Are security engineers in demand?

Yes, security engineers are in demand. As more companies turn to technology and connectivity to run their business, this demand will only increase. A security engineer is responsible for keeping an organization's sensitive and proprietary information secure. This is a role that involves identifying and correcting defects and flaws found in the company's programs, applications, and security systems.

How much money does a security engineer make?

A security engineer makes $100,000 a year, on average. The salary for security engineers can vary depending on a variety of factors, including experience level, education, and industry. But the typical range is between $85,000 per year and $125,000 per year.

What does a security engineer need to know?

A security engineer needs to know how to apply technical information to the business environment. This is needed in order to protect the company's proprietary information as well as the information and data of its customers.

What qualifications do you need to be a cyber security engineer?

The qualifications that a person needs to be a cyber security engineer is a bachelor's degree in information technology or a related field. Although there are some cybersecurity positions that only need an associate's degree, most employers desire a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related area.

What is a security engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.

A security engineer plays a critical role in protecting an organization's sensitive information and assets from cyber threats. They are responsible for designing and implementing secure computer systems, networks, and software. They analyze potential threats and vulnerabilities, monitor systems to detect and prevent cyber-attacks and conduct penetration testing and risk assessments to identify weaknesses in security infrastructure. They work closely with IT teams and management to ensure security measures are integrated into the organization's operations.

What general advice would you give to a Security Engineer?

Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Robotics Engineering, Lake Superior State University

Flexibility has become a key asset for new graduates, due to the current COVID19 pandemic. Fortunately, engineers are still in high demand. Even fresh graduates may need to seek opportunities and accept positions working in areas that were not exactly what they had in mind while in college. Besides, the pandemic has created a reality where specific industries are struggling while others are booming. That will undoubtedly impact the demand for new engineers. Lastly, since the United States took a non-uniform approach to fight the pandemic, where every state is independently deciding how to reopen, leading to some states being stricter than others, in addition to new epicenters forming in different areas of the country at different times, new grads may not necessarily end up in the geographical location they may have originally planned.

ScoreSecurity EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $104,524

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 13.64%

male 86.36%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Security Engineer?

Pros

High demand for security engineers in almost all industries
Competitive salary and benefits package
High level of job security due to the increasing importance of cybersecurity
Flexibility in terms of work hours and remote work options
Collaborative and team-oriented work environment

Cons

High pressure and stress due to the critical nature of the work
Long hours and potential for on-call work outside of regular business hours
Constant need to stay up-to-date with new threats and technologies can be overwhelming
Difficult to measure success as prevention is often the goal rather than tangible outcomes
Can be frustrating when organizations do not prioritize cybersecurity or do not take recommendations seriously

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Key steps to become a security engineer

Explore security engineer education requirements

Most common security engineer degrees

Bachelor's

63.4 %

Associate

16.2 %

Master's

14.5 %

Start to develop specific security engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Java	8.54%
Cloud Security	7.71%
Infrastructure	7.63%
Application Security	4.41%
Incident Response	3.78%

Complete relevant security engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New security engineers 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 security engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real security engineer resumes.

Gain additional security engineer certifications

Security engineer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific security engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for security engineers include Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP) and Security 5 Certification.

More About Certifications

Research security engineer duties and responsibilities

Provide SME level support in a manage PKI environment.
Achieve authority-to-operate (ATO) status ahead of schedule.
Hardened/Tune a manage fleet of Cisco ASA and IPS security appliances.
Create custom scripts using ruby and proprietary gems to automate testing and reporting.

Prepare your security engineer resume

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

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