Best Cities for Cybersecurity Jobs in 2025

An increasing amount of information is stored on digital devices, especially by enterprises in industries ranging from e-commerce to health care to credit card services. With the rising incidence of data breaches, protecting that information is paramount.

You can take part in building and maintaining security systems with a career in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a growing field; revenue in the industry is likely to grow 10.56 percent per year, reaching $273.6 billion worldwide by 2028 [1]. Therefore, career options in the industry abound, and cities large and small turn into cybersecurity centers across the US. Read on to discover some of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs and the types of jobs you can do.

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, devices, and data to prevent access by individuals who should not have it. This practice ensures the confidentiality, validity, and availability of information.

In many people’s daily lives, technology is ever-present. This is the case, too, with organizations. Businesses often hold sensitive information that they are required by law to protect. Common cybersecurity attacks include:

• Malware

• Phishing

• Man-in-the-middle

• Structured Query Language (SQL) injection

• Zero-day exploits

• Denial-of-service attacks, or DNS tunneling attacks

Each of these attacks involves attackers infiltrating a network, gaining unauthorized access to a two-party transaction, or preventing a system from working properly. Enterprises such as credit card companies, health care organizations, e-commerce companies, and many more rely on robust cybersecurity departments to protect information.

How much do data breaches cost organizations?

The average data breach costs an organization $4.45 million, according to a 2023 report by IBM. That figure represents a 15 percent increase over three years [2]. 

Read more: 10 Common Types of Cyberattacks and How to Prevent Them

Types of cybersecurity jobs

Cybersecurity professionals typically specialize in different functions, including building security systems, testing defense mechanisms, and responding to attacks. The scope of your work may include developing emergency response plans, processing and analyzing data, and testing systems to ensure they are compliant with laws and industry regulations. The following list shows common cybersecurity job titles and their associated salaries:

• Information security analyst: $103,787 [3]

• Digital forensic analyst: $91,919 [4]

• IT security auditor: $85,149 [5]

• Security systems administrator: $84,348 [6]

• Security engineer: $124,277 [7]

• Cryptography engineer: $127,785 [8]

• Cybersecurity manager: $139,023 [9]

• Security architect: $153,651 [10]

• Penetration tester: $104,288 [11]

What are the best cities for cybersecurity jobs?

Cybersecurity is a growing profession with career opportunities available in many cities across the US. Whether you’d like to work in a booming metropolis or a small to midsize community, cybersecurity could offer opportunities in a diverse range of areas. Explore the best cities for cybersecurity jobs below.

Small cities

Idaho Falls, ID

The second-largest city in Idaho outside of the Boise metro area has a lot to offer for cybersecurity professionals. Idaho Falls is a hub for commerce and health care in the eastern part of the state. Idaho National Laboratory and Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center have headquarters in Idaho Falls, presenting opportunities for cybersecurity jobs. AdvisorSmith, a business information resource, named Idaho Falls among its top cities for cybersecurity careers [12].

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, New York, is a small city with affluent prospects for cybersecurity professionals. According to AdvisorSmith, Ithaca ranked seventh among top cities for cybersecurity jobs [12]. This city is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, two schools with respected computer science programs.

Medium cities

Bloomington, IL

Bloomington, a city about two hours from Chicago, is a hub for tech jobs. Companies such as State Farm Insurance and COUNTRY Financial are headquartered here, and 74.862 per 1,000 residents work in the tech sector [13]. AdvisorSmith selected Bloomington as the top overall city for IT security analysts [12].

Huntsville, AL

Many companies (Invariant Corporation, Nippon Express, Torch Technologies, and more) call Huntsville home, opening opportunities for cybersecurity professionals. Additionally, the significant presence of military and government contractors in Huntsville makes it an ideal center for IT careers.

Trenton, NJ

New Jersey ranks number one in broadband connectivity and number two in fastest download speeds, according to CompTIA. A strong talent pool supports the cybersecurity industry in Trenton, with the prestigious Princeton University in the city and a high education level—42 percent of Trenton’s workforce holds a bachelor’s degree or higher [14]. Trenton’s tech workforce will grow by 223 jobs in 2024, CompTIA projects [17]. 

San Jose, CA

San Jose is the largest city in Silicon Valley, and tech jobs are plentiful, with 141.7 tech workers per 1,000 employees [15]. Silicon Valley is one of the country's most important hubs of technology innovation and entrepreneurship. This epicenter for IT careers has remained one of the top five areas for tech jobs, thanks to the thousands of start-up companies that operate here.

Boulder, CO

Boulder has a median annual salary of $75,396 for IT jobs, and the city supports technology-focused companies [16]. More than 17,000 tech workers live in the area. Cisco, IBM, Fanatics, CA Technologies, and Teamsnap all choose to base their operations in Boulder. 

Austin, TX

Austin is a growing city that's highly ranked for its cost of living and wages for tech workers. It's also home to a growing cybersecurity industry. Employers in Austin advertised more than 45,000 IT job postings in 2023, according to CompTIA [17]. IT jobs in Austin have a median salary of $81,925 yearly [18].

Large cities

Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs is smaller than many other major tech hubs in the country, but with 53.56 tech employees per 1,000 workers, cybersecurity is among the top career options in the city [19]. While the western region of the US features some major cities for tech jobs, Colorado Springs is a midsize option that offers the possibility of high salary and career growth.

Washington, DC

The nation’s capital ranked second in total employment of tech professionals in 2024, behind only New York City, according to CompTIA [17]. Washington, DC, is home to many government agencies and technology companies, which employ 239,700 in total [20].

Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque is another smaller but high-powered city for tech careers. Albuquerque has 11,730 working in tech jobs [21]. New Mexico’s largest city is also an excellent place for diversity in technology. CompTIA ranks New Mexico in its first diversity index quartile [17].

Seattle, WA

Some of the biggest companies in the world, including Amazon, Starbucks, and Microsoft, base their operations in Seattle. A great deal of Seattle’s workforce is in tech, with 82.64 employees per 1,000 working in this sector [22]. Another popular spot for tech careers lies nearby, with Olympia, Washington, employing 6,360 tech employees [23].

San Francisco, CA 

San Francisco, a major city near Silicon Valley, is one of the premier places for cybersecurity careers. Tech jobs in San Francisco have grown steadily each year, with a 3.8 percent increase in jobs from 2023 to 2024, according to CompTIA [17]. The median salary for tech workers in the area is $96,117 [24].

New York, NY

Among the largest cities in the world, New York City offers a great deal of opportunities in cybersecurity. New York is at the top of CompTIA’s rankings for tech employment, with 594,191 technology jobs in the city [17]. Cybersecurity professionals can make attractive salaries in NYC, with the average tech worker earning around $94,829 annually [25].

How to begin your job search

The beginning of a job search is an ideal time to reflect on your values and aspirations. Considering your career goals, skills, and experience can help you choose an area to look for a job in. 

Decide on your ideal location and type of industry.

Finding the perfect city to call home involves a lot of thought and consideration. Each location you explore for a new job will include advantages and disadvantages as it relates to the cost of living or the type of city culture you’d like to be part of. If you're planning to relocate for a cybersecurity job, keep the following factors in mind:

• Lifestyle: Consider the size and feel of the city. Do you crave the energy and variety of a bustling metropolis or the peace and quiet of a small town? Suburbs offer a middle ground.

• Climate: Do you prefer sunshine and warmth year-round or distinct seasons with cooler winters? Think about how the weather will affect your day-to-day life and outdoor hobbies.

• Activities and culture: What are you passionate about? Does the city offer museums, theaters, and events that align with your interests? Are there opportunities for hiking, biking, or exploring nature?

• Cost of living: Research housing costs, groceries, transportation, and taxes. Can you comfortably live on your expected income in this city?

• Commute: How important is a short commute? When considering different areas, factor in public transportation options, traffic patterns, and average commute times.

Read more: What Is a Good Salary?

Review your qualifications and skills.

Information security analysts typically hold bachelor’s degrees in majors such as computer and information technology. A background in topics such as engineering or mathematics can be helpful in cybersecurity jobs.

Consider earning a certification.

Certifications can affirm your skills and provide an advantage when applying for cybersecurity jobs. You may consider a certification to boost your chances for employment in cybersecurity or take a step toward specializing in a particular area of the profession.

Security+ is a common certification that you can earn through CompTIA. It establishes baseline skills and can help an entry-level cybersecurity professional learn more about cybersecurity work. For more experienced professionals, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) validates experience with managing cybersecurity systems.

Read more: 8 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

Boost your cybersecurity skills with Coursera.

With more data stored electronically, the need to protect it is paramount. This translates to a wealth of career opportunities for those interested in cybersecurity around the country.

If you’re interested in starting a career in cybersecurity, consider the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera. This program is designed ​​to help individuals with no previous experience find their first job in the field of cybersecurity, all at their own pace. The courses cover topics such as security models, tools that are used to access and address threats, networks, and more.