Are you considering a career change or looking for your first job? Have you considered a job in cybersecurity? If you have, you may be wondering if cybersecurity is a good career path.
As long as you have the right skills and interests, cybersecurity is a great career to get into for the following reasons:
- High demand for workers in the field
- Great starting pay
- Relatively little education needed to get a job
- Great outlook for growth
- Great benefits and job satisfaction
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at all the aspects that may make cybersecurity a great field to get into and some reasons it might not be the right choice. Keep reading to see if a career in cybersecurity is the right choice for you.
Is There a High Demand for Cybersecurity Workers?
In 2021 there was a global shortage of about 500,000 cybersecurity jobs. The demand for cybersecurity has skyrocketed. Therefore, if you are looking for a job in the cybersecurity field, companies are hiring!
What is the Average Pay for Cybersecurity Workers?
Of course, pay will vary based on location and experience, but the average individual working in the United States in the cybersecurity field makes $90,000 per year.
Comparatively, the average salary for all jobs in the United States is $40,000 per year. Even if your starting salary isn’t great, there’s a high possibility it will increase significantly as you gain experience.
What Education Will I Need to Land a Cybersecurity Job?
Luckily, due to a lot of job availability and cybersecurity being a relatively new field, landing an entry-level cybersecurity job does not require much education.
In fact, some companies will hire you with just a high school degree. However, a bachelor’s degree does help make you more attractive as a potential employee and increases the possibility of having a higher starting salary.
There is, however, a lot of emphasis put on certifications. Therefore, it’s crucial to get a professional certification from an accredited institution. Most certification classes don’t take more than six months and are relatively inexpensive.
What Does the Outlook Look Like in the Cybersecurity Field?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statics, the projected change in employment in the cybersecurity field is expected to increase by 33% from 2020 to 2030. This is much higher than the average 8% increase.
Growth in an industry means more positions and the need for more skilled employees. If you are able to establish yourself in the field now, it could really pay off a few years down the road.
Is There High Job Satisfaction and Good Benefits in Cybersecurity?
Job satisfaction is very high in the cybersecurity field. An ISC2 study found that 73% of workers in the cybersecurity industry are satisfied or very satisfied with their job. For reference, about 51% of U.S. workers across all industries are satisfied with their job.
Perhaps the high job satisfaction has to do with the great benefits offered by most companies in the cybersecurity space. One of the biggest benefits is that most companies will allow you to work from home. While companies that do require you to come into the office often offer great perks as well.
Why Might Cybersecurity Not be a Good Choice For Me?
After seeing all the positives of getting a job in the cybersecurity field, you may be wondering, who wouldn’t want a job in the cybersecurity industry?
While there are a lot of positives, cybersecurity might not be the right fit for you if:
- You don’t like technology
- Are bad at handling stressful situations like a security breach
- Are opposed to working overtime occasionally
Cybersecurity is a great field to be in when everything is going well, but the reason individuals in the field get paid so highly is because of how they handle the times when things don’t go so well.
What Type of Jobs Are Considered to be Part of the Cybersecurity Industry?
If you think that cybersecurity may be a good fit for you, depending on your level of experience, you should look for the following entry-level, mid-level, or high-level jobs:
Entry-Level:
- System administrator or engineer
- Web developer
- Network engineer
- Security specialist
Mid-Level:
- Security technician or analyst
- Incident responder
- I.T. auditor
- Cybersecurity consultant
High-Level:
- Cybersecurity manager, architect, or engineer
- Chief Information Security Officer
Of course, the definition of an entry-level, mid-level, and high-level job may vary based on the company that hires you.
What Are Some Personality Traits that are Good for the Cybersecurity Field?
A few personality traits are good to have when considering a job in the cybersecurity field. These include:
- Being a good problem solver – Solving security risks often includes a high level of creative thinking.
- Being a quick learner – Technology is ever-changing. Quickly learning new systems is essential.
- Having a strong intuition – You need to be able to identify and predict potential risks.
- Working well within teams – You have to be collaborative, not only within your own team but also across the entire organization.
A combination of these traits is good to have when working in the cybersecurity field.
Do I Need to Know Coding to Work in Cybersecurity?
While it isn’t necessary to know coding as an entry-level worker in the cyber-security field, it is knowledge you will need to develop if you hope to advance in the field. It’s best to start learning code before getting a job in the field, as it will help you understand how systems work.
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in technology and have some of the aforementioned personality traits, then cybersecurity is a great field to go into. Its high salary and desperate need for employees is a great combination for any job seeker.
Even if you are not 100% sure that cybersecurity will be the right fit for you, right now might be a great time to explore the option. Either you find a great career field with a ton of potential, or you get paid well for trying out a new experience. Either way, it’s a win-win.