Best skills for Security Engineers to earn more
If you're a Security Engineer looking to increase your income, skill upgrades offer one of the highest-ROI paths. Here are the skills that move the needle most — with realistic ranges and timelines.
Cybersecurity
Security auditing, compliance, threat modelling. One of the fastest-growing premium skill areas. Learning Cybersecurity can add €5,500–€12,100/year to a Security Engineer's salary (10–22% uplift). Typical learning period: 4–10 months.
Cloud & DevOps (AWS/GCP/Azure)
Infrastructure, CI/CD, containerization, and cloud architecture. Opens senior and platform roles. Learning Cloud & DevOps (AWS/GCP/Azure) can add €5,500–€11,000/year to a Security Engineer's salary (10–20% uplift). Typical learning period: 4–8 months.
How to choose
The right skill depends on your current salary, experience, and market demand. Use the EarnVerdict tool to compare skill upgrades against side hustles and job switches for your specific situation.