Is CISM worth it? CISM salary 

CISM certification involves a number of steps, so the obvious question arises: Is it worth it? If you’re interested in a management position — and the higher salaries such positions command — earning a CISM certification is a great way to signal your expertise, as well as your seriousness about your career and ambitions. Job titles that match up with CISM credentials include information security manager, information risk compliance specialist, and, yes, CIO.

According to ZipRecruiter, CISMs make on average approximately $95,000 a year. SkillSoft, however, pegs the average salary of a CISM holder at $167,396 in its IT Skills and Salary Report, among the top 15 for certifications across IT.

CISM vs. CISSP

What’s the difference between CISM and CISSP, one of the other most popular advanced cybersecurity certs? Both CISM and CISSP require infosec technical savvy, but CISM specifically requires that you show that you understand the incentives around information security from a business point of view, rather than just a technical standpoint. It is strongly oriented towards managers and those who aspire to be promoted to management. A CISSP certification, by contrast, demonstrates in-depth technical knowledge over a broad list of security domains, though it involves some managerial responsibilities as well.