The salary premium for UK cyber talent working for US companies
I get the same question at least twice a week from cybersecurity professionals in my network: "Aisha, should I be looking at US remote jobs?"
The short answer? If your bank account could do with a healthy boost, you'd be foolish not to consider it.
After a bumpy stretch through 2024-25, the market for UK cybersecurity talent has shifted dramatically. Those pound-dollar salary gaps I used to write about in hushed tones have become gaping chasms. And British cyber professionals with solid credentials are reaping the rewards.
The remote revolution has finally matured
Back in the early 2020s, there was plenty of hype around remote work but a surprising amount of resistance from traditional employers. Six years later, that resistance has crumbled - especially in cybersecurity, where the skills gap has only widened.
Last week I spoke with a SOC analyst from Manchester who jumped from £52,000 at a UK financial services firm to the equivalent of £79,000 with a San Francisco-based fintech. That's a 52% increase without changing roles, just by switching to an American employer willing to pay Bay Area-adjacent rates for UK-based talent.
And this isn't unusual anymore.
Why are US firms paying these premiums?
Simple economics, really. Even with these substantial bumps, US companies are still getting a bargain compared to what they'd pay for equivalent talent in places like Silicon Valley, New York, or Austin.
A senior security engineer commanding £95,000-£110,000 in London might cost a US firm $180,000-$210,000 if hired locally in California. By hiring remote UK talent at £130,000-£145,000 (still a massive jump for the British professional), they're saving considerable sums while accessing our deep talent pool.
Plus, UK security professionals bring something valuable to the table - exposure to GDPR, UK data protection, and European regulatory frameworks. This is gold dust for US firms with global operations.
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Which cyber roles are commanding the biggest premiums?
Not all cybersecurity specialisms are created equal when it comes to these transatlantic opportunities. From what I've observed placing candidates throughout the first half of 2026, these are the hottest areas:
Cloud security architects
Probably the single most sought-after specialism. UK-based cloud security architects with solid AWS/Azure/GCP experience are regularly fielding offers 40-60% above UK market rates from US companies. One candidate I worked with moved from £115,000 to just over £170,000 when he jumped to a US health tech firm.
The thing is, cloud architecture skills translate beautifully across regions. The technical fundamentals don't change, even if compliance requirements do. This makes these professionals particularly portable.
Offensive security specialists
Penetration testers, red teamers, and offensive security professionals with proven track records are in fierce demand. The premium here tends to be around 35-45% above UK rates.
But a word of caution. US firms often expect longer hours and greater availability from their offensive security teams. So while the salary might jump from £85,000 to £120,000, you might be looking at some painful on-call rotations and weekend exercises.
Security compliance experts
This one surprised me. I expected technical roles to dominate, but security professionals with deep knowledge of multiple compliance frameworks (especially those who understand both US and European regulations) are commanding serious premiums.
A GRC specialist who previously earned £75,000 at a London bank recently accepted £105,000 from a US health tech company specifically because she understood GDPR, UK data protection, and could help them navigate European expansion.
The dark side of dollar salaries
Of course, it's not all champagne and celebration. These opportunities come with trade-offs that candidates need to consider carefully.
First, tax complexities. The UK's tax system wasn't built with remote global work in mind, and HMRC is paying increasing attention to these arrangements. I'm not a tax adviser, but I've heard enough horror stories to suggest you get professional advice before accepting any offer.
Second, working hours. Many US employers claim to respect your timezone, but the reality often involves early morning or late evening meetings to accommodate California or New York colleagues. That salary premium? You might be paying for it with your personal time.
Third, career progression. Some UK cyber professionals find themselves in a strange limbo - paid like executives but treated like contractors, with limited paths to advancement within the US organisation. Great for your bank balance, potentially limiting for your long-term career trajectory.
Cultural disconnects
There's something uniquely disorienting about working for a company whose culture you never fully experience. A security director I placed with a New York tech firm last month described it as "having all the pressure but none of the perks."
He was referring to missing the social capital that comes from in-office interactions. While his American colleagues built relationships over lunch and happy hours, he felt perpetually on the outside looking in, despite his senior role.
How important is this? It depends entirely on your priorities and working style.
How to position yourself for these opportunities
If you're convinced that chasing dollar salaries makes sense for your situation, here are some practical steps to increase your chances of success:
Get your LinkedIn profile speaking American
It sounds silly, but it works. US recruiters search differently. They use different terminology and look for different signals. Adjust your profile to include American security terminology where appropriate ("cybersecurity" instead of "cyber security", "application security" instead of "appsec").
Emphasize any experience with US frameworks or regulations like NIST, FedRAMP, or SOC2. If you've worked with American teams or companies before, highlight that prominently.
You can search for US remote cyber roles directly on The OHub's job listings which has an excellent filter for international remote positions.
Showcase 24/7 security mindset
US security teams often operate with a more intense operational tempo than their UK counterparts. Highlighting your experience with incident response, on-call rotations, or crisis management can set you apart.
One successful candidate I worked with created a portfolio specifically demonstrating his ability to work autonomously during critical incidents - exactly what US employers worry about when hiring remote security talent.
Contract first, convert later
Some of the most successful transitions I've seen started with short-term contracts that evolved into full-time roles. This approach lets both sides test the relationship before committing.
Sites like Upwork and specialist security contracting platforms have numerous US clients seeking UK cybersecurity expertise on project bases.
Is this sustainable?
I've been asked whether this UK-US cyber salary gap will eventually close. My honest assessment? Not anytime soon.
The structural factors driving this trend - the global cyber skills shortage, the massive US tech ecosystem, and the continued acceptance of remote work - show no signs of abating.
The UK's cybersecurity skills gap remains significant in 2026 where government data puts the workforce shortfall at 11,200 professionals, with over a third of vacancies classed as hard to fill. Similar patterns exist globally, putting skilled professionals in an unusually strong bargaining position.
Add Brexit's continued impact on UK-EU talent flow, and you have perfect conditions for US employers to continue cherry-picking British security talent at rates that feel generous to us but bargain-basement to them.
When a London CISO can earn more as a remote senior security manager for a mid-tier US tech company, we're looking at a structural shift, not a temporary blip.
Should everyone chase these opportunities? No. The trade-offs are real. But should you at least explore them? Absolutely.
After all, in an industry where your skills are your most valuable currency, why not see what they're truly worth on the global market?
