CISSP

cybersecurity Advanced Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is the gold standard for experienced security professionals. It covers eight domains of information security and requires 5 years of professional experience.

$152K
Avg Salary
50%
Pass Rate
28.0K
Job Listings
200h
Study Time
$749
Exam Cost

Exam Details

Exam CodeCISSP
Exam Cost$749 USD
Duration180 minutes
Questions125
Passing Score700/1000 (CAT format)
ProviderISC2
Difficulty8/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the CISSP certification earn between $120,000 and $200,000 annually, with an average of $152,000.

Job market demand trend: Growing (+10% YoY)

Prerequisites

  • 5 years cumulative paid work experience in 2+ of the 8 CISSP domains
  • 4-year degree or approved credential substitutes 1 year
  • Can pass exam first, then earn experience within 6 years (Associate of ISC2)

Skills Covered

Security & Risk ManagementAsset SecuritySecurity ArchitectureCommunication & Network SecurityIdentity & Access ManagementSecurity Assessment & TestingSecurity OperationsSoftware Development Security

Best Study Resources

Official

ISC2 Official Study Guide

 Free Course

Destination Certification — MindMap Videos

 Practice Exams

Boson Practice Exams

Comparisons Featuring CISSP

CASP+ vs CISSP

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CEH vs CISSP: Offensive vs Defensive Security Certification

CEH and CISSP represent two fundamentally different security career paths — offensive testing versus broad security lead...

CISSP vs CCSP

CISSP vs CCSP: two elite (ISC)² certifications for senior security professionals. CISSP covers broad information securit...

Career Paths With CISSP

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts protect organizations from cyber threats by monitoring systems, analyzing vul...

$65K - $140K +32%

GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) Specialist

GRC specialists ensure organizations meet regulatory requirements, manage information security risks...

$70K - $160K +18%

Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker

Penetration testers simulate real-world cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities before malicious ac...

$75K - $160K +32%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CISSP worth the investment?
For experienced security professionals, absolutely. CISSP holders earn an average of $152K and the certification is required or preferred in most senior security roles. The ROI typically pays back within 1-2 years.
How hard is the CISSP exam?
CISSP is one of the most challenging IT certifications with an estimated 50% pass rate. It uses a Computerized Adaptive Testing format with 125-175 questions. Most candidates need 3-6 months of dedicated preparation.
CISSP vs CISM — which should I get?
CISSP is broader and more technical, covering 8 security domains. CISM focuses specifically on security management and governance. CISSP is better for technical security leaders; CISM is better for those pursuing pure management/CISO tracks.

Data Sources

  • Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
  • Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
  • Exam details — ISC2 official documentation