IAM: The Most Competitive Niche
Identity & Access Management has grown into one of the most sought-after and competitive specialisations in European cybersecurity. The combination of Zero Trust adoption, cloud migration and regulatory pressure (NIS2, DORA) has pushed demand for IAM professionals to record highs.
Platform Expertise: What's Most in Demand?
SailPoint
Market leader in Identity Governance. Developers and consultants with SailPoint IdentityNow/IdentityIQ experience are very scarce. Average interim rate: EUR 850-1,200/day.
CyberArk
The standard for Privileged Access Management. CyberArk engineers are among the best-paid IAM specialists. Interim: EUR 800-1,100/day.
Okta / Auth0
Dominant in Customer IAM (CIAM) and workforce IAM. Growing demand, particularly for architects. Interim: EUR 750-1,050/day.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
The most widely deployed IAM solution. Experts who master Conditional Access, PIM and Identity Protection are highly sought after. Interim: EUR 700-1,000/day.
IAM Salary Benchmarks 2026
Junior IAM Engineer: EUR 50,000-67,000. Mid-level: EUR 67,000-87,000. Senior/Architect: EUR 87,000-120,000. IAM Manager: EUR 97,000-130,000.
Hiring Recommendations
IAM professionals are platform-loyal — they often specialise in one ecosystem. Don't look for the perfect all-rounder but for depth of expertise. Offer certification budgets and training opportunities — this is a top-3 selection criterion for IAM professionals.