CISSP vs CASP+
Certified Information Systems Security Professional and CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
CISSP leads on market demand (18,260 vs 2,510 US job postings) and CISSPalso leads on average salary ($145,000). Both carry a 5/5 difficulty rating, so the decision comes down to career direction rather than effort.
Side-by-Side Data
| CISSP | CASP+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 18,260leads | 2,510 |
| Market Share | 0.31% | 0.04% |
| Demand Trend | Stable | Rising |
| Avg Salary | $145,000leads | $140,000 |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $749 | $509 |
| Study Time | 100-150 hours | 60-100 hours |
Job counts and market share from live US job postings, updated weekly. Want a different matchup? Use theinteractive comparison tool.
CISSP
Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The gold standard in security. Validates expertise in eight domains including risk management, asset security, and software development security. The 3-hour CAT exam (English) features 100-150 adaptive questions. Requires 5 years of verified experience.
CASP+
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner
CompTIA's advanced technical security certification (rebranded as SecurityX in 2025). The exam covers security architecture, engineering, and operations with performance-based questions. Recommends 10 years IT experience with 5 in security. DoD 8570/8140 approved.
CISSP vs CASP+: FAQ
Which pays more, CISSP or CASP+?+
CISSP is associated with the higher average salary: about $145,000 vs $140,000 for CASP+, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, CISSP or CASP+?+
CISSP currently appears in 18,260 US job postings versus 2,510 for CASP+ — roughly 7.3× the demand. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is CASP+ harder than CISSP?+
Both are rated 5/5 difficulty on our scale, though exam formats and prerequisites differ — see each certification's page for specifics.
Should I get both CISSP and CASP+?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with CISSP (5/5 difficulty) and progressing to CASP+. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.