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Annual benchmark · 2026.05

What IAM engineers earn — by role × seniority × region.

Composite of 663+ compensation records aggregated from askmeidentity placement data, LinkedIn Salary, Levels.fyi, and Built In. USD throughout. 25th / 50th / 75th percentile base ranges with total-comp medians where the sample is dense enough to be honest about it.

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Last reviewed

May 1, 2026

30 bands · 663+ records

Workforce · IAM Engineer (workforce / IGA)

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Mid (3-5 yrs)US — Major metros$125K$145K$165K$168K+11%42
Mid (3-5 yrs)US — Tier-2 metros$105K$125K$145K—+10%28
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$155K$180K$210K$210K+13%58
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Tier-2 metros$135K$158K$185K—+12%36
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Remote (median)$145K$168K$192K——49
Senior (5-8 yrs)UK + EU$78K$92K$110K——22
Senior (5-8 yrs)India$32K$42K$55K——38
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$190K$220K$255K$270K+15%31
Director / VPUS — Major metros$240K$285K$340K$365K—11

Privileged · PAM Engineer

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Mid (3-5 yrs)US — Major metros$135K$156K$178K—+14%24
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$165K$192K$222K$225K+16%32
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Tier-2 metros$142K$168K$198K—+14%17
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Remote (median)$152K$178K$210K——26
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$200K$232K$270K—+18%18

CIAM · Customer Identity (CIAM) Engineer

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$160K$188K$218K—+9%19
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Remote (median)$150K$175K$205K——22
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$195K$228K$265K——12

Architect · Identity Architect

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$215K$248K$285K$310K—21
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Remote (median)$195K$228K$265K——18
Staff (8-12 yrs)UK + EU$105K$128K$152K——11
Principal (12+ yrs)US — Major metros$245K$285K$335K$370K—14

Program · IAM Program Manager

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$155K$180K$210K$205K—16
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$185K$215K$250K——13
Director / VPUS — Major metros$250K$295K$355K$380K—9

Compliance · IAM Compliance Lead

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$160K$184K$215K——14
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$190K$220K$258K——9

Detection · Detection & Response (Identity)

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$175K$205K$240K——12
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$210K$245K$285K——8

Platform · Identity Platform Engineer (DevOps)

SeniorityRegion25thMedian75thTotal compCert premiumn
Senior (5-8 yrs)US — Major metros$170K$198K$230K—+8%19
Staff (8-12 yrs)US — Major metros$205K$240K$280K——14
Methodology

How we built the bands.

  • Composite, not single-source

    Every band aggregates askmeidentity placement records, public salary databases (LinkedIn Salary, Levels.fyi, Built In), and recruiter network feedback. No single source dictates a cell.

  • USD-normalized

    Non-US bands are reported in USD-equivalent at the rolling 90-day average. India + UK / EU + Canada bands are footnoted with native-currency ranges in the notes column where relevant.

  • Sample-size gated

    We only publish a cell when the sample size is at least 8 records. Missing cells stay missing rather than be extrapolated from adjacent geographies or seniority tiers.

  • Annual refresh, quarterly directional check

    Full Q4 refresh of every band; quarterly directional check on the high-volume cells (US major-metro senior + staff). The version field bumps on every change.

Cite this page

Reference our benchmarks in your reporting.

These benchmarks are licensed under CC BY 4.0 — free to cite, quote, and link to with attribution. Pick a format below.

APA

askmeidentity. (2026). The State of Identity, live (v2026.05). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://askmeidentity.com/resources/iam-salary-benchmark/

MLA

"The State of Identity, live." askmeidentity, v2026.05, https://askmeidentity.com/resources/iam-salary-benchmark/. Accessed 2026-06-04.

BibTeX

@misc{askmeidentity_state_of_identity_2026_05, title = {The State of Identity, live}, author = {{askmeidentity}}, year = {2026}, note = {Version 2026.05, retrieved 2026-06-04}, url = {https://askmeidentity.com/resources/iam-salary-benchmark/} }

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