Cybersecurity Certifications 2026: CISSP vs Security+ vs CEH Compared

With 3.4 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally, security certifications provide proven credentials that help candidates stand out. According to UniHackers, 91% of employers prefer candidates with certifications, especially those proving applied skills in areas like SOC operations, cloud security, or threat intelligence.

According to UniHackers, CISSP delivers a 22% average salary boost, with holders earning an average base salary of $131,000. Research on popular job boards found that 'CISSP' appeared in job postings 3.6-5.7 times more often than 'CEH,' making it the more popular certification by a vast margin.

• Requirements: 5 years of cumulative paid work experience in 2+ of 8 CISSP domains
• Focus: Broad, management-level security knowledge
• Best for: Security managers, architects, consultants, CISOs
• Exam cost: $749+
• Renewal: 40 CPE credits annually, $125 annual fee

According to StationX, a sustainable approach is to treat CISSP as a later-stage goal: start with foundational certs and real on-the-job experience, then pursue CISSP when leadership or architecture is clearly the direction your career is moving.

According to Nucamp, Security+ adds an 11% salary boost. Many salary guides associate Security+ with $90,000-$105,000 total compensation once paired with some experience.

• Requirements: None (recommended: 2 years IT experience)
• Focus: Core skills needed in any cybersecurity role
• Best for: Career changers, entry-level security positions, IT professionals adding security skills
• Exam cost: $370-$450
• DoD approved: Required for many government/contractor positions

Security+ is often the first step for anyone entering cybersecurity. It's vendor-neutral, widely recognized, and satisfies DoD 8570 requirements for many government security roles.

According to UniHackers, offensive security certifications like CEH and OSCP raise salaries by approximately 21%. The average annual salary for a CEH-certified expert is $96,000.

• Requirements: 2 years IT security experience OR official training
• Focus: Practical, hands-on ethical hacking experience
• Best for: Penetration testers, security analysts, vulnerability assessors
• Exam cost: $1,000+ (including training)
• Career path: Often leads to OSCP or other advanced offensive certs

CEH demonstrates offensive security skills—the ability to think like an attacker. While CISSP appears in more job postings, CEH is valuable for roles specifically focused on penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.

According to Nucamp, a practical path is to first build fundamentals with Security+ or an equivalent baseline, then use CEH to break into your first offensive-leaning role, and later pursue more hands-on certs like PenTest+ or OSCP for deeper technical credibility.

1. Year 1: Security+ — Establish foundational knowledge, qualify for entry-level roles
2. Years 2-3: CySA+ or CEH — Specialize in defensive or offensive security
3. Years 3-5: PenTest+ or OSCP — Deepen technical skills for penetration testing
4. Year 5+: CISSP — When targeting management, architecture, or senior consultant roles

Don't rush to CISSP. The 5-year experience requirement exists for a reason, and attempting it too early often leads to failure. Build practical experience alongside certifications for the strongest career foundation.