CISSP is worth it in 2026 if you already have security experience and want senior, architect or management roles, especially in defense work where DoDM 8140.03 applies. It costs US$749 to sit the exam and US$135 a year to keep, and US holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's latest salary survey. If you're new to IT, it usually isn't worth it yet, because you can't become fully certified without five years of experience.
That last point is where most people get tripped up. Below I go through who it pays off for and who should wait.
What does CISSP cost in 2026?
Here are ISC2's numbers as of September 2026, for candidates in the Americas.
Cost item: Amount
- CISSP exam fee: US$749
- Reschedule fee: US$50
- Cancellation fee: US$100
- Annual maintenance fee, certified members: US$135 a year
- Annual maintenance fee, Associates of ISC2: US$50 a year
You also need 120 CPE credits over each three-year cycle. Many of those can come from work, webinars and conferences you'd attend anyway, so the cost there is mostly time.
Add it up and the exam plus three years of maintenance fees comes to $1,154, before training or books. That's the real number to weigh against the pay side.
If you're worried about a retake, ISC2 sells an add-on it calls Peace of Mind Protection, which gives you two attempts within 180 days. Whether it's worth buying depends on how ready you feel, so price it on ISC2's site when you register.
What does CISSP pay in the US?
Skillsoft's IT Skills and Salary survey, fielded May to September 2024, reported an average of $168,060 for US respondents with CISSP. That ranked sixth on its US list. ISC2's 2025 Workforce Study put the global median for CISSP holders at $127,000, which is lower because it includes every region.
For the job side, BLS reports a May 2025 median of $129,180 for information security analysts and $175,140 for computer and information systems managers. I break these down in more detail on our CISSP salary page.
None of this proves CISSP causes a raise. People who hold it tend to be experienced, and experience pays. What CISSP does well is get you through screening for the jobs that pay at that level.
Who is CISSP worth it for?
In my experience teaching it, CISSP pays off most for a few kinds of people.
The first is the experienced engineer or analyst who wants a senior title. If you've spent five or more years in security and you're applying for lead, architect or manager roles, CISSP is often listed as preferred or required. It tells a hiring manager you understand the whole program, from risk to software security.
Defense and federal work is the second case. ISC2 lists CISSP under DoDM 8140.03, and a lot of DoD and contractor roles at the management and architecture level ask for it.
Someone planning a move into leadership rounds it out. CISSP is broad on purpose, and the risk and governance domains line up with what security managers deal with. Many of my students take CISSP first and CISM later.
Who should wait or choose a different cert?
If you're new to IT or have a year or two of experience, I'd hold off. ISC2 requires five years of paid work in at least two of the eight CISSP domains. A related degree or an approved credential, such as Security+ or CySA+, can waive one year, but only one.
Before you rule yourself out, count carefully. ISC2 says part-time work and internships can count toward the requirement, and the domains are broad. A sysadmin who has handled access control, backups and patching may have more CISSP-relevant time than they think.
You can still sit the exam early. Pass without the experience and you become an Associate of ISC2, with six years to earn it. That can work well for a motivated candidate. For most people with little experience, though, the better move is Security+ now and CISSP later. Our first cybersecurity certification guide lays out that path.
People aiming at cloud security should also compare CCSP, and folks already managing a security program should look at CISM. Our CCSP vs CISSP and CISSP vs CISM pages cover both.
Is CISSP still respected in 2026?
Yes. ISC2 keeps the exam current, and the latest outline weaves AI topics into all eight domains. The exam is adaptive, with 100 to 150 items in three hours, and you need 700 out of 1,000 to pass. It's the same demanding test it's always been, which is part of why employers still trust it.
Demand for the work is strong too. BLS projects information security analyst jobs to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
How can Accumentum help you earn CISSP?
Our CISSP training course runs 10 modules aligned to the CISSP exam domains. If CCSP or SSCP is the better fit, you'll find them with our other ISC2 courses. Across all our courses, 2,403 students have certified out of about 2,435 attempts, which is a 98.7 percent pass rate.
If paying up front is what's holding you back, PathPay® spreads the course cost into monthly payments. Terms of 3 to 6 months are at the base price. PathPay is a payment plan, not a loan.
For practice, PathPass® has a CISSP question bank. It's $19 a month for one exam or $39 for every bank, with a free preview and no brain dumps.
Frequently asked questions
Is CISSP worth it without five years of experience?
You can pass the exam and become an Associate of ISC2, with six years to earn the experience. For most people early in their career, Security+ first is the better value, then CISSP once the experience is close.
How much does CISSP cost in 2026?
As of September 2026, ISC2 lists the CISSP exam at US$749 in the Americas. Keeping it costs a US$135 annual maintenance fee plus 120 CPE credits every three years.
Does CISSP increase salary?
US CISSP holders averaged $168,060 in Skillsoft's survey fielded May to September 2024. That reflects experienced professionals, so treat it as what the role pays, not a guaranteed raise.
Is CISSP harder than Security+?
Yes. CISSP is an adaptive exam with 100 to 150 items over three hours and covers eight broad domains aimed at experienced professionals. CompTIA designs Security+ for people with about two years of security or systems administration experience.
Is CISSP required for DoD jobs?
Some DoD roles accept or require it. ISC2 lists CISSP under DoDM 8140.03, so check the work role on the job posting.