Security & Investigations · Mid · 3 to 8 years typical
Security Systems Manager Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 257 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $120,000 | $170,000 | $230,000 | $280,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $110,000 | $155,000 | $215,000 | $260,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $105,000 | $150,000 | $205,000 | $250,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $105,000 | $150,000 | $205,000 | $250,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $105,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $245,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $100,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $240,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $100,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $240,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $100,000 | $140,000 | $190,000 | $230,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $90,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 | $210,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $85,000 | $120,000 | $165,000 | $200,000 |
Time to fill 12 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Growing significantly. Convergence of physical and cyber security, AI-powered surveillance, and biometric access creating demand for professionals who bridge both domains. Role importance increasing even though frequently outsourced. Candidates who understand both low-voltage installation and security operations command premium.
What does a Security Systems Manager do?
The Security Systems Manager 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 3 to 8 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Mid level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 100-250 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Security Systems Manager compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Security Systems Manager is $120,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $85,000 to $165,000. The 67% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation 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 12% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Security Systems Manager career path
Professionals who move into Security Systems Manager 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 3.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 20%.
Hiring a Security Systems Manager?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.