Security & Investigations · Mid · 5 to 10 years typical
Security Consultant Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $110,000 | $140,000 | $170,000 | $205,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $105,000 | $130,000 | $155,000 | $190,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $100,000 | $125,000 | $145,000 | $180,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $95,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 | $175,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $95,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 | $175,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $90,000 | $115,000 | $140,000 | $165,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $85,000 | $105,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 |
Time to fill 10 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Salary.com P90 base $126K. Physical security consulting at Kroll/Control Risks pays 15-30% less than blended cyber+physical average.
What does a Security Consultant do?
The Security Consultant 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 5 to 10 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Mid level, this position draws from a competitive candidate pool, though specialized qualifications and sector-specific experience remain key differentiators in hiring.
What drives Security Consultant compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Security Consultant is $100,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $80,000 to $120,000. 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 is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Security Consultant career path
Professionals who move into Security Consultant 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 2.9 years, with an annual turnover rate of 26%.
Hiring a Security Consultant?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.