Cyber security is a major concern for most organizations. Data breaches, hacks, and DDOS attacks often make it to the headlines and need to be attended to by experts in the field.
When the IT security of an organization is tampered with, it causes the loss of large amounts of sensitive data. Companies should always trust highly skilled individuals who are proficient enough to deal with sensitive information. Cyber security jobs are hot sellers in the market, and companies are often ready to pay a handsome salary to Cyber security professionals. If you want to learn more in-depth about the IT industry, enroll in our IT security courses.
This article will discuss some of the highest-paying Cyber security jobs that can help you progress in your career by leaps and bounds. Read on to find out.
Why Cyber Security Jobs are High-Paying Jobs?
Companies are highly reliant on technology to execute their business effectively. The more the dependence of companies on technology, the greater the risk of attacks and threats. Compromising on the Cyber security aspect can cause havoc for the organization. These problems can be tackled by having a specialist on board. Therefore, companies pay a good amount to professionals who work on their security aspects.
The kind of work that an Cyber security professional must perform depends on the organization, its size, and the kind of work it is doing. The actual job description of an IT security professional can be difficult to pinpoint. In the field of cyber security, there are different specialists who deal with different tasks based on their roles. However, a cyber security professional’s general task is to install, configure, and ensure security software maintenance that can safeguard the company's internal network from external threats.
They also check the company’s network to find breaches or vulnerabilities, so they can devise future plans. The cyber security professionals of an organization also train other employees on the security protocols through which they can set up their devices, firewalls, and emails and ensure optimum safety. Therefore, cyber security professionals play highly crucial roles.
Listed below are the top 10 highest-paying cyber security jobs that can be a good career option in 2024.
10 Highest Paying Cyber Security Jobs
If you are looking forward to establishing a career in cyber security, listed below are the top 10 highest-paying cyber security jobs you should aim for. A certified Ethical Hacker training certification will also help you move forwards and upward in your career.
1. Security Engineers
This is one of the highest-paying cyber security jobs. Security engineers are entrusted with the task of building security systems. They are also responsible for implementing security controls and timely monitoring so that the data generated by an organization can remain secure from loss, breach, cyber-attack, or any unauthorized access.
Some of the roles and responsibilities of security engineers are as mentioned below:
- They have to identify the security measures to improve the incident response.
- They have to respond to security incidents.
- They have to develop technical solutions to vulnerabilities in security that may arise.
- They also perform security assessments.
It takes high-level skills and vast experience to become a security engineer. All the knowledge, skill, and experience you have gained over the years in the cyber security sector is paid back in the form of a high-paying job as a security engineer.
Average Annual Salary: USD 80,080
2. Information Security Analyst
This is another top paying cyber security job that can serve as a lucrative career option. An information security analyst performs tasks that can mitigate the chances of unlawful use of data, unauthorized access, information breach, cyberattacks, and so on. They also prepare measures to keep the impacts of any such incidents in check.
Some of the responsibilities of information security analysts are as follows:
He has to identify the potential threats, impacts, and vulnerabilities.
He is in charge of evaluating the risks and deciding how to deal with them.
In the case of risk mitigation, information security analysts have to decide and design appropriate security controls through which the risks and threats can be addressed.
They also have to remain updated about how cybercriminals use the latest hacking trends, how each security control responds to the threats, and whether they require any modification. Information security analysts may also pose as cybercriminals and simulate a cyberattack to check the organization’s cybber security system's robustness.
Average Annual Salary: USD 88,322
3. Chief Information Officer
While talking about the highest paying cyber security jobs, the role of Chief Information Officer deserves notable mention.
A chief information officer can be compared to a bridge that conveys IT solutions across departments. They are the senior executives who implement the most effective cyber security strategies and streamline the devices in an organization. In short, they are in charge of the technological infrastructure.
The responsibilities of a CIO are categorized into three groups:
- Based on the organization’s objectives, a CIO must implement IT strategies to ease and streamline interdepartmental networks.
- The CIO also has to take care of the department's costs to ensure that the organization’s expenditures align with its budget.
- A CIO is also responsible for IT team management. A CIO works in conjecture with the IT team and delegates the tasks.
Average Annual Salary: USD 115,974
4. Senior Security Consultant
As the name suggests, a security consultant is a professional who assesses the potential risks of an organization and comes up with solutions and recommendations to mitigate or avert them. He specializes in establishing security protocols to safeguard the company’s network and data.
The core responsibilities of a senior security consultant include conducting internal research and analysis so as to gain insight into the status of the current security system. They recommend new solutions and innovative tools and techniques to make an organization’s cyber security system even more robust. They also identify the gaps and breaches at the earliest and suggest preventive measures.
Average Annual Salary: USD 92,540
5. Network Security Engineer
Hackers can sometimes infiltrate a network and cause havoc. The role of a network security engineer is to ensure that complex infrastructure security is dealt with properly. They have to make sure that there are no gaps or vulnerabilities through which malware can sneak into the system.
A network security engineer also has a primary role to play during the transfer of data from one computer to another while taking care that the endpoints and identities are kept protected.
Therefore, if you secure this top-paying cyber security job, you will be responsible for protecting an organization’s IT infrastructure from any potential cyberattack or external intrusion. They treat hardware and software as shields that stand as the first line of defense at the time of an attack.
Average Annual Salary: USD 113,349
6. Cybersecurity Manager/Administrator
A cybersecurity manager/administrator is one of the highest paying cyber security jobs that can help you establish a fulfilling career. As the name suggests, cybersecurity managers aim to install and control an organization's security system. They also formulate rules and regulations with respect to an organization’s cybersecurity decisions.
Some of the responsibilities of cybersecurity managers are mentioned below:
- Cybersecurity managers perform security audits. They also formulate policy recommendations.
- They provide guidance to the other professionals working within the organization about the security strategies and policies being used.
- They safeguard the system from any alteration or illegal access.
- They identify suspicious activities and act on them instantly.
- They also formulate recovery plans.
Average Annual Salary: USD 137,538
7. Cybersecurity Sales Engineer
Cybersecurity sales engineers are professionals who amalgamate the technical aspects and cybersecurity with sales. They should be able to knowledgeably present demonstrations, and demonstrate the different products related to cybersecurity.
Professionals who are opting for this role should leverage their technical knowledge and skills and interpersonal and communication skills.
Average Annual Salary: USD 106,791
8. Application Security Engineer
The task of an application security engineer is mainly analytical in nature. They are entrusted with the task of ensuring that each step of the SDLC (software development lifecycle) is backed by the best security practices. They also have to test applications before they are released to ensure they are devoid of any risks or threats.
They have to provide technical leadership guidance to the applications security team while documenting all the security controls being put to use. They are also responsible for framing solutions that can address the weaknesses in the cyber security structure.
Average Annual Salary: USD 136,271
9. Identity Manager
An identity manager is also among the highest-paying cyber security jobs. An identity manager is responsible for accessing user accounts to applications and OS. They incorporate an automated solution that helps ensure identity management and allows only authorized users to access it.
Identity managers use a technology that uses roles, access permissions, and user accounts and automates the process of creation, alteration, or even termination of access privileges during a software development life cycle.
Average Annual Salary: USD 119,238
10. Penetration Tester
Penetration tester is another top paying IT security job that you might be interested in. The task of a penetration tester is to perform a simulated cyberattack on a company's networks and computer systems to identify the weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Average Annual Salary: USD 122,418
Benefits of Cyber Security Jobs
While discussing the benefits of cyber security jobs, we can never overlook the fact that this field offers some of the highest paying jobs. Apart from that, there are a few more benefits that are worth discussing. They are as follows:
IT security jobs will help you enhance your knowledge and skills.
There is a tremendous opportunity for growth in my career.
Since almost all sectors rely on the use of technology, cyber security is needed in all of them. Therefore, you can secure a job in a variety of sectors.
Conclusion
Now that you are aware of the highest-paying cyber security jobs, you might be interested in pursuing a course that will help you upskill. If you have professional commitments and you are unable to enroll in a full-time course, you can opt for KnowledgeHut’s Cybee Security certification course. Check out their catalog of in-demand courses to give your IT career a boost!
