Cybersecurity Salary: Job Outlook and Salary Statistics
With the increase in remote work and the rise of cloud computing, there are more cybersecurity threats than ever before. To address these threats, organizations need to hire cybersecurity professionals to test and secure systems. Unfortunately, according to the World Economic Forum, there's currently a shortage of three million cybersecurity workers worldwide.
Because of this shortage, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand and are highly compensated. In this article, we'll give you an overview of the cybersecurity field and current cybersecurity salaries. We'll also let you know how you can choose the best career path to maximize your earnings in cybersecurity and what certifications are most valuable.
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Average Salary of Cybersecurity Professionals
According to data from Payscale, the average salary for all cybersecurity professionals is $92,000 per year. Cybersecurity is a broad field, so this includes salaries at the low and high end as well as from entry-level to expert positions. As with most fields, salary increases with experience and skill acquisition. There are so many possible roles in cybersecurity that it's hard to narrow down to one average salary.
Some roles within the cybersecurity field include networking, software development, systems engineering, and more. Cybersecurity analyst is one of the most common roles. Payscale reports that the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst is $77,144. Entry-level cybersecurity analysts earn less, starting at an average of $64,732. Midlevel cybersecurity analysts who have five to nine years of experience earn an average of $89,441. Senior-level cybersecurity analysts with 10 to 19 years of experience earn an average salary of $101,901 yearly.
What Is the Highest Paying Job in Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity architect is one of the highest paying jobs in cybersecurity. The average salary for a cybersecurity architect is $146,144 per year. Cybersecurity architects are senior-level professionals who plan, design, test, implement, and maintain an organization's network and computer security. To become a cybersecurity architect, you need skills in the following areas:
Information security
Network security
Linus
Authentication
Information systems
Cryptography
Information systems
Software development
CISCO
IT auditor is one of the highest-paying entry-level cybersecurity careers, with an average salary of $105,600. An IT auditor analyzes and assesses a company's internal processes and performances to strengthen its cybersecurity. This role can be either internal or external. An internal IT auditor works to improve the control environment of their company, while an external IT auditor evaluates a company's control environment as part of an independent firm. IT auditors need skills such as:
Internal auditing
Audit planning
Risk assessment
Information security
COBIT
Accounting
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance
Information systems
Business processes
Penetration and vulnerability testing is one of the highest-paid, mid-level cybersecurity roles. These are "ethical hackers'' who test security systems for vulnerabilities and find weaknesses before actual bad actors can take advantage of them. Penetration and vulnerability testers must be skilled in the following:
Penetration testing
Information systems
Linux
Vulnerability assessment
Python
Java
Information security
Project management
Software development
How To Boost a Cybersecurity Salary
The best way to boost your salary in the cybersecurity field is through certifications, which you can often obtain from bootcamps. Depending on your current level and role, there are several directions you can take to advance your career.
Networking
An entry-level cybersecurity specialist can move up to the midlevel role of cybersecurity analyst with some of the following certifications:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
SANS certification
GIAC certification
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
CompTIA Security+
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Midlevel cybersecurity analysts can take the next step to become cybersecurity managers by certifications such as:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
CompTIA Security+
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
SANS certification
GIAC certification
IT Support
An entry-level IT auditor can advance to a cybersecurity architect with certifications such as:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Certification
Financial and Risk Analysis
After starting as an entry-level incident and intrusion analyst, the next step up in career advancement could be cybersecurity analyst and then cybersecurity engineer with certifications like:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
GIAC Certification
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Systems Engineering
An entry-level cybersecurity specialist may choose to make cybersecurity analyst the next step on their career path by obtaining the following certifications:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
SANS certification
GIAC certification
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
What Cybersecurity Certifications Have the Highest Income Potential?
If you're looking to maximize your income potential, you'll need a combination of experience and certifications. Some of the highest-paying certifications include:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CISSP certification prepares you for planning and maintaining the security aspects of an organization's IT architecture, controls, and management. You'll need at least five years of experience to qualify, and you must have continuing education credits each year to maintain your certification. Once you have your certificate, you can expect to earn an average of $151,853 per year in jobs such as:
Chief information security officer
Security systems administrator
Information security assurance analyst
Chief information security consultant
Principal cybersecurity manager
Senior IT security operations specialist
Senior information security risk officer
Information assurance analyst
IT security engineer
Senior IT security consultant
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
CISM certification verifies your skills in designing and engineering security protocols and managing a company's overall IT security. As with the CISSP, you'll need five years of relevant work experience and continuing education credits to maintain your certification. However, with an average income of $149,246 per year, it's worth it. CISM certification qualifies you for jobs such as:
Information system security officer
Information/privacy risk consultant
Information security manager
Security auditor
Systems and infrastructure manager
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most versatile and well-paying entry-level certifications for those just starting a cybersecurity career. It's also the ideal starting place if you plan to advance your career later. With a broad foundation of cybersecurity knowledge, you can earn an average of $81,100 with a CompTIA Security+ certification. Relevant positions include:
Systems administrator
Security administrator
Security specialist
Security engineer
Network administrator
Junior IT auditor
Junior penetration tester
Security consultant
The UMass Global Cyber Security Bootcamp prepares students to sit for the CompTIA Security+ exam, and provides a free voucher for the exam.
Cybersecurity is one of the most rapidly growing professions, with many different career paths and entry points available. Whether you're interested in networking, penetration testing, or risk analysis, starting with a CompTIA Security+ certification can help launch your career. Enrolling in a bootcamp such as the UMass Global Cyber Security Bootcamp can give you the skills you need to pass your certification.
In this bootcamp, you'll learn the six fundamentals of cybersecurity, including:
Network security
Host-based security
Identity and access management
Security assessment and testing
Security operations
Application security
UMass Global's 100% online Cyber Security Bootcamp lets you learn when it's convenient for you, but you're never alone. You'll benefit from one-on-one support from a mentor, student advisor, and personalized career coaching to help you stay on track to finish your coursework in six months or less. Learn more about the full curriculum and find out how you can get started in the rewarding field of cybersecurity.