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Cyberspace is considered the fifth warfare domain after land, air, sea, and space, according to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD; granted the secondary title Department of War by executive order on September 5, 2025). As of 2025, the United States and 30 other major countries operate dedicated cyber units within their militaries. While many of these roles may be similar across branches, the day-to-day duties can vary from one branch to another. Cybersecurity in the military protects critical mission-related or classified information deemed essential to national security.

A Master of Science (M.S.) in Cyber Security degree can provide the skills and knowledge to pursue military roles. If you’re interested in protecting data in this capacity, learn how the military helps build and protect the digital systems that power the nation.

Cybersecurity Careers in the Military

The U.S. Armed Forces hire cybersecurity professionals across all five branches of the military: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force. Though many of these positions are given unique names, many share similarities with civilian cybersecurity roles.

Information Security Technician

Information security technicians work for the Marines as one of the most important parts of the Communications Security (COMSEC) division of the U.S. Department of the Navy, including responsibilities in Cryptographic Key Management. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), information security analysts (or technicians) perform the following tasks:

• Monitoring networks for breaches and investigating them after they occur

• Supporting best security practices 

• Recommending enhancements to current security practices

• Assisting users with the installation and understanding of security products

Military-related duties may include the following:

• Keeping abreast of and providing information about how new and revised COMSEC policies and procedures may impact command

• Training and supervising COMSEC users within command

• Monitoring COMSEC material allowances and conducting checks to ensure that instructions are being followed

• Using signals intelligence to determine potential threats to information security

Salary and Job Outlook

According to the BLS, information security technicians earned a median annual salary was about $124,910 as of May 2024, with the top 10% earning more than $186,000. The BLS also projects employment to increase by 29% between 2024 and 2034 as more focus is placed on cybersecurity at every level. 

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Computer and information systems managers oversee information technology (IT) needs, including cybersecurity measures to protect IT infrastructure. According to data from the BLS, these individuals may perform the following tasks:

• Analyzing IT systems and recommending upgrades or changes as necessary

• Designing and overseeing the installation and maintenance of computer systems

• Assessing digital and IT needs

• Planning and directing other IT-related staff

• Working directly with vendors to ensure performance

Several cybersecurity careers in the military may fall under this umbrella, such as data systems chief and communication security manager. Their day-to-day duties may vary based on factors such as security clearance, but can include the following:

• Training others in multiple areas, including communications, application development, data systems, and virtualization

• Supporting and maintaining high-security cloud services

• Designing, testing, and implementing disaster recovery protocols

• Overseeing system and network cybersecurity operations

• Managing hardware and software

Salary and Job Outlook

Computer and information systems managers earned a median annual salary of about $171,200 as of May 2024, with the top 10% earning well over $239,000, according to the BLS. Employment in the field is projected to increase by 15% between 2024 and 2034, driven by the increasing complexity of software, hardware, and the measures needed to protect them - especially in the military. 

Software and Security Engineer

Software and security engineers, sometimes referred to as intelligence software developers, design and develop the applications that organizations and governments use. According to the BLS, their primary duties include the following:

• Designing and developing software to meet the needs of organizations, people, or governments 

• Ensuring that software is secure

• Recommending upgrades for existing programs and systems

• Creating models and diagrams outlining the code required to create an application

• Ensuring that programs work correctly through testing and maintenance

• Documenting applications and systems for future reference

Software and security engineers in the military often work in intelligence-based roles. For example, intelligence software and security engineers support the Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISRE) by assuming the following duties:

• Developing and adopting secure coding standards for military use

• Supporting the development of national intelligence policies across multiple classification domains

• Using several programming languages to address users’ visualization needs

• Solving intelligence challenges, including knowledge and skill management, user applications, data and cybersecurity strategies, and instruction 

• Creating secure software to accelerate intelligence data analysis and processing 

• Designing software to improve user applications and research

Salary and Job Outlook

The BLS reports that software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers, including software and security engineers, earned a median annual salary of about $131,500 as of May 2024, with the top 10% earning well over $211,000. BLS projects that employment in the field will increase by 15% between 2024 and 2034, driven by the need for better digital architecture and engineering due to artificial intelligence (AI) as well as other types of automation. 

Protect National Security in Cybersecurity in the Military

Whether you’re still searching for that perfect degree or you’re a military veteran interested in working for one of the five branches, the importance of cybersecurity in the military is impossible to overstate. An online M.S. in Cyber Security degree from The University of Tulsa can prepare you to protect the country from such threats, both now and in the future.

Discover how TU’s M.S. in Cyber Security can prepare you for impactful roles protecting data.

Recommended Readings

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Do You Need a Degree for a Cybersecurity Career?

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Sources:

Careers in the Military, Cyber Security Specialists

Careers in the Military, Information Security Technician

Careers in the Military, Intelligence Software/Security Engineer

Cybers Guards, “Cybersecurity in Military: Defending Nations in the Digital Age”

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

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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers