Cybersecurity Starting Salary & Jobs

We live in a world where just with a pin code on your device or a simple password, it’s impossible to protect not only business systems but also basic phone information. With the rapid growth of technological development, the scale of cybercrimes and hacks hit the ground too. Security breaches, information leakage, and stolen funds are the minor possible consequences you can face if not properly secured. And it’s precisely where the need and importance of cybersecurity professionals come to the main stage.

Today, enterprises need cybersecurity experts who can secure their intellectual property, protect financial and sensitive information, make hack-proof records, etc. So along with the high demand for security professionals, the average cyber security salaries and bonuses rise frantically.

If you also belong to the army of people wondering about the salary range of cyber security engineers and what positions are in high demand, then stay with us and keep on reading.

How to Enter the Cyber Security Industry?

Cybersecurity is somehow a new profession; thus, skills and requirements vary from one company to another. However, there are several fundamental standards that almost every business follows. It can include a cybersecurity degree ( Master’s or Bachelor’s degree), certifications, professional background in analytics and data science, and expertise in policy or law. These factors later serve as the key determiners of your job position specifics and cyber security salary range. 

However, even if you don’t have a cybersecurity degree or any experience in this field, you can still start and advance your career as a cyber security professional. You can take online classes, get a certification, apply for an internship and develop your technical skills. Then, with constant persistence and non-stop learning, it’s time to enter the cybersecurity job market and become one of the highly qualified experts with a competitive salary. 

The Most In-Demand Skills of Cyber Security Employees

Before making your steps into the cyber security field and getting your entry-level position as a cybersecurity engineer, you will need to arm yourself with various skills and abilities to become a demanded professional. Below are some of the essential qualities required in the industry. 

• Analytical Skills: Clear understanding of computer science, including computer systems and networks, is the core ability of every network security engineer. 
• Problem-Solving Abilities: In case of a security incident, the specialist should be able to respond quickly and think of remediation solutions.
• Detail – Orienteering Skills: To prevent potential future attacks and security issues, the cyber security analyst needs to be attentive to details in the system and databases to detect the possible problems.

Top Cybersecurity Jobs and Salaries

Still, there is no clear answer on how much a cyber security analyst makes. Generally, average cybersecurity salaries in this field range from $86.000 to $150.000 per year, depending on the location, company, expertise, and job responsibilities. 

Here let’s look at the most demanded cybersecurity jobs, their requirements, and average annual salaries.

Chief Information Security Officer 

The highest position among cyber security jobs within the company remains Chief Information Security Officer. The person in charge of this position is mainly responsible for planning, establishing, and maintaining the strategy, goals, and vision to ensure that confidential information and data assets are thoroughly protected.

The average salary for a CISO role ranges between $150.000 and $500.000.

Information Security Manager

The primary responsibility of Information security managers or analysts is to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data both in transit and storage. Additionally, a cyber security analyst assists in the evaluation of a company’s implemented security measures and possible attack risks.

The annual salary ranges from $126.000 to $216.000 for the information security analyst position.

Computer Network Architect

Computer network architects ‘ job responsibilities include designing and managing data communication networks such as WANs, LANs, and Internets.

On average, professionals who deal with computer networks receive a $150.000 annual salary.

Penetration Tester

Vulnerability or pen testers are often referred to as ethical hackers. This is because they conduct regular security tests, analyses, and assessments across apps, networks, virtual infrastructures, and databases to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. 

The annual salary range of pen testers varies from $90.000 to $150.000.

Computer Programmer 

Coding is a vital skill for any cyber security analyst. Programmers are mainly in charge of writing and deploying codes, checking them, and fixing the bugs. The annual base salary of computer programmers is around $85.000. 

Final Thoughts

We live in a digital era full of technologies, innovations, systems, and networks. The rise in cybersecurity demand will undoubtedly continue to increase even after several years. So, if you want to make your steps into the cyber security world and pursue your career in this field, there is no other good time than now. So, learn, practice, face challenges, work hard and be sure the result won’t take long. Those who insist and don’t give up are rewarded the best.