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Palo Alto Networks PCNSE Certification Profile

Here’s an exclusive profile of North American IT pros who hold the Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) certification. The data is from our global IT Skills and Salary Report so you won't find it anywhere else.

If you're not familiar with the cert, here’s a PCNSE certification overview

Job functions and job titles that commonly hold the PCNSE certification

  1. Cybersecurity / IT security
    1. Security Engineer or Analyst
    2. Security Architect
  2. IT architecture and Design
    1. Network Architect
    2. Enterprise Architect
    3. Cloud Architect
  3. Infrastructure, Networking and Telecommunication
    1. Network Engineer / Analyst / Technician

How many years of experience do you have in your career?

Years of experience % of respondents
1-5 years23%
6-10 years15%
11-15 years15%
16-20 years8%
21-25 years31%
26+8%

Average salary of a PCNSE-certified IT pro

  • 2020
    • $126,573
  • 2019
    • $113,502

Average bonus

  • $9,912

What are some of the primary factors that led to an increase in your base salary?

Primary factors that led to a salary increase (select all that apply)% of respondents
Performance in current job41%
Obtained industry certification27%
Developed new skills that were of added value24%
Lateral move to another company19%
Additional responsibilities in current position16%
Standard company increase14%
Cost of living increase14%
Promotion within company11%
Promotion and transfer to another company11%
New assignment in current company5%
Other (please specify):3%

Job Security

  • 67% feel “extremely good”
  • 26% feel “somewhat good”


Job satisfaction

  • 36% are “extremely satisfied”
  • 49% are “somewhat satisfied”
  • 33% changed employers last year (no. 1 reason was to increase compensation)

Workplace challenges PCNSE certified holders experience

Challenges in the workplace (select all that apply)% of respondents
Unclear job roles and responsibilities36%
Workload36%
Lack of career development and growth opportunities26%
Communication and working with supervisors26%
Executing with urgency and excellence23%
Developing team skills23%
Access to resources (i.e., budget, people) to help the organization achieve its goals21%
None18%
Employee morale15%
Other3%

PCNSE Certification Holders and Cross Certification

Time since last certification earned

  • 0-6 months: 62%
  • 7-12 month: 21%
  • 1-2 years: 18%
  • 3-5 years: 0%

The majority of IT pros with their PCNSE certification are actively pursuing certifications. Most have earned their most recent certification in the last six months.

Here are the top certification areas and certifications that Palo Alto Networks certified professionals hold:

  1. Cisco
    1. CCNA Routing and Switching (now CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate)
      1. Nearly all respondents hold this cert
    2. CCNP Routing and Switching (now CCNP Enterprise)
    3. CCNA Security
    4. CCENT – Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician
  2. CompTIA
    1. Security+
    2. A+
    3. Network+
    4. Project+
  3. Microsoft
    1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
    2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
  4. ITIL®
    1. ITIL Foundation
  5. Check Point
    1. CCSA – Check Point Certified Security Administrator R80.20
    2. CCSE – Check Point Certified Security Expert R80.20
  6. (ISC)2
    1. CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  7. F5
    1. F5-CA: F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator

Certifications they are pursuing or plan to pursue

  • 77% are actively pursuing a certification
  • 15% plan to pursue one in the next 12 months
  • 83% are pursuing a cybersecurity-related certification

Most popular certs being pursued

  1. Cisco
    1. CCNP Routing and Switching (now CCNP Enterprise)
  2. AWS
    1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
  3. Microsoft
    1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
  4. (ISC)2
    1. CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  5. CompTIA
    1. CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)


Recommend courses to earn your PCNSE certification