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Strong demand and six-figure median salaries make cybersecurity one of today’s most rewarding career paths. Whether you’re launching your career or taking the next step, a clear cybersecurity roadmap can help you reach your goals. To learn more, check out the infographic created by The University of Tulsa’s online Master of Science in Cyber Security (MSCS) program.

Cybersecurity Careers

Cybersecurity offers thousands of open positions, competitive pay, and clear advancement opportunities. Understanding these career options is the first step in creating your cybersecurity roadmap.

Cybersecurity Career Paths

• Cybersecurity Specialist:

  • Entry-level role: Monitors security systems, identifies incidents, and safeguards data. Many specialists advance to penetration tester or cybersecurity analyst roles.
  • Median annual salary: $110,000
  • Job openings: 6,000+ (2024/25)

• Information Technology Auditor:

  • Reviews systems to ensure compliance with information assurance standards. Experienced auditors often advance to analyst or engineer roles.
  • Median annual salary: $103,000
  • Job openings: 3,000+ (2024/25)

• Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker):

  • Simulates cyber attacks to find vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses. Many testers advance to analyst or engineer roles.
  • Median annual salary: $132,000
  • Job openings: 16,000+ (2024/25)

• Cybersecurity Analyst:

  • Implements and monitors security systems, tests for weaknesses, and manages risk. Analysts often advance to management roles.
  • Median annual salary: $133,000
  • Job openings: 155,000+ (2024/25)

• Cybersecurity Engineer:

  • Designs and maintains secure network systems. With experience, engineers advance to senior or management roles.
  • Median annual salary: $140,000
  • Job openings: 44,000+ (2024/25)

• Cybersecurity Manager:

  • Leads teams that protect networks, assess risks, and respond to incidents. Many managers advance to director or chief information security officer (CISO) roles.
  • Median annual salary: $151,000
  • Job openings: 40,000+ (2024/25)

Cybersecurity Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 33% growth for information security analysts and 17% growth for computer and information technology (IT) managers between 2023 and 2033.

Cybersecurity Career Roadmap

A solid cybersecurity roadmap helps you set your goals, track your progress, and plan your next move. Follow the steps below to build your path.

1. Earn a College Degree

Most cybersecurity professionals start with a bachelor’s degree, the standard entry-level requirement for information security analysts.

The highest education levels for information security analysts in 2023 were:

• Bachelor’s degree: 77,112
• Graduate degree: 45,787
• Some college: 30,044

2. Gain Experience

Hands-on experience strengthens technical skills and increases earning potential. As you progress, you can transition to more advanced or specialized roles.

The average salaries for cybersecurity analysts by experience level as of 2025 were:

• Under 1 year: $70,828
• 1-4 years: $78,819
• 5-9 years: $96,506
• 10-19 years: $110,112
• 20+ years: $115,728

3. Strengthen Specialized Skills

A forward-looking cybersecurity roadmap includes developing expertise in a high-demand niche. Specialization can help you stand out and advance faster.

Potential cybersecurity specialty areas include the following:

• Cybersecurity operations
• Incident response
• Cyber defense and analysis
• Cybersecurity management
• Vulnerability and threat analysis
• Information assurance
• Cybersecurity risk management

4. Earn a Graduate Degree

A graduate degree can unlock doors to leadership and higher-paying roles. Information security analysts with a graduate degree report the highest average salary. The average salary for an information security analyst with a graduate degree was $153,706 in 2023, according to Data USA.

Compare the 2025 average base salaries of professionals with either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in cybersecurity, according to Payscale:

• Bachelor’s degree: $78,000
• Master’s degree: $96,000

The 2023 average salaries for information security analysts with a degree in cybersecurity were:

• Bachelor’s degree: $78,000
• Master’s degree: $96,000
• Graduate degree: $153,706

Is an advanced degree in cybersecurity valuable? Yes. A 2024 ICS2 survey found that 95% of cybersecurity professionals agreed their advanced degree was valuable, and 55% said it was very valuable.

4 Career Tips for Cybersecurity Professionals

Use these strategies to keep your cybersecurity roadmap moving forward and position yourself for long-term success.

1. Strengthen Technical Skills

Showcase your technical expertise early in your career. A skills-based résumé highlighting your professional certifications will demonstrate your value to employers.

According to ISC2, the top technical skills according to hiring managers in 2024 were:

• Cloud computing security (36%)
• Security engineering (28%)
• Risk assessment, analysis, and management (27%)
• Application security (25%)
• Security analysis (25%)
• Governance, risk management, and compliance (24%)
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning (24%)

2. Stay Current

Cyber threats evolve daily. Continue learning through certifications and advanced training to keep your cybersecurity roadmap aligned with industry trends.

According to ISC2, professional certifications were valuable in 2024:

• 86% of cybersecurity professionals said they valued their certifications.
• 65% said certifications were the best proof of their expertise.

3. Prioritize Career Advancement

Set clear goals and take deliberate steps toward leadership. Each promotion brings new opportunities to increase your impact and earning potential.

According to ISC2, the 2024 average salaries by job level were:

• Entry-level/junior: $86,000
• Mid-level (nonmanagerial): $137,000
• Manager: $149,000
• Director: $175,000
• C-suite/executive: $215,000

4. Develop Soft Skills

Strong soft skills distinguish top performers. Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving help you lead effectively and advance your cybersecurity roadmap.

According to ICS2, hiring managers identified the most in-demand soft skills in 2024 as:

• Problem-solving (31%)
• Teamwork (28%)
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn (26%)
• Communication (25%)
• Strategic thinking (17%)

Find Your Cybersecurity Roadmap

Cybersecurity offers limitless potential for motivated professionals. Define your cybersecurity roadmap, gain experience, and keep learning to reach your goals. Every new skill, certification, or degree moves you further along your path to success in this fast-growing, high-reward field.

Sources:

CompTIA, Cybersecurity Analyst/Engineer

CompTIA, Cybersecurity Engineer

CompTIA, Cybersecurity Manager

CompTIA, Cybersecurity Specialist

CompTIA, IT Auditor

CompTIA, Penetration Tester

Data USA, Information Security Analysts

ICS2, How Much Do U.S. Cyber Professionals Make?

ISC2, 2024 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study

Payscale, Average Cyber Security Analyst Salary

Payscale, Bachelor of Science (BS / BSc), Cybersecurity Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Systems Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Field of Degree: Computer and Information Technology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts

U.S. Department of the Interior, IT Cybersecurity Specialist