CISSP vs CISA
Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Information Systems Auditor compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
CISSP leads on market demand (18,260 vs 6,091 US job postings) and CISSPalso leads on average salary ($145,000). CISA is the more accessible starting point at 4/5 difficulty versus 5/5 for CISSP.
Side-by-Side Data
| CISSP | CISA | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 18,260leads | 6,091 |
| Market Share | 0.31% | 0.10% |
| Demand Trend | Stable | Rising |
| Avg Salary | $145,000leads | $122,000 |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $749 | $575 (Member) / $760 (Non-Member) |
| Study Time | 100-150 hours | 100-150 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.
CISA
Certified Information Systems Auditor
The globally recognized standard for IT audit, control, and assurance. Validates your ability to assess vulnerabilities, report on compliance, and institute enterprise-level controls. The 4-hour exam features 150 questions.
CISSP vs CISA: FAQ
Which pays more, CISSP or CISA?+
CISSP is associated with the higher average salary: about $145,000 vs $122,000 for CISA, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, CISSP or CISA?+
CISSP currently appears in 18,260 US job postings versus 6,091 for CISA — roughly 3.0× the demand. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is CISSP harder than CISA?+
Generally yes: we rate CISSP 5/5 difficulty versus 4/5 for CISA, reflecting exam depth and experience requirements.
Should I get both CISSP and CISA?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with CISA (4/5 difficulty) and progressing to CISSP. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.