CompTIA Security+ against Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Stats match each cert's full review. Requirement from job postings (Q1 2026); wages and growth from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Methodology
Not a true either-or, more a sequence years apart. Security+ is the entry-level baseline, and the cert the Department of Defense mandates for cleared roles; CISSP is the senior credential gated behind five years of experience. Most security careers touch both, just at different stages.
Dimension
Security+
CISSP
Tier
Our published threshold summary, not a score.
Broadly required
Well established
Required
Share of postings that mandate it. L n=201, R n=367.
53.7%required
37.9%required
Preferred
26.9% preferred
36.2% preferred
Pay (postings)
Median of postings that stated pay. The figure that differs most.
$120,365
$153,266
Prerequisite
None (DoD 8140 baseline)
5 years experience
Cost
$425 exam
$749 exam
Renewal
50 CEUs + $150 / 3 yrs
120 CPEs + $135/yr
Issuer
CompTIA
ISC2
Both certs map to the same BLS occupation (information security analysts), so median wage and field growth are identical for either. Those are shown once below; the posting-pay row above is where the two genuinely differ.
Shared field: information security analysts
Both certifications point at the same Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation, so the median wage and field growth are the same whichever you choose. The decision between them rests on the rows above, not on these.
Median wage (BLS)
$124,910
entry $66,18090th $182,370
Field growth, 2024 to 2034
+29%
187k
2024
242k
2034
About 17,300 openings a year. Among the fastest of any occupation.
How to weigh them
These sit at opposite ends of a career, so the deciding factor is your experience level, not a feature comparison. Security+ is required more often (54% versus 38%) because it is the baseline filter; CISSP appears in senior roles with higher pay (posting median around $153,266 versus $120,365). You cannot hold the full CISSP without five years in the field, so for most people the honest answer is Security+ now, CISSP later.
Who each is best for
Security+
›People breaking into security or IT.
›Anyone targeting cleared or defense roles, where it is the DoD 8140 baseline.
›Those who want a cheap ($425), achievable first cert.
CISSP
›Security professionals with five or more years of experience.
›Those moving toward senior or leadership roles.
›People who want the higher-paying senior signal and can clear the experience gate.
Bottom line
Early career, Security+. Five-plus years in and aiming senior, CISSP. They are a progression, not a choice.
Reddit and Quora: the real questions
The matchup-specific questions people actually ask, answered from the data above.
Should I get Security+ or CISSP first?
Security+ first, almost always. CISSP requires five years of security experience for the full cert, so it is not an entry credential. Security+ is the standard starting point and the DoD-recognized baseline; CISSP comes years later.
Can I skip Security+ and go straight to CISSP?
You can sit the CISSP exam without the experience and become an Associate of ISC2, but you cannot hold the full cert until you have earned five years. And without fundamentals the exam is very hard, so most people build up through Security+ first.
Is CISSP worth it without five years of experience?
You would earn Associate of ISC2 status, meaning the exam is passed but experience is pending. Some find that a useful signal, but the full value comes with the experience. If you are early-career, your time and money usually go further on Security+ plus hands-on experience.
Security+ to CISSP, what is the path?
A typical arc: Security+ early to get in and clear DoD requirements, accumulate security experience over several years (often adding role-specific certs along the way), then CISSP once you reach five years and are moving toward senior or leadership work.