Your 2025 Guide to Cybersecurity Careers

As more and more business is conducted on the cloud, cybersecurity has become a primary concern for companies across multiple industries. If you're interested in a fast-paced, well-paid career working to protect a company's valuable data, consider a career in cybersecurity.

To make it easier to take the next step, browse a wealth of free cybersecurity resources covering career paths, popular credentials, and how-to guides for landing your next cybersecurity job. You can bookmark this page to refer to throughout your job search.

Cybersecurity job outlook

According to research from The Information Systems Audit and Control Association  (ISACA), 46 percent of surveyed enterprises have unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2024 [1]. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 33 percent job growth between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average across all occupations [2]. Between May 2023 and April 2024, 469,930 jobs opened for workers with cybersecurity-related skills [3].

Cybersecurity salary: How much can you make?

If generous financial compensation is a high priority in your career considerations, a career in cybersecurity could be a good fit. The median annual pay for information security analysts in the United States is $120,360, according to the BLS [2].

• Your Cybersecurity Salary Guide

• Cybersecurity Analyst Salary Guide: How Much Can You Make?

• Ethical Hacker Salary: What You'll Make and Why

• Information Security Analyst: Salary and Job Outlook

How to get a job in cybersecurity

Empower your job search with this collection of resources on getting started in cybersecurity:

• How to Get a Cybersecurity Internship

• 15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts

• Is Cybersecurity Hard to Learn? 9 Tips for Success

• How to Write a Cybersecurity Resume

• What Is Security Clearance? Types and Requirements for US Jobs

Cybersecurity degrees and certifications

Fifty-six percent of cybersecurity specialists have a bachelor's degree, and 23 percent have an associate degree [4]. Relevant areas of study include computer science, computer information systems, and information technology. In cybersecurity, the right credential can help set you apart from other job seekers and make your resume more attractive to hiring managers. You can learn more about how to set yourself up for success with a degree or certification in cybersecurity.

• Cybersecurity Degrees and Alternatives

• 8 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications

• 7 Popular Cloud Security Certifications

• 4 Ethical Hacking Certifications to Boost Your Career

• CompTIA Security+

• SSCP

• CCSP

• CISM

• GIAC

How do I start my career in cybersecurity?

Based on the job outlook, it's a great time to enter the field of cybersecurity. Discover what it takes to start your career with this helpful guide:

Learn more How to Get into Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity career paths

Cybersecurity is a broad field with many areas of specialization. Whether you're looking for an entry-level job or ready to advance into a new area of information security, you have options.

• 10 Cybersecurity Jobs: Entry-Level and Beyond

• 5 Cybersecurity Career Paths (and How to Get Started)

Entry-level cybersecurity jobs

These are some job titles you might consider if you're just getting started in cybersecurity. Remember that many cybersecurity professionals get started in information technology (IT) roles to gain experience before moving into security:

• Help desk technician

• Network administrator

• Systems administrator

• Information security analyst

• Cybersecurity analyst

• Computer forensic investigator

Mid-level cybersecurity jobs

Consider these mid-level roles after gaining some work experience in security or IT:

• Penetration tester

• Cybersecurity consultant

• Ethical hacker or white hat

• Red team or blue team

Senior cybersecurity jobs

You'll find a variety of areas in which you could specialize as a cybersecurity expert. Here are a few advanced roles to explore:

• Security engineer

• Security architect

• Cryptanalyst

• Cryptographer

• Cryptologist

Other resources

• Listen in: Cybersecurity Podcasts

• Cybersecurity Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ

• Is Cybersecurity Hard to Learn? 9 Tips for Success

Build cybersecurity skills on Coursera Plus

Learn job-ready skills from industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, and IBM with a Coursera Plus subscription—available in monthly and annual tiers. You’ll get a certificate for every program you finish, which you can add to further enhance your resume.