Average CISA salary in 2025: Insights for IT auditors

As organizations shore up their cybersecurity defenses, the demand for competent IT auditors is at an all-time high, with over 6,700 U.S. job openings, according to CyberSeek. One of the primary criteria for a successful IT auditor career is the CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) certification, which was recognized by the recent quarterly IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index (ITSCPI) from Foote Partners as one of the most sought-after and highest-paying IT certifications. 

With a CISA certification, IT auditors can validate their skills and experience in ensuring an organization's network systems and infrastructure run smoothly, efficiently and securely. By consistently analyzing data and systems to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities, an IT auditor is responsible for providing information around an organization's cybersecurity posture. 

In this article, we'll cover IT auditor salary insights, career impact, benefits of the CISA certification and the importance of the CISA certification in the evolving landscape of cybersecurity. 

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What is the CISA certification? 

The CISA certification is one of the most valuable and widely recognized certifications in cybersecurity. As one of the more rigorous and thorough certification processes, it arms professionals with the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to identify and manage vulnerabilities, employ complex control mechanisms, implement innovative technologies and evaluate compliance and regulatory requirements. 

According to ISACA, there are 151,000 CISA certification holders, and the average U.S. CISA holder's salary is over $149,000. This number is a bit high, based on our calculations (which we'll break down below), but it's not unlikely for experienced auditors or those in certain locations.

To receive the CISA certification, you must submit verified evidence of at least five years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience. You can waive up to 3 years of experience with various other requirements. 

The growing demand for CISA professionals 

Skilled CISA professionals are in high demand as cyberattacks increase, more organizations operate online and sensitive data is stored in public and private clouds. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly damaging, potentially costing millions of dollars in losses in revenue, productivity and business reputation. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.9 million, a 10% increase over the past year and the highest total ever. Rapid digital transformation also makes strong cybersecurity protocols more important as workers access files and applications remotely from personal devices, and network infrastructure is no longer relegated to a single on-premises location. 

The CISA tests auditing, controlling, monitoring and assessing IT and systems, making it ideal certification for security professionals with some experience. 

CISA and its impact on cybersecurity careers 

The CISA certification is not an entry-level certification. It shows in-depth mastery of the information system auditing process, governance and management, information systems operations and business resilience. For security jobs like IT auditor, internal auditor, IT risk analyst, compliance officer and chief information officer, a CISA is particularly valuable when combined with relevant job experience and other specialized security and IT certifications. 

A CISA validates an experienced candidate's knowledge and also shows a thorough and global perspective of information systems best practices, making it a highly valuable certification for employees. 

Average CISA salary in 2025 

For our cybersecurity salary ebook, which compares the average salaries of the most popular cybersecurity certifications, we used a systematic approach to evaluating salaries based on three sites: Payscale, Salary.com and Glassdoor

Here are the numbers, based on October 2025 data:

• Payscale has an average base salary of $120,000 for CISA holders 
• Salary.com has an average IT auditor salary of $70,959, including an average bonus of $3,374
• Glassdoor has an average salary of $129,000 and additional pay ranging from $14,000 to $27,000

By averaging these numbers, we get an average salary for U.S. CISA holders of $115,600. However, these salary figures are influenced by location, years of experience, industry, organization, size, exact title and more. 

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Salary breakdown by job titles 

Look at detailed salary information for various job roles associated with CISA certification. 

IT auditor 

• As an entry-level IT auditor with 0-1 years of experience, you can expect to make roughly $74,658 yearly, according to Glassdoor. 

• As you gain experience, the average salary goes up, hitting $88,932 for those with 4-6 years of experience and $119,564 for those with 15+ years of experience. 

• Your salary will depend on location, industry, company size and other factors. 

Information security auditor 

• An Information Security Auditor can expect a salary ranging between $104,197 and $148,132, according to Salary.com. 

Internal audit manager 

• For a more advanced internal audit manager, an average salary will range from $122,403 to $154,893. 
• The majority of workers earn a base salary of around $132,043. 

Highest-paying cybersecurity roles in 2025 

IT already offers high-paying jobs, and cybersecurity takes it a step further. Take a look at some of the top-paying roles in cybersecurity, including those requiring or preferring CISA. CISA plays a pivotal role in the attainment of these coveted positions, demonstrating a commitment to learning and development along with technical knowledge of best practices: 

• Cybersecurity Director: Between $170,190 and $209,490 (Salary.com) 

• Information Security Manager: Between $134,317 and $165,201 (Salary.com) 

• Security Architect: Between $135,617 and $166,667 (Salary.com) 

• Internal Auditing Director: Between $177,132 and $216,601 (Salary.com) 

Remember, these are base salary numbers and don't include potential bonuses or perks. 

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Enhancing your career with CISA 

A CISA certification shows candidates have passed a rigorous and comprehensive exam that requires five-plus years of experience. Leverage the CISA certification to advance your career by highlighting it with employers.

Many security professionals and IT auditors choose other specialized certifications to enhance their CISA background, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). In the long term, prepare to maintain your CISA through 20 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours annually and 120 CPE hours over three years, including annual professional fees. 

With high average salaries and a positive long-term career outlook, CISA-certified professionals stand to have a high-growth career. As cybersecurity becomes increasingly complex and important, while the security professionals' talent gap also increases, CISA professionals will be in high demand. Depending on your level of experience, organization and industry, CISA salaries can vary widely but offer tons of growth opportunities. 

Get our free salary guide to learn more about cybersecurity salaries.