Security & Investigations · C-Suite
Managing Director, Security Consulting Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$175,000
25th percentile
P50
$275,000
Median
P75
$245,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Very Tight
Scarcity: 9/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
20-50
Active candidates nationally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
11% year-over-year
RETENTION
4.6 yr avg tenure
13% annual turnover
Managing Director, Security Consulting Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
FTI Consulting MD P90 total comp $626K-$638K. Security practice MDs 15-25% below financial advisory MDs. Bonuses 50-100%+ of base for top originators.
Also Known As
MD Security Practice, Security Consulting MD, Principal, Security Advisory
What Does a Managing Director, Security Consulting Do?
The Managing Director, Security Consulting operates providing executive protection, threat assessment, and security operations for high-net-worth families, corporate principals, or private organizations. Professionals in this role typically bring 18 to 25 years of relevant experience. Classified at the C-Suite level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 20-50 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Managing Director, Security Consulting Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Managing Director, Security Consulting is $275,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $175,000 to $245,000. Pay variation across this range is primarily driven by principal risk profile, domestic vs. international travel requirements, team size managed, security clearance level, and specialized training in surveillance detection or threat mitigation. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.11% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Managing Director, Security Consulting Career Path
Professionals who move into Managing Director, Security Consulting roles most commonly come from military special operations, federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or corporate security departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward director of security for large family offices, corporate security leadership, or independent security consulting. The average tenure in this role is approximately 4.6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 13%.
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