Security & Investigations · C-Suite · 12 to 18 years typical
VP of Security 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× | $260,000 | $320,000 | $435,000 | $620,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $240,000 | $300,000 | $405,000 | $570,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $230,000 | $290,000 | $390,000 | $550,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $230,000 | $290,000 | $390,000 | $550,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $225,000 | $280,000 | $380,000 | $540,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $220,000 | $275,000 | $370,000 | $530,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $220,000 | $275,000 | $370,000 | $530,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $215,000 | $265,000 | $355,000 | $510,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $195,000 | $240,000 | $325,000 | $460,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $185,000 | $230,000 | $310,000 | $440,000 |
Time to fill 16 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Operational head of all security programs. Manages regional directors, budget allocation, vendor contracts (guard force, technology), investigations, GSOC, and executive protection. CPP certification strongly preferred. Growing trend toward managing converged physical and cyber security programs.
What does a VP of Security do?
The VP of Security 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 12 to 18 years of relevant experience. Classified at the C-Suite level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 60-150 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives VP of Security compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a VP of Security is $230,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $185,000 to $310,000. The 54% 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 7% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
VP of Security career path
Professionals who move into VP of Security 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 4.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 15%.
Hiring a VP of Security?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.