An entry level cyber security jobs salary depends on many factors including skills and experience. The field of cyber security (also called “cybersecurity”) has a huge expected growth potential in the next decade owing to simple demand. Companies need more professionals to build and maintain secure networks for their companies to process data. This requires cybersecurity workers to prevent hackers from stealing important information and communicate security goals to their IT departments.
Read on to learn about the starting salaries of cybersecurity jobs and the skills and qualifications needed to advance in this lucrative career.
Entry Level Cyber Security Jobs Salary
There isn’t one number we can throw out there because cybersecurity is a diverse field that contains many positions. The median wage for security analysts stays close to $100,000; however, those just starting out in the field often earn more like $56,000, according to Cybersecurity Guide. But other jobs exist besides analysts. Entry-level penetration testers, for instance, can earn around $70,000.
Therefore, in order to predict what you’ll make as an entry-level employee in cybersecurity, you need to look at all the available jobs and compare them to your experience, certification, and skills. However, in general, expect to be looking at salaries ranging from mid-$50,000 to $70,000 for entry-level positions.
Skills and Education Required in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity represents a diverse industry that includes many degree fields. If you expect to earn the salaries listed above, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, or a related field. After that, you can choose to start earning experience as a low-level programmer, security technician, or breach detection analyst. Or, you can continue working towards a higher degree.
That degree can be in IT-related fields, but it can also be in business administration or management. Cybersecurity involves not only programming and threat detection but also communicating with IT departments within a company. The cybersecurity professional has to know how to coordinate teams and implement security solutions based on audits.
This requires forensic certification no matter how much education you have. As such, you need experience in multiple coding languages. You also need forensic and programming certification related to specific jobs you plan on applying to. This includes CompTIA certification, as well as applying to become a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
The Takeaway
An entry level cyber security job salary ranges from $50,000 to low six figures if you have extensive education and experience. Whatever position you expect to apply for, you need a minimum amount of education in IT fields. This includes programming certifications and experience in many skills. Your qualifications determine your pay in cybersecurity, which makes pinning down one number for entry-level salaries difficult.
However, the field remains lucrative and will grow by over 30% in the next decade, according to labor statistics. This indicates the importance of cybersecurity to company networks and the rising numbers of hackers that want to take advantage of weak systems. Equipped with the right skills and experience, you can use your degree to capitalize on this need in a big way.