Interested in Cybersecurity? Dive into the world of cybersecurity with us and discover the highest-paying roles and skills required to secure them. We are here to help you elevate your career prospects today.
Key Takeaways
- An opportunity to explore the top-paying cybersecurity job roles.
- Learn to identify key skills for each position.
- Understand the pathway to high salaries in cybersecurity.
What are the highest-paying cybersecurity job roles and their desired skills?
The highest-paying cybersecurity job roles include different positions. Whether you want to become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or a Security Architect. A penetration tester or any other cybersecurity role requires possessing a unique set of skills like threat assessment, ethical hacking, system security design, and more to secure top salaries in the field.
In this article, we are going to talk about the highest-paying cybersecurity job roles and other things relevant to these roles.
Desired Skills:
To become qualified for one of the cybersecurity job roles, you must at least possess the below-mentioned skills;
- Cloud Security
- Analytical Thinking
- Programming Languages
- Problem-solving
- Encryption
- Intrusion Detection
- Risk Assessment
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Security Systems Administrator | $68,300 |
| IT Auditor | $90,242 |
| Penetration Tester | $114,945 |
| Cybersecurity Manager | $169,773 |
| Security Engineer | $142,616 |
| Cryptography Engineer | $128,179 |
| Security Architect | $245,176 |
Best Paying Cybersecurity Job Roles
Below are some of the best paying programming jobs and all the details you need to know about these jobs.
1. Security Systems Administrator
A security systems administrator is the one who has to take care of the day-to-day operations of an organization’s cybersecurity systems.
Key Responsibilities
- A security systems administrator has to monitor systems and run regular backups.
- He has to manage individual user accounts.
- Similarly, he has to participate in company-wide security audits.
- He also has to develop and document security procedures for the organization.
Education / Qualification
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or cybersecurity is required.
Certifications:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Dive into our Certified Information Systems Security Professional courses to gain a deeper understanding of security practices.
Desired Skills
- Strong leadership capabilities
- Technical expertise and experience with the ability to develop a security plan, coordinate and implement it, and monitor the IT environment
- A dedication to a collaborative approach and mindset
- An understanding of regulatory standards and how to ensure the business achieves compliance
Average Annual Salary
- If you are working as a security systems administrator in the US, then you can expect to make an average annual salary of $68,300.
IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization
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2. IT Auditor
An IT auditor is the one who has to assess your organization’s technology for potential issues through security, efficiency, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- An IT auditor has to plan and perform audits.
- He has to document and present audit findings.
- Similarly, he has to design plans and fix any security risks.
Education / Qualification
A Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems or any other related discipline is required.
Certifications:
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Desired Skills
- Risk Assessment
- Internal audit experience
- Security testing experience
- IT security and infrastructure
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of an IT auditor is around $90,242.
3. Penetration Tester
A penetration tester is the one who has to help businesses figure out their security weaknesses before the malicious hackers can do so. This is done by attempting to breach computer networks but with the permission of the company.
Key Responsibilities
- A penetration tester plans, designs, and carries out all kinds of penetration tests.
- He has to create reports that are based on the results and offer recommendations to the relevant security decision-makers.
- Similarly, he has to offer technical support during any kind of incident handling.
Education / Qualification
A bachelor’s degree only serves as a minimum requirement. Candidates must possess excellent skills by working in entry-level IT positions. With that industry, certifications can also help to start a great career in this area.
Certifications:
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN)
Desired Skills
- Security Planning
- Analytical Thinking
- Risk Mitigation Planning
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of a penetration tester working in the US is around $114,945.
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4. Cybersecurity Manager
A cybersecurity manager is known to be an IT professional who has to oversee many things along with his entire team. He maintains all the security systems and identifies system vulnerabilities if any. With that, he has to create different strategies to stop cybercriminals.
Key Responsibilities
- A cybersecurity manager has to manage all the human and technological resources.
- He must track all kinds of changes to internal and external security policy.
- Similarly, he has to ensure compliance with security rules and regulations.
- Next, he needs to source cybersecurity tools for the organization.
- Lastly, it is his job to lead risk mitigation efforts.
Education / Qualification
If you want to become a cybersecurity manager, then you must have a degree in one of the computer sciences disciplines like cybersecurity or computer sciences.
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Certifications:
- Certified Information System Security (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
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Desired Skills
- System Administration
- Firewall administration
- Process improvement
- Network Security & Troubleshooting
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of a cybersecurity manager working in the US is around $169,773.
5. Security Engineer
A security engineer is a person who has to design the entire system to keep the company’s computers, networks, and data safe from cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and any other issue.
Key Responsibilities
- He has to develop security standards.
- He needs to recommend security enhancements to the management.
- Similarly, it is his job to make sure that new security systems are installed and configured correctly.
- Next, he has to develop programs that can automate vulnerability detection.
Education / Qualification
To become a security engineer, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or any other relevant field.
Certifications:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Desired Skills
- Networking
- Database Platform
- Programming Languages
- Knowledge of Operating Systems
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of a security engineer is around $142,616.
6. Cryptography Engineer
A cryptography engineer is an individual who has to secure data for communication and information exchange. A cryptography engineer is also known by the name cryptologist. He has to create a variety of encryption algorithms, ciphers, and other security protocols to encrypt data.
Key Responsibilities
- A cryptography engineer has to develop new cryptographic algorithms.
- He must analyze all the existing algorithms for vulnerabilities.
- Similarly, it is his job to implement encryption solutions.
- Next, he has to test new encryption techniques and tools.
Education / Qualification
To become a cryptography engineer you need to earn a bachelor’s degree in either computer science, information systems, or engineering in any relevant technical field. With that, a master’s degree can also be required by some organizations.
Certifications:
- EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (ECES)
Desired Skills
- Cryptographic algorithms
- Systems Programming Skills
- Network & Database Architecture
- Advanced Mathematical Skills
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of a cryptography engineer is around $128,179.
7. Security Architect
A security architect is the one who has to set the vision for a company’s security system. This includes work like programming, threat research, and policy development as well. The aim here is to keep an organization safe or one step ahead of any kinds of threats.
Key Responsibilities
- A security architect has to build and maintain secure networks.
- He has to prepare the budgets and oversee all kinds of security expenses.
- Similarly, he has to coordinate security operations across IT and engineering departments.
Education / Qualification
A security architect either has a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science. With that, a master’s degree is most likely to be required by such professionals.
Certifications:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- CSA Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
Desired Skills
- Security Protocols
- Security Solutions
- IT Risk Management
- Cybersecurity & IT Risks
Average Salary
- The average annual salary of a security architect is around $245,176.
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Sources:
- www.jobhero.com
- www.glassdoor.com
- www.hiring.monster.com
