Cybersecurity Analyst
Information security analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. They monitor for breaches, investigate incidents, conduct vulnerability assessments, and develop security protocols. The BLS reports a median salary of $120,360 with 32% projected growth, one of the fastest-growing occupations. A bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or computer science is typical, and certifications like CISSP, CEH, and CompTIA Security+ are highly valued.
A Day in the Life
A typical day starts with reviewing overnight security alerts and triaging potential threats. Mid-morning involves running vulnerability scans on new systems and analyzing the results. After lunch, the analyst leads a phishing awareness training for employees. Late afternoon includes updating firewall rules, writing an incident response report, and meeting with the IT team to discuss security implications of a planned infrastructure upgrade.
Key Stats
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Salary Range
Entry: $75,000
Median: $120,360
Senior: $165,000
Job Growth