When it comes to information technology careers, cyber security is one of the most dynamic and diverse fields. Protection of information, systems, and services against unauthorized use is the primary goal of most cyber security jobs. Numerous entry-level points exist for those interested in starting a career in cyber security. This article talks about the entry-level cyber security salary per hour in Texas and California.
Overview
As the cyber security sector expands and develops, you may discover a wide range of entry-level positions that interest you. If you’re looking for a job, it would be wise to take into account your current skill set and specific areas of interest. Cybersecurity refers to the practice of securing digital infrastructure and information against compromise, misuse, and destruction. Many specialized groups employing varying degrees of expertise can be found in the cybersecurity industry.
A high school diploma or GED is usually sufficient, along with some on-the-job training, for entry-level work in the cybersecurity industry. A one-year work history, specialized education courses, and an associate’s degree in computer science or a similar field are usually required for entry-level to mid-level roles. Positions in the upper levels of the IT industry often call for a bachelor’s degree and three years of related work experience, in addition to formal training.
It’s predicted that cyberattacks will soon treble in response to the rise in the production of digital data. This demonstrates that the rise in the number of cyber security jobs will only increase as firms will need specialists who can assure data security. There is a significant skills gap in the cyber security industry, yet the career prospects are vast. If you wish to obtain a cyber security job, then this article will brief you on the top employment responsibilities in this industry and how you may go about reaching your dream job. There is still a need for qualified individuals in the rapidly expanding cyber security sector. From 2017’s estimated $170 billion, the cyber security industry is projected to reach $202 billion by 2023.
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In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of available cybersecurity positions. By 2023, there will be a demand for more than 1 million cyber security specialists to fill fewer than 400,000 open positions. As a field, cyber security is booming. In 2023, its growth is predicted to be 11%, and in 2025, growth will be 20%. Incomes average $81,000 per year in this fast-paced industry.
As of October 25, 2023, the median annual income for a Cyber Security Analyst entry-level position in the United States is $77,162. The salary can vary anywhere from $70,362 to $84,781. The salary that a person receives is heavily dependent on their history, experience, and other factors, including their degree, certifications, and other skills.
Earning potential is strongly correlated with years of experience in many fields. Particularly so in the field of cybersecurity, where companies value practical expertise as highly, if not more, than academic credentials. income information from the website PayScale is used to project how your typical base income (US) would develop with time in your field.
| Level of experience | Salary |
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $68,200 |
| Early career (1 to 3 years) | $77,483 |
| Mid-career (4 to 6 years) | $84,428 |
| Experienced (10 to 14 years) | $94,035 |
| Late career (15+ years) | $99,819 |
Entry Level Cyber Security Salary Per Hour
There is an increasing demand for qualified individuals to fill entry-level, middle-management, and executive positions in the cybersecurity industry. There is a significant need for cybersecurity professionals, and that need is anticipated to increase by 18% over the next five years. As of 2022, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual pay for cybersecurity analysts in the United States was $112,000. The price per hour is $53.85.
In Canada, a career in cyber security typically nets a salary of $129,672, or almost $66.50 an hour. Beginning salaries are $109,337 per year, with most employees making up to $145,468 per year in salary. Compensation estimates place an entry-level cyber security’s average annual compensation in the $119,460 range in the United States and its surrounding areas.
Annualized compensation is projected to increase by $28,976. Money bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing are all examples of supplementary income. The numbers in the “Most Likely Range” are those that fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles of all salary information for this position.
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Now that you know the cyber security industry is growing and that it offers promising career prospects, it’s time to examine the various job options in this sector. The nature of the many cyber security jobs out there varies widely. Following are some ways in which these jobs can be categorized:
- The level of education you have.
- Experience working as a professional.
- Your preferred field of study, while some job seekers are interested in coding, others have their sights set on managing positions.
- The relevant cyber certifications you possess.
If you take the time to consider the aforementioned factors, you should be able to land the ideal cyber security position for your skillset. In this section, we will examine several of the highest-paying positions in the field of cyber security to better understand the usual career path and average cybersecurity salary in this field.
It is becoming increasingly critical to protect a company’s data and reputation as more and more firms rely on technology and the Internet to conduct their daily operations. Analysts in this field can find work in many different sectors; however, some pay significantly more than others. Some of the best sectors to hunt for employment in if you’re after a higher salary are:
- Information
- Finance and insurance
- Computer systems design
#1. Average Cybersecurity Salaries by Location
There is a correlation between wages and the location of both residence and employment. Average earnings in big cities like Washington, DC, New York, and Alabama have average salaries higher than the national average, according to PayScale. Remember that the increased wage may be outweighed by the higher cost of living in the larger cities when you weigh your options. Compensation for remote workers is often determined by the worker’s location rather than the company’s headquarters.
#2. Salary Ranges by Certification in the Field of Cybersecurity
Six out of ten cyber-related jobs require a certifiable skill set. If you want to increase your earnings potential, getting certified in cybersecurity is one option. Global Knowledge’s IT Skills and Salary Survey indicated that having one of these security certifications was positively correlated with salary. You should also consider how things like experience, education level, and job title affect these figures.
- Managers with a CISM certification earn a median salary of $162,347 per year.
- Risk and Information Systems Control Professional: $167,145
- Specialist in Computer and Network Security (CISSP): $158,190
- Compensation for a CISA-certified information systems auditor
#3. Salaries for Other Cyber Security Job Titles
It’s possible to transition into higher-level or more specialized positions in cybersecurity as your career develops. In September 2023, reports were made of the following typical US base salary for several different cybersecurity roles:
- Information security analyst: $91,805
- Penetration tester: $93,973
- Digital forensic examiner: $75,543
- IT auditor: $78,933
- Security systems administrator: $76,380
- Security engineer: $106,141
- Security architect: $149,722
- Ethical hacker: $109,495
Information security specialists help secure devices, networks, and data from criminal activities or cyberattacks. Salary information for the top cyber security occupations is as follows:
| Cybersecurity Jobs | Annual Salary |
| Chief information officer | $108,123 |
| Software architect | $135,509 |
| Application security engineer | $128,762 |
| Cloud engineer | $122,157 |
| Network security engineer | $110,710 |
Entry Level Cyber Security Salary Texas
Starting cyber security analyst salaries in Texas normally lie between $69,166 and $83,339 as of October 25, 2023, with an average of $75,851. Cities, education levels, professional certifications, specializations, and years of experience are only some of the variables that can have a significant impact on salary.
As of November 9, 2023, a cyber security officer in Texas can expect to earn an average salary of $106,954 per year. If you need a quick wage calculation, that comes out to about $51.42 per hour. There is a wide range of salaries for cybersecurity professionals in Texas, from $176,119 at the high end to $40,361 at the low end. However, the median salary for an entry-level cybersecurity professional is now $98,200 (25th percentile), $134,800 (75th percentile), and $157,315 (90th percentile).
Since the entry-level cyber security position has a wide salary range (up to $36,600), there may be numerous prospects for promotion and raises in compensation depending on one’s specific set of skills, one’s geographic region, and one’s number of years of experience in the field. Recent job posting activity in the field of entry-level cyber security in the state of Texas indicates a stagnant job market. In terms of entry-level salaries in the cyber security industry, Texas ranks at number 44 out of all 50 states.
Entry Level Cyber Security Salary California
As of October 25, 2023, the average income for an entry-level cyber security analyst in Los Angeles, California, is $86,630. Typical salaries fall between $78,996 and $95,183. Various aspects contribute to salary, such as level of education, professional certifications, unique skills, and years of experience in the field.
The average salary for an entry-level cyber security professional in California was $120,693 as of November 9 of that year. If you need an easy way to figure out money, that’s about $58.03 per hour. That’s $2,321 each week, or $10,057 per month. There is a wide range of wages for cybersecurity experts in California, from a high of $199,169 to a low of $45,643. However, the median salary for an entry-level cybersecurity professional is currently $111,000.
The wide variety of salaries for an entry-level cyber security professional (up to $41,500) suggests numerous pay- and career-growth prospects depending on individual qualifications, geographic proximity, and length of service. Recent job posting activity indicates that there is not a lot of demand for entry-level Cyber Security professionals in California. When comparing the median annual salary for entry-level cyber security positions in all 50 states, California comes in at number 24.
Tips for Higher Salary in the Cybersecurity Industry
Now that you have a clearer notion of what you might earn as a cybersecurity analyst, let’s look at some ways you might increase your compensation, even if you’re just starting in the field.
#1. Acquire Updated Knowledge in Cyber Defense
Businesses today need employees who are well-versed in cybersecurity to keep up with the constantly shifting landscape of online dangers. According to compensation data compiled by PayScale, these are the top two areas of expertise for cybersecurity analysts in terms of earning potential:
- Vendor management: Understand how firms may protect themselves from attacks emanating from third-party vendor networks.
- The analysis of intelligence material involves investigating and gathering information about potential dangers and bad actors to improve safety procedures.
- Support networks by being familiar with industry standards to ensure that networks are reliable and secure.
- Managing identities means making sure that only those who should have access do.
- Use the Splunk SIEM (security information and event management) to track and respond to security incidents.
#2. Get a Credential or a Degree
A degree isn’t required to work in cybersecurity, but it may help you land better jobs and earn more money if you have one. A salary increase may result from obtaining a cybersecurity certification, especially if you already have an IT-related degree or work experience. To reduce their employees’ out-of-pocket expenses, some businesses may pay for their employees to take certification courses and exams. If you want to get certified, talk to your boss about what you can do.
#3. Negotiate Your Job Offer
Ask if the salary is negotiable the next time you are offered a position in cybersecurity. Glassdoor conducted a poll and discovered that roughly one-third of workers accepted their most recent pay offer without bargaining. There’s no guarantee you’ll get a raise if you negotiate, but if you don’t attempt, you might as well be giving up money.
What Are the Perks of Working in Cybersecurity?
There is a lot of room for expansion in the cybersecurity market. It’s a potentially lucrative field, but there’s also a lot of responsibility involved. The job of a cybersecurity expert is to keep sensitive company data safe from intruders like hackers and viruses. These experts frequently collaborate with other IT professionals, including programmers and software developers. Some of the many upsides of taking this professional route are as follows:
- Possibility of making a positive effect by preventing harm to individuals and organizations online.
- The possibility of acquiring novel field-specific abilities and insights.
- A chance to work remotely or on-site.
What Is the Lowest Salary in Cyber Security?
Hourly wages for cyber security professionals in the United States average $60.03. Hourly wages begin at $45.30 for entry-level professions and average out to $84.54 for those with extensive experience. The subsequent are:
- Incident Responder.
- Cryptographer.
- Security Architect.
- Security Auditor.
- Forensic Expert.
- Penetration Tester.
- Security Engineer.
Can I Start a Career in Cybersecurity With No Experience?
To be considered for a junior cybersecurity role, prior experience is helpful but not needed. We’ve seen kids who came in knowing nothing about IT go on to secure high-paying positions in the field. Additionally, a background in cybersecurity or information technology is not essential.
Is Entry-Level Cyber Security Hard?
Learning cybersecurity might be demanding, but it doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you’re passionate about technology. If you take the time to develop a genuine interest in the tools you’re using, you may find that mastering previously insurmountable talents becomes second nature.
Does Cybersecurity Pay Well?
CISOs earn a hefty salary because of their high degree of skill, years of experience, and responsibility for the company’s cybersecurity strategy. Their pay might be in the six-figure to seven-figure range, depending on factors including company size and sector.
Is Cyber Security a Stressful Job?
Moreover, despite the technical components of responding to the attack itself, cybersecurity experts believe that managing stakeholder expectations and the sense of duty towards their customers and team is typically the most stressful aspect of their professions (IBM, 2022).
Is 30 Too Old for Cyber Security?
Older workers often have distinct advantages in the cybersecurity industry. A person in their 30s considering a career change to cybersecurity brings a wealth of experience and insights that can benefit the field.
Is Cybersecurity a Lot of Math?
Most entry- and mid-level cybersecurity roles, such as cybersecurity analyst, don’t require a strong mathematical background. There’s a lot of graphics and data analysis, but the required arithmetic isn’t extremely complex. You’ll do well if you know how to code and solve simple problems.
Can You Get a Cybersecurity Job With Just a Certificate?
Those without four-year degrees but relevant certifications are increasingly sought after by employers in the cybersecurity industry. The field is growing so fast that there just aren’t enough degree-holding candidates to fill the positions, so those who have the relevant credentials have a high chance of getting employed.
How Many Hours Does Cybersecurity Work?
Those who make a living in cyber security typically put in a full work week of 40 hours. On the other hand, extra time in the office may be needed when new software is introduced.
Conclusion
In today’s digital environment, cybersecurity has become integral to any company’s plans for long-term success. The need for skilled cyberdefenders will only increase as organizations expand in 2023 and beyond. Now is the best time to achieve entry-level cyber security for a better salary in the future.
- CYBER SECURITY SALARY: 2023 Salary Guide in The US
- Cybersecurity Analyst Salary: 2024 Average Salary Guide
- ACCOUNTING JOURNAL ENTRIES: What Is It & How Does It Work?
- Cyber Security Analysts: What They Do & How To Become One in 2023
- WHAT IS A CLOUD ENGINEER: Duties & How to Become One
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