The 6 Highest Paying Jobs in Cybersecurity 2023
6 min readTable of Contents
This is the perfect time to start a career in cybersecurity or move to the next level of your professional career. To help you along the way, we have put together some information about the best-paid jobs in the IT security sector.
With the rising costs of data breaches, companies need to hire qualified cybersecurity experts to protect their sensitive business data.
However, companies remain at risk because it is difficult to find qualified security experts to fill critical positions.
For this reason, there are good opportunities right now to start a career in cybersecurity or take your current professional activity to the next level. To help you, we’ve listed the following data on the six highest-paying jobs in cybersecurity.
Top 6 Highest Paying jobs in Cybersecurity
6. Cyber Security Engineer
A cybersecurity engineer, also called an information security engineer, identifies and remediates vulnerabilities and threats in a company’s computer systems and network.
The cybersecurity engineer implements security procedures to protect company data in the event of a hacker attack. He works with IT team members of an organization and reports directly to senior management.
The average annual salary for a cybersecurity engineer in the United States is 148,760 USD. However, the typical salary range is between 134,446 US and 165,229 USD, according to Salary.com.
Talent.com reports that the average salary of a cybersecurity engineer in the United States varies between 109,965 and 171,722 USD per year, with an average of 130,000 USD.
In general, a cybersecurity engineer should have at least a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, computer science, or information technology.
A candidate for this position should also have experience operating and maintaining firewalls and various forms of endpoint security, as well as proficiency in languages/tools such as Java , Node , C++ , Ruby , Python , Go and Power Shell .
5. Cybersecurity Architect
A cybersecurity architect (also called a security architect) is a senior executive who plans, designs, tests, implements, and maintains an organization’s computer and network security infrastructures.
This position requires extensive knowledge of the company and the technology it uses to carry out its operations.
Additionally, a cybersecurity architect must be able to put themselves in the role of a hacker to anticipate and protect the organization from cyber threats.
A cybersecurity architect checks the company’s systems for vulnerabilities and performs security risk analysis, penetration testing and ethical hacks.
The average annual salary for a security architect in the United States is 128,636 USD, according to Zippa.com. Typically, wages range from 92,000 to 179,000 USD.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a cybersecurity architect is 132,623 USD, with a peak of 171,000 USD.
To become a cybersecurity architect, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in information technology, cybersecurity, computer science, or a similar field.
Most companies look for people with five to 10 years of IT experience, including exposure to application development, systems analysis and business planning, as well as three to five years focused on security.
4. Cybersecurity Manager
The job of a cybersecurity manager is to protect a company’s information systems, identify threats to those systems, and respond to such threats and cyberattacks.
A cybersecurity manager is also responsible for developing a plan that the company can implement in the event of an attack.
The person in this role also establishes procedures to protect a company’s computer and database infrastructures and may be required to train employees on security measures.
This way you can use your devices safely. Because this is a management-level position, the person in charge may supervise other security professionals.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a cybersecurity manager in the United States is 128,870 USD. Salaries typically range from 44,000 to 192,000 USD.
According to Comparably.com, the average salary for this position is 117,580 USD, with a minimum of 51,280 USD and a maximum of 172,000 USD.
If you are interested in a job as a cybersecurity manager, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity information technology with a concentration in cybersecurity, computer science, or related field.
Additionally, five to ten years of experience in network administration or computer security is expected.
3. Application Security Engineer
An Application Security Engineer ensures that all applications running in different environments, i.e. on-premises or in the cloud, provide security.
These professionals identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in the applications an organization develops and operates.
They work with development teams to establish security controls throughout the software development cycle and implement tools and techniques to protect applications already in use.
The median annual salary for an Application Security Engineer in the United States is 107,372 USD, with a top salary of 139,991 USD, according to Salary.com.
According to Indeed.com, the average salary of an application security engineer is 138,010 USD. In general, salary expectations range from 94,361 to a maximum of 201,851 USD.
Anyone seeking a position as an application security engineer must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity or a related field.
You should also have at least two to four years of entry-level work experience in this field.
2. Director of Information Security
Just like a CISO, the position of director of information security is also one of the leading positions in the area of IT security in a company.
It plays a key role in ensuring the security of a company’s information resources.
An information security director manages the day-to-day operations of a company’s IT security program, including conducting risk assessments, establishing and maintaining security controls, and responding to cybersecurity incidents.
The average annual salary for an information security director in the United States is 187,118 USD.
According to Salary.com, the salary range for this role is 168,731 to 207,599 USD. Indeed.com estimates the highest salary for this position to be 255,624 USD.
If you want to become a director of information security, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT security or database administration and five to 10 years of cybersecurity and information technology management experience.
1. Person responsible for information security
The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) oversees a company’s entire security operations and ensures that important data is protected from internal and external threats.
This senior executive implements policies and procedures to prevent these security threats and reduce the risks of a data breach while supporting and advancing organizational goals.
The median annual salary for a CISO in the US is 239,136 USD. However, the salary range for this role is from 212,868 to 270,704 USD, Salary.com states. Glassdoor estimates that the average salary for a CISO is 290,998 USD.
If you want a position as a CISO, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field.
You should also have worked in a management position for at least five years, be familiar with a wide range of security technologies and be familiar with the regulations applicable to the company and the industry.
Conclusion
Now more than ever, companies in virtually every industry are looking for employees with cybersecurity knowledge and skills. The problem is that there are few qualified applicants.
As a result, tens of thousands of cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled due to a lack of candidates with the necessary education, training, qualifications or experience.
Whether you’re looking to start a career in cybersecurity or further your current professional development, your chances in the job market are good should you pursue one of the paid positions.
