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

Cybersecurity / IT security
1. Security Engineer or Analyst
2. Security Architect
IT architecture and Design
1. Network Architect
2. Enterprise Architect
3. Cloud Architect
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 years	23%
6-10 years	15%
11-15 years	15%
16-20 years	8%
21-25 years	31%
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 job	41%
Obtained industry certification	27%
Developed new skills that were of added value	24%
Lateral move to another company	19%
Additional responsibilities in current position	16%
Standard company increase	14%
Cost of living increase	14%
Promotion within company	11%
Promotion and transfer to another company	11%
New assignment in current company	5%
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 responsibilities	36%
Workload	36%
Lack of career development and growth opportunities	26%
Communication and working with supervisors	26%
Executing with urgency and excellence	23%
Developing team skills	23%
Access to resources (i.e., budget, people) to help the organization achieve its goals	21%
None	18%
Employee morale	15%
Other	3%

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:

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
CompTIA
1. Security+
2. A+
3. Network+
4. Project+
Microsoft
1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
ITIL®
1. ITIL Foundation
Check Point
1. CCSA – Check Point Certified Security Administrator R80.20
2. CCSE – Check Point Certified Security Expert R80.20
(ISC)2
1. CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional
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

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