Your 2024 Guide to Cybersecurity Careers

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Explore career options in the growing field of cybersecurity with this library of resources.

[Featured image] A cybersecurity professional in a white shirt stands in front of a laptop and wall monitor.

As more and more business is conducted on the cloud, cybersecurity has become a primary concern for companies across multiple industries. If you're interested in a fast-paced, well-paid career working to protect a company's valuable data, consider a career in cybersecurity.

To make it easier to take the next step, we've compiled a wealth of free cybersecurity resources covering career paths, popular credentials, and how-to guides for landing your next cybersecurity job. You can bookmark this page to refer to throughout your job search.

Cybersecurity job outlook

According to the State of Cybersecurity 2022 report from ISACA, 63 percent of surveyed enterprises have unfilled cybersecurity jobs. Over half of the reported difficulties are holding on to qualified cybersecurity professionals [1]. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts (BLS) 32-percent job growth between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average across all occupations [2]. Between May 2022 and April 2023, there were 159,000 openings for information security analysts. 490,513 additional openings requested cybersecurity-related skills [3].

Cybersecurity salary: How much can you make?

If generous financial compensation is a high priority in your career considerations, a career in cybersecurity could be a good fit. The median annual pay for information security analysts in the United States is $112,000, according to the BLS [2].

How to get a job in cybersecurity

Empower your job search with this collection of resources on getting started in cybersecurity:

Cybersecurity degrees and certifications

Fifty-six percent of cybersecurity specialists have a bachelor's degree, and 23 percent have an associate degree [4]. Relevant areas of study include computer science, computer information systems, and information technology. In cybersecurity, the right credential can help set you apart from other job seekers and make your resume more attractive to hiring managers. You can learn more about how to set yourself up for success with a degree or certification in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity career paths

Cybersecurity is a broad field with many areas of specialization. Whether you're looking for an entry-level job or ready to advance into a new area of information security, you have options.

Entry-level cybersecurity jobs

These are some job titles you might consider if you're just getting started in cybersecurity. Remember that many cybersecurity professionals get started in information technology (IT) roles to gain experience before moving into security:

Mid-level cybersecurity jobs

Consider these mid-level roles after gaining some work experience in security or IT:

Senior cybersecurity jobs

You'll find a variety of areas in which you could specialize as a cybersecurity expert. Here are a few advanced roles to explore:

Other resources

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Article sources

1

ISACA. "State of Cybersecurity 2022, https://www.isaca.org/go/state-of-cybersecurity-2022." Accessed September 12, 2023.

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