Given the evolving threat landscape, it is no surprise that the field of information security is booming. A report issued by Burning Glass Technologies reveals that job postings across the industry have grown 74 percent between 2007 and 2013—twice the rate of all other IT jobs.
Not only that, but the field is expected to continue to grow over the next few years, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting a 37 percent increase in Information Security Analyst positions alone between 2012 and 2022.
All of this growth makes the field of information security an exciting career choice. At the same time, however, the industry’s expansiveness complicates the process of selecting a specific career path.
After researching the field of information security, we’ve gathered the top 10 infosec jobs based on overall pay grade:
#1: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
A CISO is a C-level management executive whose primary task is to oversee the general operations of an organization’s IT security department and other related staff. The organization’s overall security is the foremost concern of the CISO. As such, persons who aspire to become a CISO must demonstrate a strong background in IT strategy and security architecture.
They must also possess people and communication skills, which they are expected to use when assembling and managing a team of IT security experts, as well as when consulting with other organizational executives and/or federal agencies depending on the nature of their workplace.
CISOs make a median salary of $131,322, according to PayScale’s 2015 estimates. On the lower end, CISOs can expect to make at least $81,000, but those in some of the larger organizations can earn as much as $240,000 a year.
#2: Security Architect
A Security Architect is a senior-level employee who is responsible for building and maintaining the computer and network security infrastructure for an organization. This position requires that individuals develop a comprehensive picture of an organization’s technology and information needs, which they can then use to develop and test security structures designed to protect those systems.
Security Architects are expected to be knowledgeable in a diverse set of technical skills, including ISO 27001/27002, ITIL and COBIT frameworks, risk assessment procedures, operating systems, and perimeter security controls.
Security Architects make a median salary of $109,794. According to PayScale, those on the lower end of the spectrum make around $84,000, whereas the highest-paid Security Architects earn approximately $160,000.
#3: Security Director
A Security Director is a senior-level employee whose task is to oversee the implementation of all IT security measures throughout an organization. As such, Security Directors are responsible for designing, managing and allocating resources to various security programs within an organization’s security department; creating user awareness and security compliance education campaigns; interacting with non-management employees; and offering key assistance to law enforcement in the event of a security incident and subsequent investigation.
Security Directors are expected to possess backgrounds similar to those of CISOs with respect to their knowledge of IT strategy, enterprise architecture, and other security-related concepts. In fact, Security Directors report directly to a CISO and generally assume the position of this executive role in smaller organizations.
Security Directors’ median salary is variable, ranging from $104,775 to $116,245. PayScale’s 2015 estimates locate the salary range for Security Directors between $66,000 and $180,000.
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