Security Risk Consultant

Career Guide

Security Risk Consultants help organizations identify, assess, and reduce risks to their information and operations. They evaluate controls, map risks to standards, and advise leaders on remediation and compliance, translating technical issues into business impact.

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Key Responsibilities

Conduct enterprise and third‑party security risk assessments using NIST CSF/ISO 27001
Map risks to regulatory obligations (SOX, HIPAA, PCI DSS) and internal policies
Develop risk treatment plans, control requirements, and remediation roadmaps
Build and maintain risk registers and dashboards; quantify risk where feasible
Facilitate workshops with stakeholders; present findings and recommendations
Support audits and certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) with evidence collection

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Security Risk Consultant

Security/GRC Manager

Cyber Risk Director

Transition Opportunities

IT Audit Manager

Third‑Party Risk Manager

Privacy/GDPR Consultant

Business Continuity/Resilience Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Hands‑on application of NIST CSF/ISO 27001 in formal assessmentsDesigning and testing security controls mapped to SOC 2/CIS ControlsBuilding and maintaining risk registers with clear scoring and ownershipRisk quantification (FAIR) and business‑impact modelingUsing GRC tools (Archer, ServiceNow IRM, OneTrust)

Development SuggestionsComplete an ISO 27001 Lead Implementer course and a FAIR intro workshop; then perform a scoped NIST CSF gap assessment for a nonprofit or small business and build a sample risk register using a GRC tool or spreadsheet.

Market Intelligence Report

Security Risk Consultant is part of the Risk Management category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$70,000-$90,000

Mid Level$95,000-$130,000

Senior Level$135,000-$180,000

Growth Trend

growing - Breaches, regulations, and third‑party risk keep demand high.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

DeloittePwCKPMG

Industry Sectors

Consulting & Professional ServicesFinancial ServicesTechnology

Recommended Next Steps

Earn a recognized credential: CRISC or CISSP plus ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor.

Build a portfolio by conducting a NIST CSF or ISO 27001 gap assessment for a small org and publish a redacted report with a risk register and treatment plan.

Join ISACA/ISC2 local chapters, attend meetings, and request shadow opportunities with risk teams or consulting practices.