Considering a degree in cybersecurity? Wondering what it’s worth? When considering the return on your educational investment, you can be assured you’ll get your money’s worth in this booming field.
There is absolutely no doubt that the demand for cybersecurity specialists has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, data from a 2019 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study estimates the cybersecurity workforce gap in the United States has climbed to ~500,000. From their extensive research, (ISC)² projects that the global cybersecurity workforce shortage may reach upwards of 1.8 million unfilled positions by 2022.
How Employers are Addressing the Workforce Gap
According to a report by Burning Glass Technologies, federal data shows that the ratio of currently employed cybersecurity workers to job openings has hardly budged since 2015, making the pool of available talent proportionally the same.
Employers are aware of this growing gap and have begun to address the urgent need to add educated cybersecurity experts to their team. To incentivize workers to fill these roles, employers are offering competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and other modern work perks.
Average Salaries in Cybersecurity
Through data provided by PayScale and GlassDoor, we have gathered the average salaries for some of the most common roles in cybersecurity.
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Information Security Analyst | $82,200 |
| Penetration Tester | $83,941 |
| Information Warfare Officer | $89,531 |
| Cybersecurity Manager | $97,469 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | $159,846 |
The earning potential of cybersecurity professionals is impressive. Although, many cybersecurity professionals go into the field because they have a passion for the work. Though they are often the unsung and anonymous heroes, cybersecurity professionals protect businesses and individuals from modern threats that would otherwise go unchecked.
How Schools Are Addressing the Workforce Gap
Burning Glass Technologies also found that 88% of cybersecurity postings specify a bachelor’s degree or higher. With the educational prerequisites and sheer number of positions to be filled, there was a pool of only 2.3 employed cybersecurity workers for employers to recruit for each open cybersecurity positions. Supply has not been keeping up with demand.
To aid in filling the workforce gap while meeting the expectations of employers, many universities and colleges have upped the ante on bulking up their degree programs in cybersecurity or creating new programs. Programs such as Norwich University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity have been thoughtfully designed by professionals in the field and industry thought leaders with the goal of providing affordable, high-quality, flexible education and training in cybersecurity. Students can transfer up to 90 semester credits to complete the program in two years or less. Norwich University also offers an online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program for those looking to continue their cyber education after earning a bachelor’s degree.
A Cybersecurity Degree That’s Worth Your Time and Money
At Norwich, we recognize the urgent need for more cybersecurity specialists. We also recognize that working adults need a flexible program that suits their needs. We created our fully online bachelor’s degree program for busy, ambitious people like you. Are you ready to enter a lucrative and rewarding field that needs qualified professionals more than ever? Request more information about Norwich University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity today.
