With organizations around the world losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to ransomware attackers, it’s no surprise that cybersecurity is a great field for making money. If you’re looking for a new career that is sure to be in demand with a lot of high-paying positions, you should consider a career in the field.
With that said, cybersecurity is a very diverse field. Companies still continue to invest in cybersecurity, and some local telecom operators take this as a strategy to bounce back stronger in the telecommunication industry. This means if your primary goal is to earn money, you need to pick the right area of study. This article explains how to start a profitable cybersecurity career.
Look For in-Demand Skills
When it comes to earning a lot of money from a high-paying job, you need to have a skill that is in demand. Companies who need certain cybersecurity skills will pay top dollar for an employee or a consultant who is an expert. If you’re familiar with things like IAM, then you can be certain of finding a well-paid position with a larger company.
These days things like cloud and data security are in very high demand, so you could easily find a well-paying job with those kinds of skills. Another great thing about having in-demand skills is that you’ll have the ability to easily switch jobs and negotiate a higher salary and benefits.
Find the Right Sector
It’s not enough just to have in-demand skills. You also need to target the right sector. Cybersecurity is now more or less essential in every business sector, so you have a lot of cybersecurity jobs to chose from.
If making the most money possible is your goal, you should focus on the retail, financial, and healthcare sectors. With that said, this is just a generalization. Always do research into the local job market as you might find more lucrative positions available in certain niches in your local area.
Plan Ahead
Cybersecurity is a field where you should be able to advance up the career ladder. This means that you need to plan ahead. Whenever you’re considering taking a job, consider where you could be in several years’ time.
In some cases, it might make sense to take a lower-paying job in cybersecurity as that might be the job that offers the most chance of advancement.
Focusing on earning money in the short term could actually lead to you earning less in the long run. If you want to make serious money in cybersecurity, you really have to think ahead.
Earn Certifications
Cybersecurity is an incredibly technical field. No one wants to hire someone who doesn’t have proof that they’re competent. This is why it makes a lot of sense to get some professional certifications.
There are a lot of cybersecurity-related certifications out there, so you’ll need to make sure you get one that will help you get ahead in the local job market.
Getting a certification will almost always boost your income by a few percentage points. That might not sound like much, but it can really add up to a lot over the course of a few years.
Pick the Right Role
Even when working in the right sector with fantastic certifications, you’ll still struggle to make a lot of money if you pick the wrong role to work in. There are a huge variety of roles available in the cybersecurity industry, so you’ll need to make sure you pick the right one if you want to make the most money possible.
Pick the Right Company
While the right role is important, you also need to carefully consider what company you’ll work for. Generally speaking, the bigger the company is, the more likely you are to be paid well for your time.
If making money is your goal, it makes a lot of sense to apply specifically to large companies. If you want to earn the most money possible, you should target fortune 500 companies specifically.
While it’s certainly possible to earn a lot of money in cybersecurity working for small or medium-sized companies, it makes sense to focus on the big ones if you want to earn a huge income.
Move to the Right Place
Another factor in how much you earn is where you’re working. If earning a huge paycheck is your priority, you’ll probably have to consider moving.
In cities such as Minneapolis, Dallas, and San Fransisco, you can earn a lot of money as a cybersecurity professional. If you come from a smaller town, you might want to consider moving to a more populous city.
Know the Right People
In any kind of career, who you know is just as important as what you know, and cybersecurity is no exception. Without the right contacts, many of the best jobs will simply pass you by.
This is why it’s vital to spend time networking with other professionals and building up a list of contacts. This will enable you to find out about job opportunities that don’t even get posted on job search websites.
Be Prepared to Change Jobs
Another point to bear in mind is that you might not make the most money possible if you just stay in one job. While it is certainly possible to climb the career ladder at one company, you can usually make more money by jumping from company to company.
This enables you to leverage a higher salary as well as better benefits.
You Can Earn Money in Cybersecurity
The number of cybersecurity risks is multiplying every day, so there’s no shortage of work out there. With the right certifications and education, you’re sure to find a job in the cybersecurity industry.
If your aim is to earn money, you need to make sure you pick the right area of focus. Cybersecurity is quite a broad subject, and only specific niches earn the top salaries.
You also need to make sure that you live in the right place and network with the right people. If you’re interested in learning more about other technology-related topics, check out the rest of our blog posts.
