Cybersecurity Salaries and Job Outlook

"The impact of all these attacks is immense. Repairing systems damaged by these attacks cost billions of dollars every year. According to the FBI website, some of these attacks can cause major disruptions and even disable the operations of banks and hospitals across the country. This is one of the biggest reasons why Cyber Security Certification has become so popular today. Cybersecurity has become a top business priority. In 2018, after leaving the National Security Agency (which he managed for nearly four years), retired Adm. Michael Rogers stated to CNBC that cyberattacks are possible. Rogers stated that it is something that could bring down a company.

This trend is driving cybersecurity careers to the forefront. Companies require cybersecurity professionals to protect financial information and intellectual property, combat online fraud and create hack-proof client records. Highly skilled cybersecurity professionals are highly sought after by many.

According to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing 12x faster than the US job market. According to the US Department of Commerce, there are over 300,000. These jobs will be available in 2019. The field is expected to continue growing. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, which provides data, insights and predictions on the cyber economic market, there will be 3.5 million vacant positions by 2021.

Top Jobs and Salaries in Cybersecurity

Organizations are seeking cybersecurity specialists, architects, analysts, consultants, and specialists. Cybersecurity professionals with senior leadership, particularly those in large cities and specialty fields like the military, can earn six-figure annual salaries. This is especially true for chief information security officers (CISOs). These are the highest-ranking cybersecurity employees within a company. To ensure that government information is protected, every state has a CISO.

The CISO position is not the only one that offers a competitive salary. The following cybersecurity jobs offer competitive salaries:

Computer network administrator. They are responsible for the design and construction of their company's data communication networks. This includes intranets, wide area networks and local area networks. These people are often given the responsibility of maintaining these networks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following data. The median annual salary of a computer network architect is $109,000.

Computer programmer. There are many to choose from Cybersecurity jobs that don't require programming. However, coding is a skill that can be applied to any cybersecurity job. For example, source code auditors go line-by-line through source code in order to identify vulnerabilities. It is important to be familiar with the programming language used by your company, whether it is C++, Java, or another. The BLS data shows that the annual median salary of a computer programmer in any area is $84,280.

Information security analyst. Information security analyst positions often require a bachelor's in computer-related fields. Employers, mainly in the financial, computer and consulting industries, prefer to hire analysts who have experience in a related profession where they can plan and execute security measures to protect their organization's computers networks and systems. The median salary for an information security analyst is $98,350 per annum. According to the BLSManagement-level jobs can bring in more than $120,000.

How To Boost Your Cybersecurity Salary

Cybersecurity is an emerging field. Those who work in this field have a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. A bachelor's degree is usually required in engineering or computer science. However, a master's in cybersecurity can increase job applicants' appeal. The classes cover topics like cybersecurity leadership, cryptology and privacy engineering.

Companies are looking for people with experience in project management, analytics and data science backgrounds, technical writing skills, and expertise in law and policy. Pete Metzger is a recruiter for C-suite cybersecurity professionals at consulting firm DHR International to CNBC.com. Metzger began his career in the Marine Corps, and then he was a Central Intelligence Agency foreign Intelligence officer. Organizations seek leaders who can solve problems and "reform" their security thinking. Even if you don’t have a cybersecurity degree, it is never too late to further your education in order to gain an edge on the job market.