Information Security Analysts
Overview
Introduction
Information security analysts protect an organization’s computer systems and networks from unauthorized intrusion by cyber attacks. These intruders are known as hackers, and the action of breaking into a computer system or network is called hacking. Approximately 112,300 information security analysts are employed in the United States. They are also known as computer security specialists, database security specialists, and network security analysts.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Median annual earnings of information security analysts were $99,730 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Ten percent of analysts earned less than $57,810, while the top 10 percent earned $158,860 or more. The DOL reports the following mean earnings for information security analysts in May 2018 by industry sector:
- securities and commodity contr...
Work Environment
Information security analysts work in comfortable offices. They have normal business hours, but may have to be on call at night and on weekends in case of an emergency. Twenty-four percent of security professionals surveyed for the 2019 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study cited a lack of work-life balance as a factor that negatively affected them.
Outlook
Employment for information security analysts will grow by 32 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), or much faster than the average for all occupations. The growing cost of cybercrime is forcing many U.S. companies and other organizations to increase their cybersecurity budgets.
The digitalization of health care records and high-profile security brea...