There is an insatiable demand for cybersecurity professionals. Companies and government agencies are competing for top talent. Cybersecurity salaries for elite senior-level positions are topping $500,000.
Cyber security Jobs Pay- As per a report by the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, Cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow 31 percent by 2029, more than seven times the average rate of job growth across all industries, but talent availability is not enough to feed this growing demand.
There is a critically high shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent, with projections of 3.5 million unfilled positions worldwide by the end of 2021.
According to a study in 2020 by ISC(2), over 4 million professionals are needed to close the global cybersecurity skill gap, which means that there needs to be a 62% increase in the cybersecurity workforce in the United States alone.
This is why cybersecurity professionals are often paid very high salaries. Individuals with the right skills can receive very lucrative packages from government agencies and corporations.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cybersecurity Careers.
This list has been compiled with the help of multiple leading industry sources such as salary.com, cybersecurityguide.org, bls.gov, ziprecruiter.com, dice.com, linkedin.com.
1) Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
The Chief Information Security Officer determines enterprise information security strategy and policy, supervises the development, enforcement, and implementation of information security procedures and standards, and assists in investigating security incidents, audits, and IT risk assessments. As a Chief information security officer, you ensure that all information systems comply with the security policy.
The average salary range for a CISO position is $165,985 to $229,000. This wide range in salary is due to factors like the size of the company and the security team and executive bonuses and profit-sharing arrangements that can add more than $100,000 to base pay. A few CISOs may be considered elite, and they can earn as much as $500,000
2) Information Security Director.
Information Security Director organizes and manages the overall strategy and procedures for information security. Implements disaster recovery and information security programs according to organizational security standards. As an Information Security Director, you evaluate information risk and encourage information security awareness within your organization. The Information Security Director is also responsible for managing a sub-function of a larger departmental function, including creating functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function, managing budget, and developing policies and procedures to support the functional infrastructure.
As of 2021, the average salary for Information Security Directors in the United States is $175,038. However, the range is typically between $158,829 to $193,124. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
3) Information Security Manager.
Information Security Managers are responsible for managing Information Systems Security, including database protection and software development, assisting in managing Information Systems security analysts to ensure all applications are secure and functional. As an Information Security Manager, you develop and deliver Information Systems security standards, best practices, and architecture to ensure enterprise information system security, establish and implement methods and procedures for auditing and to rectify non-compliance with information security standards, and manage the migration of non-compliance environments to compliant ones.
As of 2021, the average salary for Information Security Managers in the United States is $135,005. However, the range is typically between $121,826 to $149,366. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
4) Lead Security Engineer.
Lead security engineers are responsible for assessing the security of client’s software systems and building and managing a team of engineers. They also have an in-depth understanding of application security. They should also have the soft skills to communicate and negotiate with stakeholders.
As of 2021, the average salary for a Lead Security Engineer is $134,094, but it can vary between $114,707 to $152,217. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
5) Security Engineer.
Information security engineers or security engineers are a technical position within a company. They are responsible for implementing and monitoring network and computer security protocols that protect sensitive information against theft or hacking.
As of 2021, the average entry-level security engineer salary in the United States is $89,037. However, the range is typically between $76,079 to $106,861. Many factors can affect your salary range, such as education, certifications, and experience.
6) Network Security System Analyst.
Network Security System Analyst conducts network security assessments and network risk analyses. A Network Security Systems Analyst is responsible for Installing appropriate security products on various network platforms, configuring and maintaining firewalls and other network security tools.
As of 2021, the average Network Security System Analyst salary is $89,542. However, it is typically between $78,566 to $104,864. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
7) Penetration Tester.
Penetration testers are those who test for vulnerabilities. Penetration testers, also commonly referred to as ethical hackers, are employed by network system owners and web application providers to search for vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit to gain secure data.
As of 2021, the average Penetration Tester salary is $86,746. However, it is typically between $75,113 to $98,405. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
8) Security Operations Analyst.
A Security Operations Analyst works with companies, organizations, and government offices to reduce the security risks to their network. As a security operations analyst, you are responsible for conducting research on new threats and updating software as needed.
As of 2021, the average Security Operations Analyst salary is $70,306. However, it is typically between $60,073 to $84,379. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
9) Information Security Analyst.
Information security analysts are those who take steps to ensure that sensitive data and mission-critical information are protected. They also keep cyber attackers at bay. This is done by inventing innovative ways to prevent hackers from compromising, stealing, or damaging critical information.
As of 2021, the average entry-level Information Security Analyst’s salary is $69,662. However, it is typically between $63,492 to $76,352. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
10) Cyber Incident Response Analyst.
The Cyber Incident Respond Analyst monitors the system’s cybersecurity. Responds to cyber incidents by analyzing, reporting, and responding to cyber threats. As a Cyber Incident Respond Analyst, you are responsible for performing network defense analysis and making recommendations for improvement, proactively looking for threats to networks or systems, and using cybersecurity tools. Additionally, Cyber Incident Responder Analyst is responsible for maintaining a thorough and up-to-date understanding of cybersecurity threats and incident response best practices.
As of 2021, the average Cyber Incident Response Analyst salary is $65,800. However, it is typically between $59,400 to $75,300. The range of salaries can vary depending on many factors such as education, certifications, and experience.
Conclusion.
There is no secret that organizations of all sizes are undergoing a massive hiring drive now that cybercrime is everywhere. Information technology professionals and other individuals who want to succeed in this fast-growing industry are gaining industry certifications and enrolling for advanced degrees.
The world of cybersecurity presents significant opportunities for meaningful and important work and a good income.
A career in cybersecurity is more than a commitment to improve your education and earn a better starting salary. It’s also about making a difference by helping to stop bad actors from compromising the technology that we all enjoy. Your skills can be used to prevent ransomware, debit card fraud, and high-level government hacking.
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