How To Become A Cyber Security Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a cyber security specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Kermit Burley M.Ed.

Cyber Security specialists are in charge of protecting digital information and defending computer networks from opportunistic hackers. Your job responsibilities include seeking to build in security during the development stages of software systems, managing and assessing system vulnerability, responding to security threats and attacks, finding the best way to secure an organization's IT infrastructure, building firewalls into network infrastructure, and developing threat prevention strategies. Your responsibilities also include generating regular reports for administrators and executives, identifying the perpetrators and liaising with the police if necessary, installing, configuring, and upgrading security software, and drafting policies and guidelines.

To be considered for the position of a cybersecurity specialist, you must have a bachelor's degree in computer science or STEM subjects and proven experience as a cybersecurity specialist. You should also be familiar with programming and have an analytical mind with excellent problem-solving skills. Your average annual salary is $111,052.

What general advice would you give to a cyber security specialist?

Kermit Burley M.Ed.

Program Coordinator of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations, Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley

I would tell any graduate who is just beginning their career to be certain to always give 100% effort and perhaps even just a bit more. You are doing this not only for your supervisor, but for yourself. This skill will eventually become a habit and will ultimately set you apart from your competition. Many graduates new to a job or position will frequently wait to have their supervisor tell them what to do. The truly successful graduate will always seek to solve problems and then do more than what is expected. And believe me, having been a supervisor many times in my career, this high effort person will be noticed and rewarded.

ScoreCyber Security SpecialistUS Average

Salary

7.3

Avg. Salary $93,395

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.5

Growth rate 32%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 9.64%

Black or African American 9.15%

Hispanic or Latino 8.99%

Unknown 6.09%

White 65.70%

Gender

female 16.78%

male 83.22%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a cyber security specialist

Explore cyber security specialist education requirements

Most common cyber security specialist degrees

Bachelor's

55.8 %

Associate

22.6 %

Master's

13.8 %

Start to develop specific cyber security specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Cyber Security	16.59%
Incident Response	6.18%
NIST	5.00%
Security Operations	4.34%
Forensics	3.65%

Complete relevant cyber security specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cyber security specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cyber security specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cyber security specialist resumes.

Research cyber security specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage and monitor enterprise antivirus and software firewall programs.
Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
Scan network infrastructure for insecurities and vulnerabilities using programs such as ACAS and HBSS.
Work on implementing DISA STIGS.

Prepare your cyber security specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cyber security specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cyber security specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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