As cybercrime grows, so does the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Cybercrime is predicted to cost the world $6 trillion dollars in 2021, employment of IT and cybersecurity professionals is projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029, yet, the US Department of Commerce estimated there are more than 300,000 cybersecurity jobs waiting to be filled in 2019 and the field is expected to keep growing. In Arizona alone, there are over 14,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in a workforce of 20,000.
Listed as one of the five hot industries that are a “safe bet for a career that is future proof” by CNBC, cybersecurity is a fast-growing market with tremendous career opportunities and Arizona has a higher demand for talent than the national average, according to CyberSeek.org.
The field of Cybersecurity is seeking motivated professionals who want to learn and grow within the career itself. To fill the gap between the number of cybersecurity jobs available in Arizona and the number of qualified professionals within the workforce, there are opportunities for professionals of all skill levels to enter into this “future proof” field and receive the education and experience necessary to advance.
As Arizona was named one of the top 10 in Cybersecurity by the FTC, many organizations are dedicated to investing in the ongoing career growth of cybersecurity professionals. Websites such as AZCybertalent.com, created by the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation through the Phoenix Forward initiative, are intended to be a one stop shop for for educators, employers, current and future employees in the cybersecurity industry.
What cybersecurity roles exist in Arizona?
According to Cyberseek.com, the top job titles requested by employers within the cybersecurity job market in Arizona are:
Cybersecurity Engineer
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity Consultant
Network Engineer / Architect
Cybersecurity Manager/ Administrator
Software Developer/ Engineer
Vulnerability Analyst / Penetration Tester
IT Auditor
Entry-Level job titles may include: Help Desk Technician, Cybersecurity Specialist/Technician, Cyber Crime Analyst/Investigator, IT Auditor.
Mid-Level positions may include: Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Consultant, Penetration and Vulnerability Tester.
Senior-Level positions may include: Cybersecurity Manager/Administration, Cybersecurity Engineer, Cybersecurity Architect.
“Cybersecurity” is a broad term for a career field that may also encompass less technical roles that are more knowledge focused roles such as risk analysis, compliance and auditing and data analytics.
What do jobs in cybersecurity pay?
With such a high demand to fill IT and cybersecurity positions, there is great potential for earning top dollar. Entry-Level cybersecurity jobs pay an average of $63,000 annually with senior-level positions averaging at $96,000 per year. The average annual salary for a cybersecurity professional is $80,000.
How do you get a job in cybersecurity?
In order to keep up – or catch up – with the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals, Arizona must generate, attract and retain talent. The Arizona Cybersecurity Workforce Collaborative, partnered with many top Arizona cyber employers, is working with 4-year schools in Arizona to review and align curriculum to infuse work-like experiences into the curriculum. Several two and four year educational institutions in Arizona offer degree programs that would enable students to obtain a job in the cyber security field such as the University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Maricopa Community Colleges.
This isn’t to say that if you’ve already graduated, started your career, or are established in your career, that you’ve missed the boat to get in on this exploding field. Several programs for training and advancement programs are available through institutions such as Maricopa Corporate College and Woz-U.
If you are interested in entering or advancing within the Cybersecurity field, Cybercrime Magazine offers a list of 50 cybersecurity job titles. There’s something here for everyone.