries run below the coasts, but so does rent — the gap narrows once cost of living is factored in.
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.
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