Top 7 Cybersecurity Associate Degree Jobs (Plus Example Titles)

Searching for a job can be intimidating regardless of what kind of role you’re pursuing. And when you’re just getting started after earning an associate degree in a highly technical and constantly changing field like cybersecurity? You might not know what to look for straight away.

Getting familiar with different entry-level job titles can help you refine your search and find the right roles.

First, What Qualifications Do You Need to Work in Cybersecurity?

An associate degree can help you qualify for many entry-level cybersecurity positions, but you’ll likely need experience, as well, according to Rodney Royster, a cybersecurity instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Royster has been working in tech for 40 years including 25 years in security. His own tech education started with an associate degree, before he went on to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s.

Royster said experience is often essential even for entry-level roles in cybersecurity. He recommends completing internships during your educational program, so you’ll graduate with a credential as well as professional experience.

Learn more about how to get into cybersecurity.

So, What Jobs Can You Get With an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity?

You might see terms like “associate,” “junior” or “level I” in job titles for some entry-level roles, Royster said.

"Please note that these titles are constantly evolving and changing as years go by," he said. "A lot of this is dependent on the company as to what names work for them."

Here are 7 types of roles you might find with an associate degree in cybersecurity, plus specific entry-level job titles you could see:

Cybersecurity Analyst Roles

Some entry-level titles for cybersecurity analysts might include:

• Associate cybersecurity analyst
• Junior cybersecurity analyst
• Security Operations Center (SOC) analyst level 1

“You will find many of them working in Security Operations Centers or SOCs,” Royster said. “A SOC is a centralized unit where all of these types of duties will take place.”

Learn more about how to become a cybersecurity analyst.

Cybersecurity Specialist Roles

Some titles for cybersecurity specialists may include:

• Associate cybersecurity specialist
• Cybersecurity specialist level I
• Junior cybersecurity specialist

What’s the Difference Between a Cybersecurity Analyst and a Cybersecurity Specialist?

Although specialist and analyst positions in cybersecurity can be similar, they aren’t the same, according to Royster. “They may be used interchangeably, but they are slightly different,” he said.

He noted that cybersecurity specialists are typically more involved in prevention and building security measures, whereas analysts review, monitor, investigate and analyze.

“The analyst position is reactive, meaning that they will deal with threats and incidents as they occur,” he said. “The cybersecurity specialist is a position that is proactive and one that should have more specialized technical expertise or skillset in their role.”

Information Security Analyst Roles

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that although information security analyst roles typically require a bachelor’s degree, you might be able to find an entry-level role with other relevant training, like an associate degree.

Entry-level information security analyst titles might include:

• Associate information security analyst
• Information security analyst level I
• Junior information security analyst

Read more about what information security is.

Digital Forensics Roles

If you're interested in the intersection of cybersecurity and detective work, you might consider getting into digital forensics. “In digital forensics, there are actually many different associate/entry-level titles and paths that you can take,” Royster said.

He noted these titles as options:

• Malware analyst associate
• Evidence technician
• Mobile device forensic technician
• Computer forensics examiner
• Junior digital forensic examiner

“There may be other names as well, where individuals are working in a hybrid environment (with multiple duties),” Royster said.

Incident Responder Roles

Roles in incident response require you to jump into action and address security incidents as they happen, said Royster. "When an attack occurs, they will go out and investigate, detect, analyze, contain, mitigate and assist an organization with recovery so that they can get back to normal operations," he said.

He noted you may see entry-level titles like:

• Incident response associate
• Incident response analyst junior
• Associate detection & response analyst
• Incident response consultant

Royster also emphasized that your responsibilities may overlap with other roles, depending on your employer. "During my career, I was labeled in some of my jobs as an incident response specialist; however, I did computer forensics while serving in that role," he said.

Risk Compliance Analyst Roles

Risk compliance analysts conduct risk assessments and ensure that all related regulatory requirements are met, according to SANS Institute, a cybersecurity training organization.

Royster said some entry-level risk compliance analyst job titles you might see include:

• GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) analyst
• Internal auditor
• Junior risk analyst
• Regulatory compliance analyst
• Risk management analyst

Threat Intelligence Roles

"(A threat intelligence analyst) is simply someone who does intel or intelligence for cybersecurity," Royster said.

Some entry-level job titles in threat intelligence might include:

• Associate threat intelligence analyst
• Junior threat intelligence analyst
• Cyber Threat Analyst
• Threat Response Analyst

Learn more about the different types of roles in cybersecurity.

Should You Get an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity?

If you’re an analytical and detail-oriented creative problem-solver, cybersecurity might be a good fit. BLS noted that those traits are all necessary to work in a cyber role.

The field is also ripe with opportunity, with BLS projecting a massive 29% growth rate for information security analyst positions through 2034 — compared to the 3% average growth projected for all occupations in that same period.*

Although an associate degree and internship experience can be enough to get you started in cybersecurity, Royster noted that you’ll usually need at least a bachelor’s degree if you want to move up to a more advanced role. Since the credits that you earn in an associate degree can be applied to a bachelor’s program, it might be a smart choice if you intend to get some work experience while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

So, is an associate degree in cybersecurity worth it? That’s ultimately up to you, but if you’re looking to get started in cybersecurity, an associate degree might introduce you to an exciting and fruitful career.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.