Can You Get Rich In Cyber Security?
Cyber security is among the most lucrative careers in the technological sector in this twenty-first century. This field attracts many people as it offers diverse opportunities to earn and monetize skills coupled with the prospect of career expansion.
A 9 to 5 job isn't for everyone, though, and many people, even those who are employed, wish to create a side business for a little additional cash and financial security. Cyber security is one field that offers varied methods to make money from the area without being personally involved for those who have experience in the industry or simply have an interest in cybersecurity. The advantage of pursuing a cyber security career is that even in the absence of a full-time job, one can work as a freelance professional and earn attractive sums of money.
Before we get on to the nuances of getting rich in a cyber security career, let us discuss a few of the highest-paying jobs in cyber security.
Highest Paying Jobs in Cyber Security
The top highest paying jobs in cyber security are listed below
Ethical Hacker: The annual average cyber security salary for this position is about USD 119,289
Cyber security Engineer: An Information Security engineer earns about USD 105,106 annually.
Cyber Security Sales Engineer: The cyber security salary for this position is as high as USD 97,282 annually.
Chief Information security officer (CISO): A CISO earns an annual average income of USD 145,667.
Security Architect: The cyber security salary of a security architect per year is about USD 130,302
Cybersecurity Manager/Administrator: Professionals in this position have an annual cyber security salary ranging from USD 125,00 to USD215,000,
Information Security Analyst: This position offers an annual salary of USD98,350, which is extendable as one advance to higher levels.
Let us further discover the average annual cyber security salary of some of the top paying positions in the job market based on the working and experience level.
Ethical Hackers
Professionals at the entry-level earns- USD67,147
Mid-Career: USD100,000
Senior Level: USD114,783
Information Security Engineer
Entry Level: USD67,650
Mid-Career: USD97,428
Senior Level: USD119,043
Cyber Security Sales Engineer
Entry Level: USD60,701
Mid-Career: USD80,662
Senior Level: USD90,364
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Entry Level: USD106,176
Mid-Career: USD129,420
Senior Level: USD167,464
Cyber Security Architect
Entry Level: USD78,612
Mid-Career: USD119,306
Senior Level: USD131,227
That was brief information about the highest paying jobs in cyber security and the cyber security salary of professionals in varied positions respective to their experience level in the field.
Let us now consider a few strategies to become rich with a cyber security career apart from regular jobs.
Also Check-Out, Top 120 Cyber Security Interview Questions, and Answers
Hacks to make money in the Cyber security profession
Independent Consultant
Although it is undoubtedly the simplest straightforward approach, it is also one of the most successful. Being a consultant entails offering advice to businesses while operating as your own independent firm. Penetration testing, vulnerability analyses, automation engineers, etc. are examples of this. People typically work as consultants in the industry they previously worked in. Work experience is not necessary, though; you can certainly start small and progress from there if you lack it.
Security Auditing
If you have any prior auditing expertise, this may be a viable alternative to working full-time at an organization. For compliance purposes, many businesses require audits once or twice a year. If you have expertise in specific legislation, such as GDPR or HIPAA, you can market your services by showing up and assisting businesses in getting ready for audits.
Freelance Writing:
You can make money by writing materials and resources. This might be marketing materials, whitepapers, or blog articles. This is an excellent method to earn some additional money.
People with cybersecurity experience are frequently preferred, so having worked in the field can give you an advantage.
Organize training programs
This is a fantastic method for generating passive money. Find a platform, such as Udemy, Cybrary, etc., that will let you produce online courses and market them to their clientele. Even while the initial payout might not be significant, if you put in the initial effort, you can continue to earn money in the future.
Independent hacking
Consider working as a freelancer if you have experience conducting vulnerability analyses and hacking computers. You can also search for specific bug bounty programs; many large corporations, including Facebook (now Meta) Paypal, Sony, and many others, have their own schemes. You can collaborate with nearby businesses that require security work.
Those are some of the few feasible means of making money other than the regular jobs that pay high cyber security salary packages. You have multiple choices and options to make use of your knowledge and skills to earn money and get rich.
