Top 15 Highest Paying Cybersecurity Jobs For 2024

It is often claimed that there is no unemployment in the cybersecurity industry. As more and more companies go towards digitalization, it is one of the professions that is expanding the quickest and is in the highest demand in the world today. The number of jobs in the field of cyber security is expected to increase by 35% by the year 2031, as stated by the Bureau of Labour Statistics of the United States.

This post provides an overview of cyber security and discusses the many jobs that may be available.

Incident Manager

It is the responsibility of an incident manager to ensure that the information technology systems of a firm or organization are properly maintained. To be more specific, they are responsible for resolving any technological problems that occur within the system. As an incident manager, you are responsible for locating and documenting any issues that arise, as well as conceiving up and implementing software and hardware solutions that will stop these issues from occurring again. They are responsible for developing and implementing response protocols for incident management. These procedures include an incident report system that identifies and flags problems, in particular those that involve the firm’s network security. You may have extra responsibilities, such as supervising technical support teams and keeping track of incidents. They make $193,000-$193,000 per year.

Computer Forensics Analyst

A forensic computer analyst examines digital and networked data for use as evidence in court. Regarding cybercrime, they assist law enforcement with extracting data from computers, hard drives, etc. They investigate in-depth and then employ several methods and technologies to restore lost data and files. If analysing computer hard discs and other storage devices piques your interest, you can get the essential abilities. The average salary for a Forensic Computer Analyst with experience in forensics is estimated to be $73,851 per year, according to PayScale.

Malware Analyst

Malware Analysts are professionals whose primary specialty is the analysis of a wide variety of different types of malware, as the name suggests. Malware is a category of malicious software created to wreak havoc on computers, computer networks, or server computers. They can either help outside actors obtain unauthorized access, collect data, or cause physical damage. All three of these outcomes are possible. Malware analysts have specialized knowledge that allows them to comprehend potentially hazardous computer code and disable or remove it before it can cause any harm. They make approximately $87,000 per year on average in compensation.

Database Administrator

Maintaining a database’s reliability and high standards is the job of a senior database administrator (DBA). As a senior DBA, you are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including executing regular backups, creating and implementing testing of the system, and ensuring that the server’s security is up to date in order to prevent data access problems. To become a senior database administrator, you need both extensive expertise with databases and a bachelor’s degree in information systems or computer science. Analytical problem-solving abilities and attention to detail are two more desirable traits. Compensation might be anywhere from $94,000 to $137,000.

Cloud Security Specialist

In the United States, a Cloud security expert can expect to make a mean annual salary of $89,373, with a maximum income of $98,980. The median is the middle value in a data set, in this case, salaries, and is calculated using our Total Pay Estimate algorithm. The average annual increase in salary is predicted to be $9,607. Bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit-sharing arrangements are all possible forms of supplementary income. The “Most Likely Range” indicates the range of possible salaries for this position between the 25th and 75th percentiles.

Application Security Engineer

An Application Security Engineer is a professional responsible for safeguarding the security of software applications and systems. They are crucial in identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks associated with applications throughout their development and deployment lifecycles. Here are some of the key responsibilities and tasks typically associated with this role:

Vulnerability Assessment: Application Security Engineers thoroughly assess applications to identify potential vulnerabilities. This involves using various tools and techniques to scan for security flaws, such as code reviews, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning.

Code Review: They review application source code to identify security issues and vulnerabilities. This process involves analyzing the code for common programming errors, known security weaknesses, and adherence to best practices.

Security Design Review: Application Security Engineers work with development teams to ensure that security is considered from the beginning of the software development process. They review and provide input on the architectural and design choices made in applications to enhance security.

Secure Coding Practices: These engineers educate developers about secure coding practices and promote using security libraries and frameworks to mitigate common security threats.

Penetration Testing: They perform ethical hacking or penetration testing to simulate real-world application attacks, finding vulnerabilities that might not be discovered through automated tools.

Incident Response: Application Security Engineers help respond to security incidents related to applications. They investigate security breaches, determine their impact, and assist in remediating the vulnerabilities that led to the breach.

Security Tooling: They may be responsible for selecting, configuring, and maintaining security tools and systems used to monitor and protect applications, such as web application firewalls (WAFs), intrusion detection systems (IDS), and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.

Security Policies and Procedures: They help establish and enforce security policies and procedures within the organization to ensure that applications adhere to security standards and regulatory compliance requirements.

Security Awareness Training: Application Security Engineers may conduct training sessions for development teams and other stakeholders to raise awareness about security best practices and the importance of security in the software development process.

Compliance and Risk Management: They ensure that applications meet industry-specific regulatory requirements and manage the associated risks.

Continuous Improvement: These professionals stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and technologies, continuously improving their knowledge and the security measures for applications.

Application Security Engineers play a critical role in ensuring that software applications are resilient against security threats, which is particularly important in today’s interconnected and digital world where cyberattacks are increasingly common. Their work helps protect sensitive data and the reputation of organizations that rely on software applications to deliver their services.

Penetration Tester

These specialists are skilled in looking for flaws in a system to get access to it. They are also sometimes referred to as ethical hackers. The purpose of these penetration tests is to evaluate the resiliency of security systems to determine how well they prevent unwanted and unauthorized access. They carry out penetration attacks similar to those by hostile hackers in the real world to obtain admission. In essence, they resort to dishonest practices to supply organizations with important information that can be used to strengthen the security infrastructure. They take home an annual salary of 97,659 dollars on average.

Cybersecurity Engineer

With average cybersecurity wages ranging from $126,000 to $213,000, the Cybersecurity engineering profession consistently ranks among the top earners in the security business.

Companies hire them because of their expertise and experience in various security engineer roles, such as creating safeguards against sophisticated cyberattacks, hacking attempts, and persistent threats through the design and development of secure network solutions.

Security Architect

Cyber security architects protect data systems and cloud infrastructure from hackers. They are well-versed in the fundamentals of networking and are capable of designing and administering complex network infrastructures. High-level responsibilities for this role could include designing and running adversary simulations, creating and automating security tools, keeping security standards stable during mergers and acquisitions, and evaluating the ecosystem’s security architecture continuously. Testing information systems, maintaining network infrastructures, responding to security incidents, and regularly preparing security reports for senior IT staff are all examples of what can fall under a security analyst’s daily to-do list. They make approximately $141,799 per year.

Chief Information Security Officer-CISO

A company’s CISO is responsible for the organization’s overall security. Smaller businesses that lack a full security staff architecture are more likely to employ these individuals despite their position at the top of the cybersecurity food chain. This causes a tiny downward bias in the median income, but the importance of SMB participation remains unchanged. Since CISOs at smaller businesses typically have to wear multiple hats, this role is almost always enlarged. A CISO’s major responsibility is to create, influence, and ultimately lead the organization’s security strategy. NIST, SOC-2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks may be used as a reference while developing and executing security procedures. They are usually the ones to approve new technology, create data management and security policies, and back company-wide security culture efforts.

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst’s job is to stop hackers from accessing a company’s sensitive information and systems. Their daily work involves contributing to the design, implementation, and oversight of security protocols meant to preserve the privacy, authenticity, and accessibility of sensitive data. They need expert knowledge of everything from network architecture and operating systems to firewalls and encryption. They need to be able to spot dangers and flaws to devise adequate defenses. They take home a yearly mean wage of $89,933.

Network Security Architect

Security architects for networks are experts in developing protections against intrusion. They promote a safe network environment by integrating technical fixes, policy safeguards, and internal processes. They’re needed for a wide variety of tasks, including as security analysis, penetration testing, and “white hat” hacking. Their annual pay averages $175,065.

Cybersecurity Administrator

A company’s cybersecurity plans and protocols are the responsibility of the company’s Cybersecurity Administrator. They are managers in charge of information security who steer the entire team and act as a link between the technical and non-technical workers. They’re counted on to contribute to the creation of solid security strategies, the identification of security risks, and the advocacy of regulations that would boost safety.
Their typical annual compensation is $81,442.

Security Sales Engineer

The field of cybersecurity is expanding rapidly. Every day, a new technology hits the market that someone has to sell to businesses. Professional Security Sales Engineers focus solely on this subfield. They serve as security advisors, providing prospective clients with advice on how to protect themselves best. They mix sales expertise with knowledge of information technology to promote these products successfully. The average salary for a cybersecurity analyst is $157,509 a year, making it one of the best-paying fields in the industry. However, as a sales position, they may be awarded a commission, resulting in compensation that varies depending on performance.

Senior Software Security Architect

Senior employees are in high demand as businesses strive to maximize output while decreasing costs. When reviewing the current architecture and leading improvements, a security solutions engineer handles the day-to-day work, while a software security architect plans everything from the ground up. They are accountable for technical security design skills, critical thinking and decision making as team lead, leadership qualities as a mentor who can train developing security architects, team building skills as they coordinate the efforts of various groups to implement solutions, and a top-down approach to integrating security into the more significant flow of business. Abilities in network security, hardware setup, standards, and protocols are all part of a well-rounded skill set.

It’s no secret that there’s a global shortage of experienced cyber workers and that pay is competitive in this field.Also, there are many cyber security jobs don’t require coding skills.

To better inform those considering a career change into cybersecurity, we analyzed the top ten best-paying occupations in the industry. If you want to upgrade your skills, switch careers, or enter the cyber industry, the following positions represent the highest demand and pay the most.