Technology · Level S4 · Salary
CISO salary
Typical total compensation (US national)
$510,000–$620,000
Base
$275,000
Bonus
$80,000
Equity (annual)
$200,000
Indicative, sourced — not a guarantee. KORE1 CISO Salary Guide 2026: cash base $230-400k + equity 30-50% at VC/public; total $250-700k; Glassdoor total ~$320.8k
Pay by metro — nominal vs cost-adjusted
“Real” adjusts for cost of living, so a high headline number in an expensive metro can be worth less in practice. Ranked by real pay.
| Metro | Nominal | Real (cost-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $582,750 | $571,324 |
| Remote (US national) | $555,000 | $555,000 |
| Atlanta | $543,900 | $555,000 |
| Seattle | $654,900 | $545,750 |
| Chicago | $555,000 | $513,889 |
| Denver | $555,000 | $504,545 |
| Boston | $599,400 | $444,000 |
| New York City | $654,900 | $422,516 |
| Los Angeles | $599,400 | $413,379 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $693,750 | $385,417 |