What is the median salary of a cybersecurity engineer?

Getting a job as a cybersecurity engineer is an opportunity to help protect businesses and organizations from digital threats and vulnerabilities. If you're considering a career in this field, knowing what the job entails and how much you can earn is important.

What's the median salary of a cybersecurity engineer?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for information security analysts — under which cybersecurity engineers are grouped — was $124,910 as of May 2024. This is over 2 times the national median across all careers ($49,500).

As a cybersecurity engineer, you'll create and maintain digital security systems to help businesses, organizations, and agencies protect their systems and data. As you progress in your career, there are ample opportunities to move into senior security engineer roles. Additionally, you can earn a master's in online cybersecurity to further expand your skill base and personal marketability.

Cybersecurity engineers looking for other ways to enhance their skills can also earn applicable industry certificates. Some relevant examples include CompTIA Security+, Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Many of these certifications can be completed while in school or as part of continuing education after graduation.

What do I need to become a cybersecurity engineer?

Below are the steps you should take to become a cybersecurity engineer.

Step 1: Earn a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or a comparable subject

The first step in becoming a cybersecurity engineer is to earn a relevant bachelor's degree. The most applicable degree is a bachelor's in cybersecurity, but other options exist. Programs focusing on information technology, software engineering, and computer science could also be good options if you're interested in starting a career in cybersecurity. A degree program should take four years to complete if you attend classes full time.

Step 2: Round out your education with additional certifications

While your bachelor's degree program will give you a strong foundation of knowledge, it's important to find additional opportunities to round out your skills. Look for additional certifications you can earn that are relevant to the cybersecurity area you'd like to work in. Remember that if you have the personal bandwidth, you can begin completing these during school or over summer breaks. Some additional examples include Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), and GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC).

Step 3: Find a job within the industry

After earning your degree, the next step is to start your career in the cybersecurity field. Common roles to consider include information security specialist, cybersecurity analyst, penetration tester, and security consultant. Seek out positions where you can work alongside experienced engineers — this can be a great way to build on what you've already learned and expand your skills.

Step 4: Consider continuing education opportunities

As the cybersecurity industry constantly changes, staying relevant through continuing education is imperative. Consider finding additional certificates or higher education programs to further your studies.