The best jobs in cybersecurity
Professionals in cybersecurity are among the most sought-after experts in the tech sector, with demand for cyber workers growing every year. For job seekers looking for high pay, job security and the option to work in many different locations and sectors, the cybersecurity field can be an ideal path. So while a job cybersecurity has many benefits, what cybersecurity positions are the best and how do you land them?
Information security analyst
U.S. News ranked information security analyst as number three on its list of best technology jobs of 2015. The security analyst is responsible for protecting all sensitive information within an organization. They are also responsible for insuring all networks have adequate security to prevent unauthorized access. A main responsibility of the role is ensuring that all security systems are current with any software or hardware changes in the company.
Annual Salary Range: $48,042 – $104,755
Senior software security engineer
In this role, you are typically tasked with leading a team of security experts, analyzing and assessing risk, developing secure software and identifying vulnerabilities. Additionally, a key responsibility is developing security for your company’s systems and handling any technical problems that arise.
Average Annual Salary: $55,338 – $127,123
Chief information security officer (CISO)
As we wrote about earlier this year, the CISO role can be an organizations most important hire. In this role, you would be in charge of developing and implementing an information security program. Additionally, you would be responsible for procedures and policies designed to protect enterprise communications, systems and assets from both internal and external threats.
Average Annual Salary: $197,362 – $224,000
Location, location, location
Finding the right career path and role is one part, however, matching that with the ideal location to work in is a whole other thing to consider. In 2016, Indeed conducted a study to find the top more popular tech job destinations by the “real” value of an information security specialist’s salary, adjusted for the cost of living, using data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Here are the top three:
- Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the top location for the best paying jobs in cybersecurity. With headquarters of Target, U.S. Bankcorp and Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis is a top city in high demand for cyber professionals. Average salary: $131,302.
- Seattle
In addition to being the home of the Starbucks, companies such as Amazon and Microsoft also call Seattle home. Seattle in recent years has become a very attractive choice for many tech companies doing business with large companies. Average salary: $128,470.
- San Francisco
San Francisco has the corporate headquarters of five major banking institutions, as well as established companies such as Levi Strauss & Co. and newer Fortune 500 companies such as Airbnb, Uber and Lyft. Average salary: $149,744.
