4 High-Level Roles in Cybersecurity for Master’s Graduates

Written by: University of Tulsa • Apr 13, 2026

A cybersecurity manager discusses an issue with one of their team members.

Increasing cybercrime rates, rapidly growing computer networks, and the widespread adoption of digitally controlled physical infrastructure are prompting increased interest in computer and network security across industries and in the public sector. Organizations are investing more in cybersecurity strategy and infrastructure. And employers are creating thousands of jobs for qualified cybersecurity professionals each year. The World Economic Forum estimates that there will be a global cybersecurity talent shortage of more than 85 million workers by 2030.

Navigating this evolving landscape can be a challenge for those looking to join the ranks of cybersecurity professionals. Several interconnected career pathways have emerged in the discipline, and it is not always clear which skills align with which avenues of specialization. Complicating matters further, the educational barriers for entry into the profession have changed considerably.

This guide identifies four primary categories of roles in cybersecurity — engineering, testing/auditing, incident response, and oversight — and explores each. It also looks at the education necessary to excel in cybersecurity, determining whether professionals need to specialize to succeed, and the benefits of earning a Master of Science in Cyber Security.

Why Focus on Four Primary Career Paths?

Finding a niche in cybersecurity is challenging because there are so many points of vulnerability in modern technological systems. There are dozens of specialization areas, and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers & Studies has identified more than 50 specific roles in cybersecurity.

Researching your career options can be less overwhelming when you group them into categories. Sources describe the high-level branches of cybersecurity in different ways. Some divide cybersecurity into application security, network security, and endpoint protection, while others focus on the difference between system or device security and information security.

Most cybersecurity roles fall into one of four high-level categories: engineering, testing/auditing, incident response, and oversight. Deciding which of these categories you’re interested in can help narrow down your career path.

How High-Level Cybersecurity Career Pathways Differ

The four primary categories of cybersecurity careers overlap in some fundamental ways, particularly in the need to establish a foundation in the skills required. However, these cybersecurity roles differ in how they apply these skills.

Role Snapshot

This comparison breaks down the key responsibilities, salary estimates, expected career growth, and required education for the four primary categories. Salary and career growth estimates are based on 2024 O*NET OnLine data, an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor to make career information accessible to the public.

Responsibilities

Cybersecurity Engineers: Build and maintain security systems; ensure systems are compliant with security regulations; test systems to ensure proper functioning
Security Testers and Auditors: Test security systems through penetration testing and simulated attacks; review code for vulnerabilities; troubleshoot threats
Incident Responders: Investigate cyber attacks and intrusions; launch countermeasures to secure compromised systems; analyze breaches and recommend improvements
Cybersecurity Managers: Oversee cybersecurity staff and initiatives; monitor program performance; report findings and ROI to leadership

Required Education

Cybersecurity Engineers: Bachelor’s degree in computer science; some employers prefer a master’s in cybersecurity or a related field; experience in systems analysis and programming
Security Testers and Auditors: Bachelor’s degree in computer science; some employers prefer a master’s in cybersecurity or a related field; experience in penetration testing and threat intelligence
Incident Responders: Bachelor’s degree in computer science; some employers prefer a master’s in cybersecurity or a related field; experience in computer forensics, infrastructure design, and threat analysis
Cybersecurity Managers: Bachelor’s degree in computer science; a master’s in cybersecurity may support advancement to leadership roles

Median Annual Salary

Cybersecurity Engineers: $109,000
Security Testers and Auditors: $103,000
Incident Responders: $125,000
Cybersecurity Managers: $171,200

Projected Job Growth (2024–2034)

Cybersecurity Engineers: 7% or higher
Security Testers and Auditors: 7% or higher
Incident Responders: 7% or higher
Cybersecurity Managers: 7% or higher

A More In-Depth Look at Cybersecurity Roles

If one of the roles above seems like a good fit, read on for a more detailed description of each position.

Cybersecurity Engineers

Cybersecurity engineers build and maintain security systems and design policies. They are typically responsible for requirements planning, compliance, risk management, systems development, and security software engineering.

These cybersecurity specialists have a variety of job titles, including network security engineer, information systems security architect, information security analyst, security compliance analyst, security software developer, and security systems administrator. Different roles may require similar skill sets, while two cybersecurity engineers with the same title might do very different work.

Security Testers and Auditors

Security testers and auditors evaluate security systems and policies for performance characteristics and specification requirements. Testers and auditors typically have the same technical cybersecurity skills as engineers, but that is not all. These cybersecurity professionals have to pay attention to what Auditboard calls “the human element.”

Testers are usually part of internal quality assurance departments and may work closely with cybersecurity engineers. Auditors typically assess security systems, controls, and policies for organizations on a contract basis. Both may be responsible for breaching systems and simulating attacks (or “ethical hacking”), reviewing code, and troubleshooting security issues. Common job titles for testers and auditors include ethical hackers, penetration testers, security analysts, security operations center (SOC) analysts, security auditors, and systems testing specialists.

Incident Responders

Incident responders investigate, analyze, and design responses to cyberattacks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) maintains a list of core competencies for incident responders, including computer forensics, infrastructure design, and threat analysis skills. CISA also notes these professionals should understand malware analysis concepts and cloud service models, including how those models can limit incident response.

These cybersecurity specialists step in after hacks and intrusions to search for clues about who launched the attacks, which systems were affected, and how to mitigate their impact. Titles in this career pathway include disaster recovery specialist and threat detection analyst. Some digital forensics jobs fall into this category, although most professionals who specialize in digital forensics do not directly address cybersecurity threats.

Cybersecurity Managers

Cybersecurity managers oversee protection, detection, response, and recovery for their organizations. They often share many of the same core technical skills as engineers and computer network professionals, but are more likely to be decision-makers who choose new technologies and design security policies than technicians who implement them.

Common titles in this career path include chief information security officer, cybersecurity director, cybersecurity manager, and IT security manager. Senior-level cybersecurity managers are more likely to have master’s degrees than other professionals in the field, but they also earn more.

Skills and Certifications

Professionals across all cybersecurity roles must know how to identify and mitigate security threats, protect computer systems and networks against cyberattacks, and resolve data breaches and mitigate the impact of successful attacks. However, technical skills alone are no longer enough. Successful cybersecurity professionals also need soft skills such as teamwork and communication.

Successful cybersecurity specialists also have credentials that showcase their skills. Higher education can prepare professionals for certifications and other relevant credentials that validate these specific skills. A master’s degree in cybersecurity can prepare students for cybersecurity leadership by helping them hone skills related to the following:

Auditing and testing methodologies
Defensive cybersecurity and related technologies
Economic and ethical issues in cybersecurity
High-assurance information system design
Human factors in computer security
Information and network security
Intrusion detection, handling, response, and recovery
Legal, policy, and logical dimensions of cybersecurity
Network security design and operation
Penetration testing methodologies

Program Preparation for a Role in Cybersecurity

Competent and credentialed cybersecurity professionals work in nearly every field, have a wide variety of skills, and often get to use emerging technologies first. Finding your area of interest can help you decide what roles you want to pursue and your path to advancement.

Earning a cybersecurity degree online in The University of Tulsa’s online M.S. in Cyber Security program is one of the best ways to prepare to enter and advance in an employment landscape that is still evolving. TU was one of the first to be designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education by the federal government, and its online programs reflect the university’s dedication to cybersecurity education.

The program explores the technical, organizational, and policy dimensions of cybersecurity, preparing students to understand threats, implement defensive technologies, and help organizations strengthen their overall security posture. It can help you hone your technical and non-technical skills to become a well-rounded cybersecurity professional.

Explore how TU’s online M.S. in Cyber Security can help you pursue a cybersecurity role in your area of interest.

Recommended Readings

C-Suite and Cybersecurity Professionals: How They Collaborate

Cybersecurity Law: What Professionals Should Know

Visualizing the ROI of a Cybersecurity Degree

Sources:

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Cyber Defense Incident Responder

National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)

O*Net Online, Computer and Information Systems Managers

O*Net Online, Information Security Analysts

O*Net Online, Information Security Engineers

O*Net Online, Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers