Top 10 Cybersecurity Jobs for 2022

Cybersecurity experts are some of the most highly sought-after professionals today, and with the ever-increasing amount of cybersecurity threats, there’s a greater need for cybersecurity professionals to protect sensitive data from hackers and other cybercriminals.

According to Check Point Research, there was an all-time high in weekly cyberattacks per organization in Q4 of 2021, with over 900 attacks per organization and a 50% increase in overall attacks per week on corporate networks compared to 2020, due to cybercriminals attempting to exploit the Log4j vulnerability.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals is increasing in response, making cybersecurity jobs one of the fastest-growing fields in today’s job market.

Cybersecurity-related jobs include those focused on forensic analysis, threat detection and prevention, disaster recovery planning, audit review, regulatory compliance, information assurance (which includes cryptography), policy development, and education.

Also read: Network Security Trends and Acronyms that You Must Know

Top 10 Cybersecurity Jobs in 2022

Cybersecurity Ventures reported that the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs grew by 350%, from one million positions in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2021. This number is expected to double by 2025. With the increasing importance of cybersecurity jobs in the United States, more and more people are starting cybersecurity careers.

If you want to get into cybersecurity but aren’t sure where to start, here are some popular career paths that offer different approaches to tackling threats and vulnerabilities online. Check out our list of top 10 cybersecurity jobs in 2022 below.

CISO 

A chief information security officer is an integral part of a company’s security strategy. A CISO oversees security and privacy on an enterprise-wide scale; manages IT-related risks; and is responsible for defending a company’s information, employees, and assets from cyberattacks.

At large corporations, this role is essential as corporate data and intellectual property (IP) are major targets of cybercriminals looking to harm or disrupt business in general. They are responsible for protecting data from external attacks and maintaining its integrity within an organization.

In some cases, CISOs are responsible for keeping personally identifiable information secure, especially credit card transactions and health records.

In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is required to land a job as a CISO; however, many hold advanced degrees in information security and certifications such as CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) or CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor). 

This position requires at least seven to 10 years of experience within IT and should be filled by someone with extensive knowledge of federal laws surrounding cybersecurity.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Knowledge of industry security standards such as NIST, ISO, SANS, COBIT, and CERT
• Knowledge of current data privacy policies, such as GDPR and regional requirements
• Management experience and a working grasp of information security risk management, cybersecurity technology, and strategy
• Ability to understand and communicate business and financial impact of information security activities on the enterprise
• Policy development and administration
• In-depth knowledge of current regulatory compliance requirements 
• Ability to communicate complex technical issues to non-technical audiences
• Risk assessment and management
• Planning, incident, and strategic management skills

Average salary: $176,131 a year

Application Security Engineer

Software developers with an application security focus are responsible for two main things: securing applications and protecting data from external and internal attacks.

An AppSec engineer looks at how a company’s data is handled by its applications. These individuals build tools to ensure that bad actors can’t take advantage of vulnerabilities in an app. They also find ways to keep customer data safe while still allowing apps to function correctly.

Most entry-level application security engineers possess bachelor’s degrees in computer science or information systems and have knowledge of Linux, C++, and cloud computing concepts. Job growth for these professionals is expected to increase by 164% over the next five years.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Experience with malware
• An AppSec engineer must be capable of securing data both at rest and in transit
• Knowledge of database encryption and cloud encryption (for cloud-based applications)
• Extensive and in-depth technical expertise, often extending from front-end UIs to back-end systems and everything in between
• Technical skill in at least one discipline, such as software development, network engineering, authentication or security protocols, systems engineering, cryptography, or a mix of all of the above
• Possesses a familiarity with security best practices and an understanding of common and emerging security threats

Average salary: $111,938 a year

Ethical Hacker

To be an ethical hacker, a person needs to possess knowledge of computer and networking security. An ethical hacker must be able to identify possible vulnerabilities in a system or network to be corrected before hackers find them.

Ethical hackers often have advanced programming languages and software knowledge, including standard hacking tools. Companies may hire these professionals to test their systems to find vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could allow a system breach or data theft.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• In-depth understanding of computer networks and an ability to sniff traffic, identify ports and services, and more
• Must know how firewalls work, what makes them tick, and how to bypass them if necessary
• Ability to track users across different systems and even various networks (known as footprints), meaning they need an understanding of Unix/Linux system administration skills
• Must be able to automate various processes or tasks using shell scripting languages such as Perl, Python, or Ruby
• Ability to conduct vulnerability assessments and find vulnerabilities in an organization’s security
• Knowledge of web application security

Average salary: $119,289 a year

Penetration Tester

Penetration testers, or pentesters, are responsible for testing computer networks and programs to discover security vulnerabilities. The job requires a unique combination of technical skill, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and expert-level knowledge in application protocols. As their name suggests, they’re tasked with finding holes by poking at every exposed inch of software or hardware until they find something vulnerable.

Companies hire them to help improve their overall security and assess their ability to stop future attacks. Penetration testers should have a vast knowledge of software development methods, programming languages, and networks. And they need a special focus on information security since one of their main jobs is testing whether organizations have implemented adequate protections against cyberattacks.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Knowledge of programming languages, especially for scripting (Python, BASH, Java, Ruby, Perl)
• Threat modeling
• Knowledge of Linux, Windows, and MacOS environments
• Familiarity with network switches, routers/gateways, firewalls, NAT (network address translation) and zoning, and VLANs (virtual local area network)
• A penetration tester should be familiar with computer networks and the OSI model
• Knowledge of regular expressions for pattern searching, text replacement, and data grouping and splitting

Average salary: $102,405 a year

Bug Bounty Hunters

Bug bounty hunters find vulnerabilities in a company’s digital systems and websites, such as security holes that hackers could exploit to damage or steal information from their site. They then notify the company of those vulnerabilities, often receiving monetary compensation in return.

To become a successful bug bounty hunter, you’ll need great software development skills and deep technical knowledge of web application frameworks, operating systems, web browsers, data networks, and security mechanisms.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Knowledge of cross-site scripting (XSS)
• Knowledge of web hacking or mobile hacking
• Understanding of local and remote file inclusion
• Remote code execution (RCE)
• Experience with SQL (structured query language) injection
• Knowledge of server-side request forgery (SSRF)

Average salary: $48,964 a year

Cloud Security Specialist

Cloud security specialists are in high demand as organizations adopt cloud-based technology and move away from on-premises IT. They are responsible for securing data stored by applications, end users, and systems located in cloud environments.

Their role is similar to that of a cybersecurity engineer or computer forensic investigator. Still, they must be comfortable with various technologies, such as public clouds, virtualized servers, storage, backup devices, and networking equipment.

A cloud security specialist can set up and manage a cloud-based data storage system. Duties will include protecting information from unauthorized access and mitigating potential data breaches.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Strong knowledge of cloud service architecture focusing on cloud security
• Strong understanding of emerging information security methodologies and standards, particularly in the cloud
• Experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessments of cloud infrastructure
• Experience with deploying, configuring, and maintaining access control systems 
• Demonstrated experience with application security testing in a cloud environment 
• Proficiency with open-source information collection tools 
• Certification from (ISC)², Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), SANS Institute, or GIAC is a plus
• Advanced skills in Windows and Linux operating systems 
• Strong understanding of virtualization technology on VMware, KVM, and XenSource platforms (Xen)

Average salary: $87,220 a year

Database Administrator

A database administrator is an essential part of a security team, as they have expertise in protecting data from any threat. A DBA is responsible for building and maintaining databases to help support business intelligence operations within their company or organization. Within cybersecurity departments, DBAs manage access to sensitive data and ensure it stays secure when accessed by employees or users.

They also conduct regular audits to monitor who has access to what information and make adjustments if needed based on updated risk levels. The most significant responsibility of a DBA is ensuring that all data stored on internal databases remains protected at all times.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Experience with database modeling and design
• Database administration using Oracle Database management systems
• Experience with database security, data-level security, schemas, DBA privilege model, encryption, and auditing across multiple databases within an enterprise environment 
• Participate in operational tasks to maintain uptime, data integrity, and security of mission-critical databases in a 24/7 production environment (on-call rotation)
• Knowledge of backup and recovery technologies within stand-alone instances or clustered environments

Average salary: $83,700 a year

Also read: The Pros and Cons of Enlisting AI for Cybersecurity

Network Security Administrator 

A network security administrator is responsible for maintaining and protecting an organization’s networks and devices. This can involve anything from intrusion prevention to firewalls to virtual private networks (VPNs), allowing users to access an intranet over a public internet connection securely.

Network security administrators usually have technical experience with IT services and strong communication skills, as they work closely with other IT professionals and different levels of management.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Working knowledge of computer and network operations 
• Knowledge of network design 
• Demonstrated ability to monitor, record, analyze, and maintain information technology infrastructure 
• Ability to work with internal personnel, vendors, and third-party service providers 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Understanding of networking protocols including IP, TCP/UDP, HTTP, FTP, and SMTP among others

Average salary: $71,377 a year

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts develop and enforce organizational information security policies to protect computer networks from internal and external security threats. They may advise management on IT budgeting, data handling, disaster recovery procedures, and compliance with government regulations.

Information security analysts monitor systems, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and according to company policy. Information security jobs often require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. A background in programming is also helpful along with coursework in business and management. Most entry-level positions require between one and three years of work experience.

Skills and requirements:

• Analyzing events to detect security incidents
• Identifying vulnerabilities
• Performing risk assessments
• Developing response plans
• Testing compliance of controls through penetration testing and vulnerability scanning processes
• Writing reports based on security incidents

Average salary: $99,275 a year

Cybersecurity Project Manager

A cybersecurity project manager is responsible for delivering successful digital security projects. A project manager’s exact tasks and responsibilities will vary from one organization to another, but there are some commonalities that all must have.

For example, most people in project management, regardless of their area, must be adept at establishing goals and success metrics, monitoring progress, communicating with team members, making decisions on behalf of their company’s upper management, and using critical thinking skills to improve business processes.

These qualities come in handy, as a project manager works with technology teams or other groups developing new products or services for use by clients or consumers.

Skills and requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
• Manage project activities
• Manage teams and resources
• Manage budgets, schedules, and performance metrics
• Provide status reports to stakeholders
• Plan and manage projects
• Make sure IT organizations keep accurate records of system components and other assets to provide accountability
• Keep track of compliance with local, state, or federal regulations through audits or third-party assessments
• Keep track of security vulnerabilities by assessing threats in ongoing monitoring efforts

Average salary: $86,163 a year

How to Get a Top-Paying Cybersecurity Job

There’s no one path to cybersecurity jobs; however, mastering multiple skills sets can help you stand out from other candidates. Here are some of our favorite ways to develop your cyber security job marketability.

• Earn industry accreditation: One of the best ways to jumpstart your career in cybersecurity is earning industry accreditation; a well-known name like CompTIA or (ISC)² offers plenty of credibility as well as valuable networking benefits.  
• Test your knowledge with free practice tests: Getting a head start on studying can help give you an edge over other applicants when it comes time to sit down for real tests and can give you time to get used to taking them, making them easier. 
• Practice your skills with hands-on projects: Most skills, including those related to cybersecurity, can be practiced through hands-on projects. Whether it’s working on security in Linux or making your website secure enough to handle credit card transactions, hands-on projects allow you to build solid skill sets. 
• Talk to experts about careers in cybersecurity: Once you have your first certification under your belt, it’s easy to network with others in similar positions. You might even find someone willing to mentor you.

Also read: Top Cybersecurity Companies & Service Providers 2022