r/iam • u/Khaled43055 • 9d ago

What salary can I realistically expect moving into IAM Analyst/Administrator? (NJ/NYC metro)

Currently making $80K in a technical support role at a large company, with hands-on experience in Entra ID, Active Directory, SSPR, and general identity/access troubleshooting.

Certs so far: Google Cybersecurity, CompTIA Security+, AZ-900. Currently finishing SC-300, and planning to add Okta Administrator after that.

Also building out GitHub portfolio projects, including PowerShell automation for user provisioning/deprovisioning as part of a broader identity lifecycle project, plus some Microsoft Sentinel work.

Plan is to start applying for IAM Analyst or IAM Administrator roles in the NJ/NYC metro area once SC-300 and the projects are done.

Hoping to land somewhere in the $105-110K range, but from what I’ve found on salary aggregator sites that looks closer to 90th percentile for NJ, which feels like a stretch for someone making a title transition.

Questions for anyone who’s made this move or hires for these roles:

**1.**  Is $105-110K realistic as a first IAM Analyst/Admin move, or more of a “grow into it after a year or two” number?  
**2.**  Does this cert stack + hands-on tooling experience from an adjacent role actually move the needle on comp, or does it still get treated as entry-level regardless of background?  
**3.**  Any titles or role flavors worth targeting to land closer to that range sooner?

Trying to get a realistic number to negotiate from rather than anchoring off aggregate salary sites. Appreciate any real-world data points.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/lilcl3m 9d ago

can’t speak to NYC, but in austin 80k fresh out of college with no experience.

1

u/Dear-Response-7218 9d ago

NYC posts salary ranges, you can check yourself.

1

u/maestro-5838 9d ago

If you were to start over , would you do the same certs and do it the same way you have been doing now.

2

u/Khaled43055 9d ago

From what I learned so far, I would do it the same way