Recently, we discussed why cybersecurity is so important, and what you can do after getting your degree in the field. Today, we’ll explain how much money you can expect to make upon landing a job in the industry.

As part of our discussion, we’ll explore the average annual salary for cybersecurity professionals, explain what kind of jobs you can get after earning your bachelor’s degree in the field, and why you should consider getting your degree online instead of in-person.

The field of cybersecurity can be an extremely lucrative industry for those who possess the right skills, abilities, and academic credentials. Cybersecurity is also expected to grow considerably in the coming years, making it a great time to enter the industry.

After you’ve learned everything you need to know about how much money cybersecurity professionals can make, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity. 

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

What’s the Average Salary of Cybersecurity Professionals?

Many different positions in the cybersecurity industry are reporting excellent annual salaries, as these jobs are in high demand from companies that are looking for qualified individuals to protect their critical data and systems.

According to ZipRecruiter the average annual salary for cybersecurity professionals in the US is $97,625, or $47 per hour. 

With organizations moving more of their business online, companies across virtually every industry are in need of cybersecurity professionals who can protect their data, information, and systems from malicious cyber attacks. 

How Much Do Different Cybersecurity Jobs Actually Pay?

The cybersecurity industry has a wide range of different jobs, all of which pay different amounts. 

In order to land the higher paying jobs in the industry you will most likely need to have at least a bachelor’s degree, with some senior-level positions even requiring a master’s degree. 

To give you an idea of the types of salaries you may be able to achieve in the industry, here’s a list of some of the most common job titles, along with salary data for each of them:

Computer Network Technician

A computer network technician manages and maintains the network system in an organization. They install, operate, or upgrade computers, and more importantly, help ensure that a company's networks are safe and secure from various cyber threats. 

The national average salary for this position is $50,705 and gives graduates practical experience in how a company's computer network and systems can be infiltrated by cyber criminals. 

This entry-level position can provide a great foundation for recent graduates to build upon as they progress in the cybersecurity industry. 

Junior Cybersecurity Analyst

The role of a junior cybersecurity analyst is another great entry-level position for those with a relevant bachelor’s degree, as the position provides great industry experience along with an average salary of $62,748.

A junior cybersecurity analyst assists in driving cybersecurity program initiatives for various information services, systems, and processes across an organization. 

Junior cybersecurity analysts typically perform duties like establishing threat plans and protocols, maintaining data, monitoring security network access, performing tests and risk analysis, and reviewing security alerts.

Digital Forensic Analyst

If you like trying to solve puzzles and find missing pieces of information, this role might be perfect for you. Digital forensic analysts retrieve information from computers and other digital devices to discover how cybercriminals accessed a protected system or stole critical information. 

Digital forensic analysts have an average salary of $84,248, and this is a great role for anyone interested in learning how cyber criminals successfully penetrate a company's system or gain access to protected data. 

Information Security Specialist

Information security specialists act as the front lines in protecting an organization's data, systems, and processes. 

This role is responsible for testing current systems, identifying any potential weaknesses, and providing recommendations on how to improve current cybersecurity programs. 

The average annual salary for the position is $97,265 making this another excellent position for cybersecurity program graduates. 

Information Security Analyst

In simple terms, an information security analyst plans and carries out an organization's security measures to ensure systems, data, and digital infrastructure remains secure. 

This is a great entry-level industry role that comes with a great salary, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting annual earnings of $102,600.

Information Security Engineer

Information security engineers plan, implement and improve security measures for clients' computer systems and networks. They safeguard the transmission of network data by strengthening firewalls and applying pre-determined security controls.

Compensation for information security engineers is considerable, with the national average salary for the position reported at $107,741 per year. 

This role will require at minimum a bachelor’s degree in the field, with some organizations requesting job applicants to also possess a master’s degree. 

Ethical Hacker

As an ethical hacker, you’ll help organizations test their current security protocols and systems to identify any weaknesses and provide guidance on how to strengthen a company's cybersecurity efforts. 

Ethical hackers are extremely important positions within an organization and for this reason, they are compensated very well. ZipRecruiter reports a national average salary of $135,269 for ethical hackers, as well as a minimum academic requirement of a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or other related field.  

Chief Information Security Officer

The position of a chief information security officer is a high-paying job with the national average salary being $150,123. 

Individuals in this position will oversee a company's entire cybersecurity efforts, overseeing new initiatives, leading teams, and adapting to evolving cyber threats as they emerge. 

Do I Really Need a Degree to Get Into the Field?

You could start a career in cybersecurity without first getting a degree, but that’s probably not the ideal way to achieve the best possible results from your career.

Why? Because if you don’t have a degree, it’ll be harder to get hired into some of the best, higher paying cybersecurity jobs.

If your goal is to launch a lifelong career in the field, and you want a career that moves past entry-level work, then you should definitely be thinking about earning your Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity.

Getting your degree will provide you with opportunities to develop your cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and abilities, preparing you for better industry jobs, while also helping you convince hiring managers that you’re capable of overcoming the unique challenges people face while working in this industry. 

In short, there’s no better way to prepare yourself for a successful career than by completing a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity.

Where Should I Go to Get My Degree in Cybersecurity?

CSU Global’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity provides far more than just a diploma; instead, we prepare graduates for a successful, lifelong career in this challenging, yet rewarding field.

This program is widely recognized as one of the best programs in the industry, as it currently holds several excellent rankings, including:

  • A #3 ranking on Top 10 Online Cyber Security Undergraduate Certificate Programs for 2021 from Security Degree Hub.
  • A #10 ranking on Best Online Cyber Security Degree Programs of 2022 from Intelligent.

CSU Global itself also recently earned several impressive rankings of its own, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Our cybersecurity faculty have recent industry experience and the program’s coursework is aligned with professional certification exams that employers want from cybersecurity professionals, including:

  • (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • CompTIA A+, Network +, Security+, and Project+

Completing this program will provide you with competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, preparing you to deliver real results from your first day in the industry.

Finally, to help save you time and money on the costs of your degree, we offer competitive tuition rates, a Tuition Guarantee that ensures your low tuition rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation, and the opportunity to earn credits via our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program.

For additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, please give us a call at 800-462-7845 or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!