Whether you already have a degree in cybersecurity or want to know what this field can offer, you are in the right place.
Job opportunities in cybersecurity are tremendous. Hundreds of big and small companies need cyber defense now, making this area desirable for any IT student.
From analyzing the company’s systems and networks to encrypting their data, career paths in cybersecurity are extensive. Any job you choose here is unlikely to bore you, as there are many new cyber threats every day. Working in cybersecurity, you will be responsible for preventing and eliminating cyber threats if they do occur.
Apart from the excitement and innovation that this field brings, it’s worth noting that working in cybersecurity requires hard work and long hours of studying and growing your professional skills.
Once you’ve got a college degree in cybersecurity or decided to complete online courses/coding schools to grow your skillset, the question may appear:
Where to put this knowledge into practice now?
Here goes the list of cybersecurity jobs that assume high projected growth and above-average salaries:
Security Analyst
Information security analysts are responsible for protecting data and networks from potential cyber-attacks. What they do daily involves planning security measures, monitoring their company’s network and systems for possible threats, and installing and using the software as a security measure.
In 2019, 88% of all job postings looking for cybersecurity specialists required a corresponding Bachelor’s degree or higher from candidates. Now, more employers are open to hiring IT course graduates, paying attention to practical skills rather than university diplomas. It’s also because of high demand and specialists shortage in the niche:
According to statistics, the employment rate of security analysts grows by 32% between 2018 and 2028. It’s more than in any other department.
- Projected growth: 32% from 2018 to 2028
- Annual salary: $98,350
Security Architect
As well as information security analysts, security architects protect a company from cyber attacks. But these specialists also design, create and control a computer security system for an organization. This job position is super critical for the proper functioning of a company.
To do their job well, security architects need to understand a hacker’s brain work. Creating complex security structures requires detailed study to ensure nothing can get through and be able to stop it when it happens. That’s why the first thing most security architects do in their work is a thorough analysis of the organization’s system.
- Projected growth: 28% from 2016 to 2026
- Annual salary: $122,676
Security Software Developer
Your job here is to develop software that will provide security for networks and systems on every level of this process. Security software developers are responsible for identifying countermeasures, which they can then use to create reliable software for the company.
Most companies implement software for almost everything to automate the processes, so they rely on software developers to ensure security. The work includes protecting the development environment, checking the code gaps, using defensive programming, and ensuring data security during development.
- Projected growth: 21% from 2018 to 2028
- Annual salary: $73,232
Cryptanalyst
The job of a cryptanalyst is to evaluate and decode the encrypted text into plain text, used to transmit messages over unsecured channels. This specialist must understand how to decrypt secret codes and be able to write codes hackers won’t get.
Cryptanalysts offer their services to government agencies, police agencies, and the armed forces. Another part of their job is to protect organizations’ privacy by monitoring the security of their data systems.
- Projected growth: 12% from 2018 to 2028
- Annual salary: $75,198
Security Engineer
Being a security engineer in today’s cybersecurity niche means tons of work and no time for boredom. Their role is to protect the computer system and networks from all types of threats and attacks. Security engineers develop and implement security solutions.
Some of the responsibilities include setting security standards, evaluating the company’s systems, networks and data, developing security measures, monitoring security measures, eliminating any possible threats or breaches, etc.
- Projected growth: 12% from 2016 to 2026
- Annual salary: $98,000
Security Administrator
Security administrators play a vital role in ensuring information security and protecting the company’s virtual data. They protect systems against unauthorized access, destruction, and modification. Being a security administrator means having the role of a person everyone in a company will address any security issue they face.
A security administrator usually provides expert advice to companies regarding their internal security solutions. They are responsible for the security of mobile devices, computers, and the network. In addition, they deal with the administration, installation, and troubleshooting of the organization’s daily security procedures.
- Projected growth: 5% from 2018 to 2028
- Annual salary: $78,814
Cryptographer
As with any other job in the cybersecurity field, a cryptographer also deals with challenging duties and tasks. Their job is to develop algorithms, security systems, and ciphers to encrypt confidential information. They protect data from interception, modification, copying, or deletion.
Initially, cryptographers worked only for militaries. Now, many other niches engage these specialists too.
Cryptographers usually start their education by getting IT degrees and then continue to cybersecurity. We often call them code creators and code crackers.
- Projected growth: 12% from 2018 to 2028
- Annual salary: $71,500
Security Consultant
Your job as a security consultant will be to advise and oversee all security solutions to protect the client’s company and assets. These specialists work as in-staff workers in a company or help others as a third party, working in security agencies.
In this area, you will use your experience and knowledge to prevent security breaches and develop plans and protocols if breaches do occur. The central part of the work is related to risk management. Security consultants are responsible for the entire security team and their coordination.
- Projected growth: 28% from 2016 to 2026
- Annual salary: $84,806
In a nutshell
| Where to go with your degree in cybersecurity: | ||
| 1. Security analyst: plan security measures and protect data from cyber-attacks | ||
| 2. Security architect: design, create, and control a computer security system | ||
| 3. Security software developer: write programs that will protect from hackers | ||
| 4. Cryptanalyst: evaluate and decode encrypted texts | ||
| 5. Security engineer: develop and monitor security measures, eliminate threats | ||
| 6. Security administrator: protect systems against unauthorized access, destruction, and modification | ||
| 7. Cryptographer: develop algorithms and ciphers to encrypt confidential information | ||
| 8. Security consultant: help companies prevent breaches and oversee security solutions |
In cybersecurity, you’ll always learn something new. Most job descriptions seem similar because they all require attention to detail and problem-solving skills. However, many features distinguish them. None of these professions are worse or better, but knowing what each means will help you understand who is who.
And if you are still thinking about whether you want to get a degree in cybersecurity or not, we hope we have helped you decide and choose a future profession.
Note:
All the data on salaries and projected growth is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
