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Are you interested in pursuing a career in cyber-security? If you want to enter a growing industry where demand for qualified professionals dramatically outweighs supply, now is the time to consider pursuing your degree so that you can easily get recruited by large enterprises or government agencies. By learning the ins and outs of cyber-security technologies, you can get your foot in the door and start a fulfilling career where job outlook is positive and compensation packages are fair.
Like most prospective students, you are probably wondering how much you can make in the field, and this is a relevant question you should take the time to get the answer to before you spend 2 or 4 years in college. While there is not a clear-cut definitive answer, here is your guide to salaries in the cyber-security field so that you have a better understanding before you apply for school or start enrolling in classes.
The Average Salary for a Cybersecurity Professional
Before you start browsing how much open positions pay in cybersecurity, you should take a step back to understand that salaries can vary dramatically in the field. While your experience and responsibilities can affect your earning potential, the geographic region and whether you are working in the public or private sector are factors that will also play a role. Currently, the median salary reported in the field is $71,000, with some professionals earning an hourly wage and others earning a fixed salary.
Salary Ranges for Cybersecurity Professionals
While this is the average in the nation, the salary range is also very useful to know. In 2011, salaries between $74,000 and $118,000 were reported in the field. As you can see, you can earn a good income with little experience, and still enjoy the opportunity for advancement. To draw in more talent, many private organization are raising the base salary for their cybersecurity positions. Because of this, you can expect the pay rates to continue to rise in the field.
Benefits and Bonuses
Cybersecurity professionals must also consider the benefits that they receive as a part of their compensation. Many times, the medical benefits that employees receive are overlooked. These benefits can add a lot to your salary, and you should consider your medical benefits and other compensation benefits when you are comparing open positions. If you work for a public agency, you are also guaranteed health benefits. If you work for a private corporation, statistics show that about 87% of cybersecurity professionals receive medical, dental and vision benefits. You may also earn monthly bonuses in the field if you are in network security.
If you are happy with the salary ranges you read above, now is the time to get the specialized education that you need to break into the field. Cyber security experts need to pursue a degree so that they can keep up with all of the changing technology. Start comparing the degree programs that focus on web security and computer science, and get the degree that you need to enter the field and then advance to upper level positions in cyber forensics.