The SANS 2005 Information Security Salary and Career Advancement Survey is out, and it covers everything from compensation to how degrees and certifications impact IT security salaries and job satisfaction.

The median income, including salary and bonus, for all IT security professionals in the U.S. is $81,558, according to the survey (PDF file), which was conducted in October and November of 2005. In the U.K. and Canada it's slightly lower.

Certifications do pay more; as do large employers. Salaries vary by industry, with large corporations paying more. IT and Utilities lead the way, with healthcare and education brining up the rear.

But what makes IT security professionals happy? The respondents were asked to choose from eight main themes to answer "the single best thing your employer does to make you enjoy working."

They chose: