Security Engineer Salary San Francisco 2026: Big Tech, AI Labs & Beyond

San Francisco is the undisputed capital of security engineering compensation. The combination of Big Tech density, a booming AI lab ecosystem, and an acute shortage of qualified security talent means salaries here sit 30–50% above national averages — and have continued climbing in 2026.

If you're a security engineer considering a move to SF, negotiating a new offer, or benchmarking your current comp, this guide covers everything: salary ranges by level, top employer comparisons, specialization premiums, California tax reality, and which certifications actually move the needle.

For a broader multi-city view, see the Security Engineer Salary Guide 2026.

Security Engineer Salary by Level in San Francisco (2026)

"Total comp" includes base salary, annual bonus (typically 10–20% of base), and RSU vest value averaged across a 4-year grant. Principal-level engineers at AI labs with early equity can see TC exceed $700K in strong years.

Top Employers and What They Pay

AI Labs (highest ceiling, highest risk)

OpenAI: Senior base $230K–$280K, TC $400K–$700K+ (private equity)

Anthropic: Senior base $220K–$270K, TC $380K–$650K+ (private equity)

Both labs are aggressively hiring for LLM red-teaming and model security. The equity upside is exceptional if valuations hold — but it's illiquid.

FAANG / Big Tech

Google: Senior L5 base $200K–$240K, TC $320K–$500K (liquid RSUs)

Meta: Senior E5 base $195K–$235K, TC $310K–$490K

Apple: Senior base $185K–$225K, TC $290K–$430K (more conservative equity)

Fintech / Infrastructure

Stripe: Senior base $205K–$245K, TC $340K–$520K

Cloudflare: Senior base $190K–$230K, TC $300K–$460K (strong equity growth)

Salesforce: Senior base $175K–$210K, TC $260K–$390K

Security-Native Companies

Palo Alto Networks: Senior base $185K–$225K, TC $300K–$470K

CrowdStrike: Senior base $175K–$215K, TC $280K–$440K

SentinelOne: Senior base $165K–$205K, TC $260K–$410K

Security-native companies offer deep domain work and strong brand recognition — but their equity profiles tend to be less explosive than early-stage AI labs.

Specialization Premiums in 2026

Not all security engineers earn the same. These specializations command meaningful salary premiums in San Francisco's 2026 market:

AI/ML Security (+$30K–$60K): LLM red-teaming, model security, and adversarial ML are the hottest specializations right now. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and scale-up AI companies are paying significant premiums for engineers who can both understand AI systems and attack them. Cloud Security (+$20K–$40K): AWS Security Specialty, GCP Professional Cloud Security Engineer, or Azure Security Engineer certifications substantially boost pay. Most senior cloud security roles require at least one major cloud cert. Offensive Security / Red Team (+$20K–$35K): OSCP-certified engineers are in short supply. Internal red teams at Google, Meta, and Apple pay competitively; external consulting firms like Mandiant and CrowdStrike Services also pay well. Zero-Trust Architecture (+$15K–$30K): Enterprises migrating away from perimeter-based security need architects who can design and implement ZTNA. This is particularly strong at Cloudflare, Zscaler, and large financial services companies. Application Security / AppSec (+$15K–$25K): Secure-by-design engineers embedded in product teams are consistently underhired relative to demand.

City Comparison: SF vs NYC vs Seattle vs Remote

Seattle deserves a mention: Washington's 0% income tax effectively adds $20K–$30K to take-home vs. San Francisco at senior levels — closing much of the nominal gap. For engineers with family considerations or a preference for lower cost-of-living, the Seattle math is compelling.

For London data, see Security Engineer Salary London 2026. For Amsterdam's European picture, see Security Engineer Salary Amsterdam 2026.

California Taxes: The Real Numbers

California's 13.3% top marginal income tax rate is real and significant. Here's what it means in practice:

$180K base salary: Gross TC ~$220K → take-home ~$140K–$150K after federal + state + FICA $240K base salary: Gross TC ~$320K → take-home ~$185K–$200K $300K+ total comp: Take-home ~$175K–$195K depending on equity timing and deductions

The effective combined federal + state + payroll tax burden for a San Francisco senior engineer earning $300K TC is typically 38–43%. That's 8–10% higher than a comparable Seattle or Austin role.

The counterargument: SF total comp is typically $50K–$100K higher than equivalent Seattle roles, so even after California taxes, the net-income advantage often remains. But the gap narrows materially at staff and principal levels where tax-advantaged retirement accounts can't absorb the differential.

Total Comp Mechanics: How It Actually Works

Base salary is the guaranteed component — negotiated at hire, adjusted at performance cycles (typically annually). Annual bonus is typically 10–20% of base at FAANG and fintech companies. AI labs often blend higher equity into lower bonuses. RSU grants vest over 4 years (typically 25% cliff after year 1, monthly thereafter). The value depends on stock price at vest — not at grant. Meta RSUs granted in 2022 were worth 60% less at vest; grants from 2024–2025 have performed significantly better. Equity refreshes are critical at senior levels. Strong performers at Google and Meta receive annual refresh grants that effectively increase their forward equity pipeline. A senior L5 with 5 years of refreshes may be vesting $150K–$200K/year in equity alone. Negotiate at every stage. Initial RSU grants are typically 20–30% below the maximum available. Equity refresh schedules and sign-on bonuses (often $50K–$150K at senior levels) are negotiable.

Certifications That Move the Needle

CISSP is near-mandatory for senior roles at enterprise companies and government contractors. OSCP carries more weight at technical-first employers (Cloudflare, Stripe, AI labs) where offensive skills are directly valued. CEH is useful for entry-level positioning but rarely moves the needle at FAANG.

The Bottom Line

San Francisco security engineering compensation in 2026 is exceptional by any global standard. Senior engineers clear $280K–$420K in total comp at established companies; AI lab engineers with the right specializations can exceed $500K+ including equity. The California tax bite is real but manageable — especially when you're targeting roles where total comp is $100K–$200K above what the same role pays in other markets.

The highest-leverage moves: specialize in AI/ML security or cloud security, pursue CISSP or OSCP, and don't underestimate equity negotiation. Base salary matters, but at these compensation levels, RSU grants and refresh schedules often determine whether you're optimizing or leaving significant money on the table.

For the full SF tech salary picture across all engineering roles, see Tech Salaries San Francisco 2026.