SOC Analyst Salary: Your 2025 Guide

A security operations centre analyst, or SOC analyst, is crucial in handling cybersecurity attacks. The anticipated cost to global businesses due to cybercrimes will be 10.5 trillion USD annually by 2025 [1], meaning SOC analysts are more in demand than ever.

As a result, a SOC analyst’s salary is competitive. For companies that understand the value of preventing and addressing cyberattacks, a SOC analyst is an integral part of the modern security team that keeps operations running smoothly even when severe disruptions occur.

What does a SOC analyst do?

A SOC analyst is a tech professional responsible for identifying and responding to cyber-related attacks on business computer systems and servers. In this role, you create and execute protocols for handling threats and must implement the changes necessary to prevent such incidents.

This work includes:

• Analysing the vulnerability of a company’s infrastructure and threat tolerance

• Staying current with emerging trends regarding cybersecurity

• Investigating and documenting potential threats and information security issues

• Determining the safety of new software and hardware to prevent unnecessary risk

• Crafting formal disaster recovery plans, preferably in advance of concerns

Especially in larger companies and organisations, SOC analysts are part of a team that includes cybersecurity engineers, security managers, and a chief information security officer. As a SOC analyst, you’ll work to search out potential concerns and, with proper planning, eradicate them before they become costly. Your planning may involve the following:

• Implementing security tools like firewalls, data loss prevention tools, and intrusion detection systems

• Utilising security monitoring tools to investigate suspicious activity

• Preparing and testing disaster recovery plans

•  Making sure that companies comply with data security standards and regulations

It’s a complex but important job many companies consider crucial to their operations.

Where do SOC analysts work?

Information security analysts work for both the public and private sectors. Some of the types of organisations that hire cybersecurity professionals, such as SOC analysts, include the following:

• Security consultancies

• Managed security service providers

• Professional services 

• Energy companies 

• Financial services institutions

• Information services companies

• Educational organisations and institutions 

• Government departments 

• Media companies and organisations 

As a SOC analyst, you may work in the public sector or as a freelance consultant, providing advisory services to organisations.

What does a SOC analyst earn?

A SOC analyst earns an average base pay of £47,234 [2]. According to Glassdoor, SOC analysts may earn up to £8,000 per year in additional pay, which could include bonuses and profit sharing [2].

Your earning potential can depend on many factors, including location, company, experience, training, and job title. Education and certifications can also influence salary.

How do I qualify to become a SOC analyst?

You will likely need to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology (IT), or cybersecurity and have additional skills from practical experience in IT or networking roles. Practical experience in these areas is extremely valuable, and employers often seek it. Experience in the form of certifications, entry-level positions in IT, and other means can build skills you’ll need to qualify as a SOC analyst. 

These skills include:

• Communication 

• Mastery of programming languages

• In-depth understanding of information security

• Ability to defend networks by securing traffic and identifying suspicious activity

• Knowledge of penetration testing for systems, networks, and applications

• Ability to work under pressure

• Knowledge of cloud security

• Network traffic analysis

Do I need a certification to practice as a SOC analyst?

Employers often expect SOC analysts to complete specific certification programmes to ensure they can address complex issues during crises:

• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate

• EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker 

• EC-Council Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)

• CompTIA Security+

An excellent place to start your training is In The Trenches: Security Operations Center, a course offered by EC-Council on Coursera that provides a foundation on enterprise security structure, modern threat, and attacker TTPs, the basics of incident response, and an introductory primer to Security Onion.

Salary information and variations

Salaries for SOC analysts can vary dramatically due to many factors, including location, employment status, job title, and the experience gained through professional development.

Location and salary

Due to the variability of the cost of living and industry hubs, certain areas in the UK offer higher salaries for SOC analysts. For cybersecurity jobs as a whole, the North West and South East of England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland are experiencing the greatest growth in terms of salary, according to data from Prospects [3]. You might find higher salaries in these areas. 

Payscale reports the highest-paying city in the UK for information security analysts as London, where you can expect to earn an average of 25.1 percent over the national average. Conversely, you’ll find some of the lowest-paying jobs in Bristol, where you may earn 26 percent below the national average [4]. 

Employment status and salary

Security operations centres typically have three tiers. The higher the tier, the greater the salary and the more responsibility you will have.

A Tier 1 support security analyst investigates daily security, information, and event management (SIEM) alerts and determines the urgency of a crisis. They also oversee and configure security monitoring tools. 

A Tier 2 support security analyst must address actual security breaches. In this role, you will use the information the Tier 1 professional gave to pinpoint the systems impacted by the attack and create a strategy for containment and recovery.

A Tier 3 security analyst has even more experience than those assigned to Tier 2 and must handle critical incidents. This work involves monitoring networks and isolating areas of weakness. You’ll also design solutions to security threats as you discover them.

According to Glassdoor, the total salary breakdown at each level as a SOC analyst is as follows: 

• Tier 1 SOC analyst: £29,590 per year [5] 

• Tier 2 SOC analyst: £38,754 per year [6]

• Tier 3 SOC analyst: £37,881 per year [7]

Note: The above total median salaries include forms of additional pay, such as commissions, tips, cash bonuses, or profit sharing. 

Professional development 

Information technology professionals are lifelong learners, as the industry demands that they stay updated on the latest trends and best practices. Cybersecurity can change dramatically in terms of threats and solutions to common problems. 

Online courses can provide a flexible opportunity to add more tools for countering an increasingly complex issue. You may also join a professional development group to gain access to mentoring and additional information.

Build a cybersecurity skill set to boost your SOC analyst salary on Coursera

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the demand for skilled SOC analysts is on the rise, offering promising career prospects and earning potential. If you’re looking to enter or progress within this career, pursuing relevant certifications and gaining experience in security operations can help you stay competitive in the job market.

Take the first steps in your SOC analyst career journey by enrolling in online courses to expand your knowledge, build your skill set, and learn more about this profession. For example, you can build job-ready cybersecurity skills with the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera. Get practical experience with industry tools and examine real-world case studies. Upon completion, you’ll have a certificate for your CV and be prepared to explore job titles like SOC analyst, security analyst, and more.