Your Cybersecurity Salary Guide

Cybersecurity professionals ensure that an organisation’s data, devices, and networks are safe from cyberattacks and cybercriminals. As data and digital technologies become integral to the daily operations of businesses worldwide, so does the importance of cybersecurity professionals capable of ensuring their protection. 

Cybersecurity is a growing field. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is high due to a gap between the skills of the workforce and the demand for cybersecurity professions. According to ISC2 [1], the shortfall of skilled cybersecurity workers in India in 2023 represented 790,000 jobs, up 40.2 percent from the year before. That high demand may translate to higher-than-average wages.

Read on to explore what you can expect from five common cybersecurity jobs and factors that can impact your earnings. You’ll also find tips to improve your earning power and explore suggested courses to help you gain job-relevant skills today. 

Cybersecurity jobs salary

Typically, cybersecurity jobs are in high demand. According to Statista, the average annual salary for all workers with a bachelor’s degree in India in 2024 is ₹1,70,000 per year [2]. According to Glassdoor, cybersecurity analysts earn more than triple that number, with an average annual salary of ₹6,50,000 [3]. 

As with other career paths, your earnings will vary depending on your role. At a glance, the average base pay you can expect to earn from some common cybersecurity jobs, according to Glassdoor, includes: 

• Cybersecurity analyst: ₹6,50,000 per year 

• Cybersecurity engineer: ₹7,85,000 per year

• Information security manager: ₹18,00,000 per year 

• Penetration tester: ₹6,43,500 per year 

• Cybersecurity specialist: ₹11,87,500 per year 

• Incident response analyst: ₹9,54,028 per year 

• Security architect: ₹23,50,000 per year 

• Security administrator: ₹9,07,463 per year

Note: All salary information is sourced from Glassdoor India as of November 2024. Base salary does not include additional pay, such as commission, bonuses, tips, and profit sharing.

Your pay may also vary depending on other factors, such as where you work, previous work experience, and educational degrees. 

Salary by experience 

One of the most common factors impacting how much you can expect to earn from a cybersecurity job (or any job) is your previous work experience. Typically, the more experience you have in a role, the more you can expect employers to pay you to perform that job. 

In the table below, you will find the base annual salary you can expect to earn in some of the cybersecurity positions for entry-level professionals compared to experienced professionals, according to data from Talent.com:

Salary by location

Where you work can have a big impact on how much you earn. Typically, individuals working in locations with a higher cost of living, such as a densely populated city, will make more than those who work in places with a lower cost of living. At a glance, this table will help you understand how much your salary may be impacted by where you live and work, according to Payscale: 

Tips to improve your salary as a cybersecurity professional

Your earning potential can be within your control. You can take several proactive steps to increase your overall salary range. Learn some tips on what to do to increase your salary as a cybersecurity professional. 

1. Build your skills. 

The more expansive your skill set, the more likely an employer will be willing to pay you more. Consider taking online courses or attending training programmes to expand your technical skills, such as working with different operating systems or cloud computing, and your workplace skills, like communication, teamwork, and leadership. 

2. Consider certification. 

Certification may help you improve your earning potential. Some common cybersecurity certifications include CompTIA Security+ certification, Certified Ethical Hacker certification (CEH), and GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certification. 

3. Get a degree. 

A bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as cybersecurity, computer science, or engineering, is a good way to learn the skills you’ll need to be successful as a cybersecurity professional. While it isn’t always strictly necessary to have a degree to become a cybersecurity professional, in some cases, you may find that your lack of degree is holding you back from either being hired or promoted to a more senior position. If so, consider obtaining a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree to improve your earning potential and employability. 

Gain job-relevant skills on Coursera

As a cybersecurity professional, you’ll need to stay up-to-date on the latest technological and security developments. Learn new skills or hone your already existing job skills through Coursera today. 

In Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorised access and cyberattacks, identify common cybersecurity risks, and gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL.