Top Paying Cyber Security Profiles

“Cyber security” – We are sure you might have come across the term, especially in times of the recent global pandemic and geopolitical war between Russia and Ukraine.

Information technology has evolved in recent times and is going to surge in the coming years, but so do the tactics of cybercriminals that lurk behind these technical advancements. This has led to an enormous need for cyber security professionals.

However, cyber security is a massive field which means there are numerous job roles in the domain. So how do you decide which cyber security job role to pursue? One of the top parameters to consider is the pay package you will receive and the future scope of the profile. So in this article, we have attempted to help you decide to select among the highest-paying cyber security jobs.

1. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is one of the most exciting and demanding roles in the cybersecurity field. They are senior-level executives who ensure that the board, the business, and the CEO fully understand cyber security, high-level threats and exposures, and potential financial impacts on the company. They then are responsible for the development of a strategic plan for cyber security to ensure that it is appropriately implemented throughout an organization. They give staff members instructions on how to find, create, apply, and maintain processes across the organization to lower IT risks. They respond to incidents, set up suitable standards and controls, oversee security technology, and are in charge of compliance with regard to information.

Average annual salary: $1,73,705

Certification:

• Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

 2. Information Security Analyst:

Information Security Analysts manage a company’s computer networks and systems. They employ their technical expertise to find weaknesses in the company’s digital security system, and assist in the protection of valuable data and information.

Average annual salary: $99,275

Certifications:

• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
• Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)

 3. Penetration Tester or Ethical Hacker:

Penetration Testers or Ethical Hackers are information security experts that are hired to hack into an organization’s IT environment by simulating cyberattacks to find security flaws and vulnerabilities in their people, processes, systems, and products and report them to the company before malicious hackers can exploit them against the company. They are experts with strong technical knowledge and skills who know how to locate and take advantage of weaknesses in target systems.

Average annual salary: $1,02,405

Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• CompTIA PenTest+
• Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT)
• Offensive Cyber Security Engineer (OCSE)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

4.  Application Security Engineer:

Application Security Engineers make sure that the SDLC’s various phases adhere to security best practices. Additionally, they are in charge of following safe coding guidelines and helping to test the program before release for security risks and parameters. They also carry out dynamic tests, security evaluations, and threat modeling to understand potential weaknesses in products.

Average annual salary: $1,16,903

Certifications:

• Certified Application Security Engineer (CASE)

5. Network Security Engineer:

Network Security Engineers are in charge of planning, creating, optimizing, implementing, and identifying vulnerabilities in the network to avoid security risks, safeguard the integrity of the company’s networks, and improve their efficacy. They ensure that these networks can recover from or resist any form of security incidents and safeguard the networks from threats and vulnerabilities that could compromise the organization’s system as well as from the current security threats.

Average annual salary: $97,163

Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Certified Network Defense (CND)
• Fortinet Security
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA)
• Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE)

6. Cyber Security Engineer:

Cyber Security Engineers are specialists who safeguard networking and IT systems from potential cyberattacks and hackers. They create and implement extremely secure network solutions for enterprises in order to defend them against cyberattacks or other cybersecurity threats. They also regularly test and monitor these systems to ensure that all of them are protected and functioning properly.

Average annual salary: $1,01,548

Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

7. Cyber Security Architect:

Cyber Security Architects are senior-level cybersecurity experts who design security frameworks to thwart malware attacks. They plan, design, implement, test, and maintain an organization’s computer and network security architecture.

Average annual salary: $1,26,408

Certifications:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

8. Information Security Manager:

Information Security Managers are specialists in defending an organization’s networks, databases, and computer systems from cyber threats and security breaches. They evaluate a company’s security measures, including firewalls, anti-virus software, and passwords. They oversee backup and security systems and examine reports produced by the monitoring system to find anything that might point to a potential risk in the future. They coordinate with other members of the organization and ensure that their team is successfully meeting the demands of their organization in terms of information security.

Average annual salary: $1,34,108

Certifications:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

9. Cyber Security Consultant:

Cyber Security Consultants evaluate and improve the complete cybersecurity systems of the client organization and are typically in charge of conducting risk assessments, looking into potential security gaps, improving network security tactics, and overseeing the deployment of solutions.

Average annual salary: $94,745

Certifications:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• CompTIA PenTest+
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Final Words:

Due to enterprises’ increased focus on developing secure IT environments, the demand for cyber security experts is rising. It is one of the most lucrative and fast-growing career options. As a top IT security training and consulting services provider, InfosecTrain is there to help you whether you are trying to jumpstart a career or advance your current knowledge. We have also developed specific courses to help individuals meet the demands of this fiercely competitive job market. Some of these courses are:

• Cyber Security Orientation Program
• Pentester Combo
• Application Security Engineer
• Cloud Security Expert Combo
• Information Security Analyst
• Information Security Manager
• Offensive Cyber Security Engineer
• Enterprise Security Governance – Combo of CISSP & CCSP

AUTHOR
Monika Kukreti ( )
Infosec Train

“ Monika Kukreti holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. She is a voracious reader and a keen learner. She is passionate about writing technical blogs and articles. Currently, she is working as a content writer with InfosecTrain. “