How Your Title Can Affect Your Cybersecurity Salary
It’s no secret that cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. Companies of all sizes must work diligently to keep sensitive information safe from hacks and exposure. This urgent and ongoing need has led to rapidly-increasing salaries in cybersecurity, attracting new tech pros to the field every day. However, if you want to earn top dollar, it pays to know how job titles can impact salary.
The Nuances of Job Titles
Let’s look at three common job titles in the field. Cybersecurity, cybersecurity analyst and cybersecurity engineer. The generic title “cybersecurity” can encompass a broad range of responsibilities and requirements. “Analyst” and “engineer” distinctions often denote more specific responsibilities and skills.
You’ll find analysts and engineers in most fields of computer science. In cybersecurity, analysts are typically tasked with identifying security issues with a system and then optimizing and repairing them. Engineers, on the other hand, design and build the security system that protects an organization’s data.
What Job Titles Mean For Your Earning Potential
According to recent data, the average national salary ranges for these three job titles are approximately:
- Cybersecurity: $70,000 to $100,000
- Cybersecurity analyst: $65,000 to $90,000
- Cybersecurity engineer: $85,000 to $110,000
All three job titles command great salaries but cybersecurity engineers are the top earners in the field, followed by the generalist job title “cybersecurity.” Cybersecurity analysts fall into the middle of the pack.
Geography, company size and the complexity of its systems can impact salary, but the biggest driver of salary differentials are skills. If you want to earn more, it pays to brand yourself as either a Cybersecurity professional in a generic sense, or to brand yourself an engineer. However, engineers must come to the table with advanced skills and experience.
How To Boost Your Credibility as a Cybersecurity Engineer
Many engineers enter the field as analysts and move into an engineering role after a few years of experience. Certifications can also help move a cybersecurity career forward. Some of the most widely recognized certifications in the field are:
- CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker
- CISM: Certified Information Security Manager
- CompTIA Security+
- CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- GSEC: SANS GIAC Security Essentials
Certifications are proof of your skill set and they can boost your credibility, especially if you’re just starting out and lack robust on-the-job experience.
Are You Looking for Cybersecurity Jobs?
If you are an experienced IT professional looking to take the next step in your cybersecurity career, partner with the tech recruiting experts at Talon today. Contact us to learn more or browse our current IT job openings and apply online at any time.
