The individual responsible for one of the most significant leaks in US political history is Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and current employee of the defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. Snowden has been working at the National Security Agency for the last four years as an employee of various outside contractors, including Booz Allen and Dell.

The survey of 500 cybersecurity professionals, released Monday by Semper Secure and underwritten by Northrop Grumman, NetApp and MeriTalk, found that cyber pros are earning $116,000 per year, or $55.77 per hour, on average.

Federal agencies, which are challenged by strong demand for cyber talent while also facing budget cuts and pay freezes, may take heart in knowing that high salaries and benefits were ranked fifth in areas cyber pros most value, however.

The most valuable assets of a cyber career included interesting and challenging work (56 percent), important and meaningful work (44 percent), love for technology (39 percent), the constant change and dynamic industry (31 percent) and job security (27 percent). Just one in four cyber pros ranked high salaries and benefits as a top perk of their career.

In addition, the federal government may be a step up over other sectors in a key benefit cyber professionals want – flexible work arrangements and telework, the study found. Nearly half (47 percent) said flexible work arrangements are most important to their overall quality of life. In addition, 14 percent valued telework as the most important aspect of their jobs, even more than pay, benefits and prestige.