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Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
CompTIA · entry
Security+CompTIA Security+
Broad entry-level knowledge across threats, ops, IAM, network, and crypto basics.
Official pageComparing
CompTIANet+
CompTIASecurity+
› Cost
Exam fee
Net+$358
Security+$392
Exam fee
$358
$392
Annual maintenance fee
Net+—
Security+$50/yr
Annual maintenance fee
—
$50/yr
3-year cost of ownership
Net+$358
Security+$542
3-year cost of ownership
$358
$542
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
Net+720/900 (~80%)
Security+750/900 (~83%)
Pass mark
720/900 (~80%)
750/900 (~83%)
Retake policy
Net+$404 fee · 0d wait
Security+$404 fee · 0d wait
Retake policy
$404 fee · 0d wait
$404 fee · 0d wait
Study time
Net+40–100 hrs
Security+40–100 hrs
Study time
40–100 hrs
40–100 hrs
Validity
Net+3 yrs
Security+3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
Net+17 CPEs
Security+17 CPEs
CPE / yr
17 CPEs
17 CPEs
Delivery
Net+mixed
Security+test center
Delivery
mixed
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
Net+$60K – $95K
Security+$65K – $95K
Range
$60K – $95K
$65K – $95K
Median
Net+$75,000
Security+$78,000
Median
$75,000
$78,000
Premium %
Net+—
Security+—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
Net+Junior network administrator, US, 1-3 years.
Security+Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
Role context
Junior network administrator, US, 1-3 years.
Entry security analyst / junior IT generalist, US, 0–3 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
Net+7.5
Security+7.5
Schema quality
7.5
7.5
Practice evidence
Net+5.5
Security+4.0
Practice evidence
5.5
4.0
Maintenance
Net+7.5
Security+7.5
Maintenance
7.5
7.5
Market recognition
Net+9.0
Security+9.5
Market recognition
9.0
9.5
Average
Net+7.4
Security+7.1
Average
7.4
7.1
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
Net+Global
Security+Global · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
Net+—
Security+✓
ISO 17024 accredited
—
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
Net+—
Security+✓
DoD 8140 baseline
—
✓
Holders worldwide
Net+600,000
Security+700,000
Holders worldwide
600,000
700,000
Current version
Net+N10-008 (2021-09)
Security+SY0-701 (2023-11)
Current version
N10-008 (2021-09)
SY0-701 (2023-11)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
Net+·
Security+○ touched
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
·
○ touched
A10Security Operations
Net+·
Security+● core
A10Security Operations
·
● core
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
Net+·
Security+○ touched
A11Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting
·
○ touched
A14OT/ICS Security
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
A14OT/ICS Security
·
⚠ gap
A15Cryptography
Net+·
Security+● core
A15Cryptography
·
● core
A2Network Security
Net+● core
Security+● core
A2Network Security
● core
● core
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
A21Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering
·
⚠ gap
A4Application Security
Net+·
Security+○ touched
A4Application Security
·
○ touched
A5Cloud Security
Net+·
Security+○ touched
A5Cloud Security
·
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
Net+·
Security+● core
A6Identity & Access Management
·
● core
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
A9Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
·
⚠ gap
B1AI-Powered Threat Detection
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
B1AI-Powered Threat Detection
·
⚠ gap
C1Adversarial Machine Learning
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
C1Adversarial Machine Learning
·
⚠ gap
D2Post-Quantum Cryptography
Net+·
Security+⚠ gap
D2Post-Quantum Cryptography
·
⚠ gap
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.