What is a senior cyber security analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Kermit Burley M.Ed.

A senior cyber security analyst is an individual responsible for protecting an organization's computer systems and networks from cyber threats. They work to identify potential security risks, develop and implement security measures, and monitor the effectiveness of security systems. They analyze data to detect and respond to security incidents, investigate security breaches, and recommend improvements to security protocols.Their ultimate goal is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an organization's data and systems.

What general advice would you give to a senior cyber security analyst?

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.

ScoreSenior Cyber Security AnalystUS Average

Salary

7.1

Avg. Salary $91,144

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 18.83%

male 81.17%

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 senior cyber security analyst?

Pros

High demand for cyber security professionals
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunity for career growth and advancement
Challenging and intellectually stimulating work
Opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology

Cons

Long and irregular work hours, including on-call shifts
Need to stay up-to-date with constantly evolving threats and technologies
Need to maintain a high level of confidentiality and discretion
Potential exposure to graphic or disturbing content
Heavy workload with tight deadlines

Key steps to become a senior cyber security analyst

Explore senior cyber security analyst education requirements

Most common senior cyber security analyst degrees

Bachelor's

60.6 %

Associate

18.2 %

Master's

12.9 %

Start to develop specific senior cyber security analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Cyber Security	17.62%
Incident Response	7.19%
NIST	6.03%
Windows	5.50%
RMF	4.98%

Complete relevant senior cyber security analyst training and internships

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

Research senior cyber security analyst duties and responsibilities

Research and authore white paper advocating a framework for managing risk to the most critical DoD systems.
Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
Lead ArcSight SIEM, MacAfee HBSS, mail gateway and firewall administrator.
Use Splunk and FireEye CMS, among other tools for security response to triage security issues.

Prepare your senior cyber security analyst resume

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

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Choose from 10+ customizable senior cyber security analyst resume templates

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Apply for senior cyber security analyst jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior cyber security analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average senior cyber security analyst salary

The average senior cyber security analyst salary in the United States is $91,144 per year or $44 per hour. Senior cyber security analyst salaries range between $69,000 and $119,000 per year.

Average senior cyber security analyst salary

$91,144 Yearly

$43.82 hourly

What is a senior cyber security analyst and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a senior cyber security analyst?

What are the pros and cons of being a senior cyber security analyst?

Key steps to become a senior cyber security analyst

Explore senior cyber security analyst education requirements

Most common senior cyber security analyst degrees

Start to develop specific senior cyber security analyst skills

Complete relevant senior cyber security analyst training and internships

Research senior cyber security analyst duties and responsibilities

Prepare your senior cyber security analyst resume

Choose from 10+ customizable senior cyber security analyst resume templates

Apply for senior cyber security analyst jobs

How did you land your first senior cyber security analyst job

Average senior cyber security analyst salary

How do senior cyber security analysts rate their job?