certification
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA
$404
exam fee · checked 2026-08
110 hrs
110 hours — about 11 weeks at 10 hrs/wk
3 yr
renewal cycle — this is a recurring cost
Where it is actually asked for
- Computer Network Support Specialist (national)37%7 of 19 postings
- Computer User Support Specialist in San Francisco19%3 of 16 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Washington, DC7%2 of 29 postings
- Management Analyst in Chicago6%1 of 16 postings
- Computer User Support Specialist (national)6%5 of 84 postings
- Compliance Officer in San Francisco6%1 of 17 postings
- Software Developer in Richmond5%1 of 20 postings
Where it barely came up
It appeared in these samples, but rarely. If one of these is the job you want, this credential is probably not the thing standing between you and it.
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Austin5%1 of 22 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Dallas–Fort Worth4%1 of 24 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Houston4%1 of 24 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Antonio4%1 of 24 postings
- Compliance Officer (national)4%3 of 74 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Fresno4%3 of 78 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Los Angeles4%3 of 78 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Sacramento4%3 of 78 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Diego4%3 of 78 postings
- Computer Network Architect (national)4%5 of 132 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst (national)4%4 of 106 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Jose4%3 of 80 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Austin4%1 of 28 postings
- Computer Network Architect in San Francisco3%1 of 31 postings
- Information Security Analyst (national)3%8 of 314 postings
- Information Security Analyst in San Francisco2%3 of 123 postings
- Computer Systems Engineer/Architect in Washington, DC2%1 of 44 postings
- Information Security Analyst in Seattle2%1 of 45 postings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator (national)2%5 of 322 postings
- Web Developer (national)1%1 of 77 postings
- Database Architect (national)1%4 of 343 postings
- Database Architect in San Francisco1%1 of 116 postings
- Management Analyst (national)1%2 of 335 postings
- Project Management Specialist (national)0%1 of 350 postings
These percentages describe the samples we read, listed above with their sizes and dates. They are not a statement about the whole labour market, and absence from this page means we have no evidence either way — not that the credential is worthless. How we know →