Your Cybersecurity Career Guide for 2025: Pay, Jobs + More

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Explore career options in the growing field of cybersecurity with this library of resources.

[Featured image] A cybersecurity professional in a white shirt stands in front of a laptop and wall monitor.

As more and more business is conducted on the cloud, cybersecurity has become a primary concern for companies across multiple industries. If you're interested in a fast-paced, well-paid career focused on protecting a company's valuable data and systems, consider a career in cybersecurity.

To make it easier to take the next step, below you'll browse a wealth of free cybersecurity resources covering career paths, popular credentials, and how-to guides for landing your next cybersecurity job. As you're exploring this impactful career, consider bookmarking this page to refer to it later throughout your professional journey.

If you'd like to build in-demand cybersecurity skills today, enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. Learn foundational cybersecurity practices, identify common risks, and explore how to protect networks, devices, data, and people in this impactful program.

Cybersecurity job outlook

Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand from employers.

According to research from The Information Systems Audit and Control Association  (ISACA), 46 percent of surveyed enterprises have unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2024 [1]. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 33 percent job growth between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average across all occupations [2]. Between May 2023 and April 2024, 469,930 jobs opened for workers with cybersecurity-related skills [3].

Cybersecurity salary: How much can you make?

If generous financial compensation is a high priority in your career considerations, a career in cybersecurity could be a good fit. The median annual pay for information security analysts in the United States was $124,910 as of May 2024, according to the US BLS [2].

Learn more about what you can expect to earn as a cybersecurity professional with these pay guides:

How to get a job in cybersecurity

Empower your job search with this collection of resources on getting started in cybersecurity:

How do I start my career in cybersecurity?

Based on the job outlook, it's a great time to enter the field of cybersecurity. Discover what it takes to start your career with this helpful guide: How to Get into Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity degrees and certifications

Fifty-six percent of cybersecurity specialists have a bachelor's degree, and 23 percent have an associate degree [4]. Relevant areas of study include computer science, computer information systems, and information technology.

In cybersecurity, the right credential can help set you apart from other job seekers and make your resume more attractive to hiring managers. You can learn more about how to set yourself up for success with a degree or certification in cybersecurity in the following articles:

Cybersecurity career paths

Cybersecurity is a broad field with many areas of specialization. Whether you're looking for an entry-level job or ready to advance into a new area of information security, you have options. Explore some possibilities with these resources:

Entry-level cybersecurity jobs

These are some job titles you might consider if you're just getting started in cybersecurity. Remember that many cybersecurity professionals get started in information technology (IT) roles to gain experience before moving into security:

Mid-level cybersecurity jobs

Consider these mid-level roles after gaining some work experience in security or IT:

Senior cybersecurity jobs

You'll find a variety of areas in which you could specialize as a cybersecurity expert. Here are a few advanced roles to explore:

Other resources

Build cybersecurity skills on Coursera Plus

Learn job-ready skills from industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, and IBM with a Coursera Plus subscription—available in monthly and annual tiers. You’ll get a certificate for every program you finish, which you can add to further enhance your resume.

Article sources

1. 

ISACA. "Nearly Two-thirds of Cybersecurity Pros Say Job Stress is Growing, According to New ISACA Research, https://www.isaca.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/ 2024/nearly-two-thirds-of-cybersecurity-pros-say-job-stress-is-growing-according-to-new-isaca-research." Accessed May 4, 2025.

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Updated on
Written by:
Coursera Staff

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.