In 2015, BeecherMadden reported that women in cyber security were being paid up to 30 percent more than their male counterparts. 

This trend has continued into 2016, and is most prominent for those in their mid-career. It is worth putting this into context of salaries within other professional services. Women in the UK earn around 9 percent less than their male counterparts, on average. When comparing male and female salaries across all industries, women earn around 20 percent less than men.

At the Analyst / Associate level, we see very little difference in salaries, when adjusting for education and experience. At the most senior levels, we also see little difference in salaries. Women at a senior level earn a very similar salary compared to men in a similar role, with similar experience. However, between Senior Analyst and Director levels, we see significant salary differences for women. This is the level at which women can bring additional skills, which employers are prepared to pay more for.

It is important to adjust salaries in light of previous experience and education. In one example, a female candidate with only 3 years experience in cyber security, received a job offer for 10 percent more than a male candidate, who had 15 years experience in cyber security. The female candidate brought a wealth of experience working with customers and experience in other areas of resilience. It is these additional skills that employers are paying more for. In the second example that we explore here; the female candidate received a job offer of 30 percent more than the male candidate. Here, years of experience and education are very similar. However, the female candidate had spent time in several areas of cyber and had superior customer and communication skills.