Network security specialist salary has been going up for high level network security professionals.  As the field gets more complex and more assets go online with more exposure to increasing advanced persistent threats, network security professionals have become more in demand for large organization like banks, governments, and corporations.

Network security specialist salaries depends on several factors:

Budget of the organization – The organization looking for the network security specialist has a certain salary range and/or money allocated to the scope of work expected over a certain length of time.  The scope and length of time is directly related to the needs of the organization.

Experience – What a network security specialist has done in the past matter more than a piece of paper.  Organizations depend heavily on the experience that a potential employee brings to the table.  A functional “working knowledge” is necessary.  Not just book knowledge.

Degrees & Certifications – While degrees and certifications offer very little proof in how much a new employee can actually DO, it is a great level of assurance for the organization.

One of the best places to find out salary ranges is Glassdoor.  Salaries fluctuate overtime so I would highly recommend doing to the site.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/network-security-specialist-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm

1. The average salary for information security analysts was $89,290 in May of 2012. Requirements to Become a Network Security Specialist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employers often require network security specialists to have a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field (www.bls.gov).