Are you considering a job in cyber security? Want to know which cyber security jobs offer the best salaries?
Graduates of cyber security programs earn good wages. They also have excellent job prospects due to growing demand. Now is a good time for a cyber security career.
But to earn a good salary in cybersecurity, you need a degree. Read on to learn what bachelors degree cybersecurity salary you can expect after college.
What is Cybersecurity?
The FBI reports cybercrime as one of the biggest threats. Because of this, cyber security professionals are in demand. But what kind of degree do you need for cyber security careers?
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems against unauthorized use of electronic data. A cybercrime can take a company to its knees. That’s where professionals come in. Cyber security experts have knowledge and expertise to fight against cyber crime. You get this knowledge in a cyber security degree program.
Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Salary
The average salary for those with a cyber security degree is over $100,000/year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median wage of an information security analyst as $103,590/year. The lowest 10% of workers in this job earn about $60,000/year, but the highest 10% earn $163,300/year.
BLS data shows that pay is stable across industries, with only minor fluctuations. Organizations in information technology pay the highest median wage of $107,310/year. But you can also earn high salaries in other industries.
Finance and insurance companies pay the second-highest average salary. In this industry, cyber security analysts earn $106,430/year. Administrative and support services organizations pay the next-highest average wage. Analysts in this industry make $99,860/year. The BLS does not track every cybersecurity job, but it does perform robust data analysis.
While the earnings potential is strong for all IT workers, it’s not as high. You can earn a higher salary with a bachelor’s in cyber security. Cyber security experts earn $15,000/year more than individuals with general IT roles.
Top-Paying Jobs in Cybersecurity
Defending organizations and individuals from cyber threats is a complex process. There are many different jobs you can do to help fight against cyber crime. These jobs offer good wages if you have the right degree and credentials.
BS in Cyber Security Salary and Job Titles
Below is a list of bachelor’s degree in cyber security salary and job titles you can get after you graduate from college. Some require more than an undergraduate degree. Others are entry level positions that are open to recent college graduates.
Chief Information Security Officer
CISOs play an integral role in an organization. They are different from a Chief Information Officer (CIO). They work with cyber security issues instead of IT.
The main duties for this job include establishing cyber security policies and procedures. They also oversee cyber security team members. A CISO works with an organization’s CIO. Together, they implement budgets, hardware, and software upgrades.
Cyber Security Salaries for a CISO
But how much money does a CISO earn? A BS cyber security salary for this job is in the six-figure range. But to make this wage, you need industry certifications and at least 10 years of work experience.
Cryptographer
Cryptographers play a role in protecting critical IT components. They do this by creating computer code for security systems. They are responsible for protecting the codes from cyber threats.
They work in any type of organization, including:
- Colleges and universities
- Federal government
- Private business
To work in this role you should have a cyber security degree. You should also know major programming languages such as C, C++, Java, and Python. Your hard skills should include advanced mathematics, computer science, and encryption. You should also have experience working with data structures.
Cyber Security Salaries for a Cryptographer
Cryptographers earn anywhere from $60,000 to $130,000/year.
Forensic Expert
IT forensic experts deal with cyber evidence. They investigate and interpret evidence to determine how a crime happened. They also look at similar attacks to prevent new ones.
You find this job in many different organizations, including:
- CIA
- FBI
- Homeland Security
- National Security Agency
- Private organizations specializing in cyber security and crimes
Cyber Security Salaries for Forensic Experts
Average cybersecurity salaries for this job range from $60,000 to $120,000/year.
Penetration Tester
Known as ethical hackers, these cyber security professionals are important to any organization. Penetration testers try to penetrate an organization’s security system. They act as a real hacker would. They steal information and money and try to create havoc to a system. The main purpose of their job is to find vulnerable points and report findings to decision-makers.
To land one of these cyber security jobs, you should have excellent hacking skills. You should also have a strong computer science and information security background.
You find penetration testers working in:
- IT firms
- Law enforcement
- Security companies
Cyber Security Salaries for Penetration Testers
The average salary for these cyber security jobs is $105,000/year.
Security Analyst
These professionals engage in a deep analysis of an organization’s cybersecurity. They investigate policies and procedures. They also examine infrastructure to see where strengths and weaknesses lie.
They analyze security systems and protocols. They also engage in professional development to keep up with changes in the industry. They report their findings in written reports. These reports include determinations on how to protect against future threats.
Other names security analysts go by in cyber security job postings include:
- Cyber security analyst
- Information security analyst
- Network security analysts
- Security engineer
With a degree in cyber security, salary ranges vary.
Average Annual Salary for Security Analysts
Salaries range from $65,000 t0 $130,000/year.
Security Consultant
A cyber security consultant can work in many different organizations. They work in places that keep sensitive information and records. You find them in education and healthcare. You also find them in financial institutions. But most work as independent contractors if they aren’t employed with consulting firms.
The job of a cyber security consultant is assessment. They look at problems related to cyber security. They also examine risks and solutions.
You need a computer science background to work in this field. You should also have security engineer skills if you work with hardware.
Average Salary for Cyber Security Consultants
Cyber security consultants earn an average annual salary of $104,210/year.
Security Manager
Security managers need technical skills to do their job. They spend their time managing:
- Departments
- Individuals
- Teams
They also create sound policies and procedures that better protect an organization. They answer to the Chief Information Officer or the Chief Information Security Officer.
You can earn strong wages in the cybersecurity industry as a security manager.
Cyber Security Salaries for Security Managers
The average wage for cyber security managers is $150,000/year.
Security Specialist
Security specialists are entry-level employees. They work in the cybersecurity industry as programming experts. They have hard skills in different programming languages, such as:
- C++
- Java
- PHP
- Python
They also work in various systems like Linux and Windows. But most of their work involves understanding virus protection.
Cyber Security Salaries for Security Specialists
As far as entry-level cybersecurity jobs go, this one pays over $99,000/year.
Source Code Auditor
Another network security job in the cyber security field is source code auditor. This cyber security role spends time reviewing source code applications for glitches and bugs. They look for things that disrupt functionality and security.
The job demands extensive knowledge in computer science and cyber security. Source code auditors are analytical and detail-oriented people and have skills useful to the security industry.
Cyber Security Salaries for Source Code Auditors
The average salary for this cyber security job is $92,600/year.
How Cybersecurity Professionals Can Improve Earnings Potential
You can improve your cyber security bachelor degree salary by working in a specialized role. Certain fields pay more than others. But the best way to improve your cybersecurity degree salary is to go where the money is.
Certain cities have a higher demand for cyber security careers. You find higher wages in cities like Chicago and Dallas for certain jobs. For example, you can earn more money as a cyber security analyst in Chicago than you can in a small Maine town. You can also find higher-paying jobs for information security analysts in New York than you can in Minnesota.
Here’s a list of the top paying places to live for cyber security and network security jobs:
- Chicago
- Dallas
- New York
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Washington
You can also increase your earnings potential by joining professional organizations. You can join the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Another popular association is the Information Systems Security Association. Take advantage of networking and professional growth opportunities that can boost your career.
Cybersecurity Certifications
Cyber security certifications also help you increase your earnings potential. There are academic and professional certifications you can get.
Academic certifications are for current students. They show potential employers that you have skills and knowledge in a specific area. Professional certifications are for current cyber security professionals looking to update their skills.
About 60% of cyber security positions want at least one credential. Read on to find out which certifications can help your career and salary.
EC-Council Certifications
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
You must take a formal training class offered by the EC-Council to qualify for this designation. You can also qualify by having at least two years of work experience to qualify. Your experience should be in computer security. This is a recognized certificate among cybersecurity professionals.
- EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)
This certification is for penetration testers. The main focus of the course is how to ethically breach a security system. You must have two years of related professional experience to qualify for the test. You also need an educational background in information security.
CompTIA Certifications
A CompTIA certification can help you leverage your bachelor degree in cyber security salary. Here are some of the most common for security engineer and cyber security analyst jobs.
- CompTIA Security+
CompTIA certifications are some of the most known in the industry. The Security+ certification provides a broad overview of cybersecurity issues such as:
- Attacks
- Risk management
- Threats
There are no prerequisites, but CompTIA recommends experience. Individuals can get their CompTIA Network+ certification with two years in IT administration.
- CompTIA CySA+
This is a more advanced certification than the Security+ certificate. The test is more robust. In-depth topics cover:
- Cyber attacks
- Incident response
- Risk management
- Threats
For certain jobs, such as an information security analyst or security engineer, you should have:
- Network+ certification
- Security+ certification
- Four years of experience in cybersecurity
Global Information Assurance Certifications
It helps to leverage your bachelors in cyber security salary with the following certifications.
- GIAC Security Essentials
The GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) security essentials certificate is an entry-level certification. It certifies individuals know industry terms and concepts. It also certifies you have certain hands-on skills. There are no prerequisites for this certificate.
- GIAC Mobile Device Security Analyst (GMOB)
This is a niche certification that has become popular with the rise of mobile device threats. It focuses on threat mitigation in the mobile device and app industry. It is appropriate for:
- Cyber security auditors
- Ethical hackers
- Information security analysts
- Network security administrators
- Penetration testers
- Security engineer experts
- GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
This certification is for those wanting to work as forensic analysts. It covers a wide range of topics such as:
- Digital and memory forensics
- Incident responsiveness
- Timeline analysis
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Certifications
You can improve your bachelor in cyber security salary with the following certifications.
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
This certification tests knowledge in:
- Assurance
- Audit control
- Security engineer skills
The CISA certification proves that an auditor can assess threats and vulnerabilities. It also proves you know how to report on other issues. These issues include compliance and intra-organizational security measures.
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
This certification is a step above the CISA certification. It tests knowledge and skills for those who become security managers. This is a respected certification that is sought after in the industry. But you should also have management experience. Experience can include overseeing a department’s information security program.
Job Outlook for Cyber Security Professionals
The job outlook for cybersecurity professionals is one of the most favorable of all careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an astounding 33% job growth through 2030. This is about eight times the average growth for all other occupations. While the IT industry expects an 11% job growth, the cyber security sector far exceeds this number.
But certain fields and industries show even more job growth. In computer systems design, job growth should exceed 55% through 2030. Demand will increase because of the frequency and severity of cyberattacks. This will increase the number of security engineer and cyber security analyst jobs.
We should see job growth in many different areas of the country. But certain major metro areas will experience the most growth. Areas with the most growth will include:
- Dallas
- New York
- Washington, DC
With the explosive growth of the cybersecurity field, now is an excellent time to earn an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. Cyber threats and attacks are increasing in frequency and scope. The need for trained professionals to mitigate these threats is at an all-time high. But you have to leverage your cyber security bachelor’s degree salary to make yourself competitive.
BDP Staff
September 2022
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