Top 5 Jobs With a Master’s in Cybersecurity

The job possibilities with a master’s in cybersecurity are wide-ranging — but the path you take with the advanced credential is tied directly to the level of experience you’re able to pair with it.

So, What Can I Do With a Master’s in Cybersecurity?

It depends. Are you starting fresh in the field, or have you been building years of experience, skills and relationships?

Here are 5 cybersecurity roles to consider at different levels.

Security Analyst

This is a good place to start and grow in your cybersecurity career, with both entry- and mid-level opportunities, according to Rodney Royster, a cybersecurity instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with an information technology (IT) career that spans four decades and many technical positions within the government and private sector.

Security analysts use attention to detail and analytical thinking to keep computer networks and information safe, according to O*NET OnLine — from monitoring systems and reports to conducting risk assessments.

Titles to look for: security operations center (SOC) analyst, network security analyst, information technology security analyst

Read more: What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Do?

Cybersecurity Engineer

If you’re looking for a more advanced role than an entry-level security analyst, Royster said you might consider security engineering.

Nearly 50% of cybersecurity engineering roles require at least a bachelor’s degree, according to CyberSeek, and leverage technical skills in vulnerability testing, automation and programming. Over the last year, 46,271 cybersecurity engineer positions have been posted — more than any other role CyberSeek reports on.

Titles to look for: security engineer, application security engineer, cloud security engineer

Cybersecurity Manager

If you’re already working in the field and aspire to a management position, earning a master’s degree may be beneficial. “If you want to move up to those managerial roles and those senior roles, (employers) are going to look for you to have some type of educational background,” Royster said.

You might even add a degree concentration in an area such as IT management, where you’ll learn more about managing departmental functions and relationships.

According to CyberSeek, there were 31,440 cybersecurity manager job openings over the last year.

Titles to look for: application security manager, SOC manager, director of cybersecurity

Top Executive

As a top executive, you could lead all aspects of your department, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — from its goals and policies to its management team and budget.

Once you have years of experience, the necessary education and certifications, Royster said you just might be able to advance to the C-Suite. (Note: SNHU does not offer professional certifications in cybersecurity.)

After decades of experience working in a variety of government positions, including with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security, as well as in private sector consulting companies, Royster is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for his cybersecurity services business.

In addition to the experience he’s accumulated, Royster has upskilled over the years, earning an associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree — plus several cybersecurity certifications.

If you’re angling for an advanced position, he said some of the major certifications you might wish to pursue include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Titles to look for: chief technical officer (CTO), chief security officer (CSO), chief information officer (CIO)

Read more: What Does a Chief Information Security Officer Do?

College Instructor

Some earn the master’s credential so they can help prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. According to BLS, you typically need at least a master’s degree to teach at the college level, plus professional experience in the field you wish to teach.

After establishing a career as a security analyst, Gina Cramer ’20 revisited an even earlier career goal: teaching.

Before pursuing her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity at SNHU, Cramer earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. Between her various credentials and the work experience she gained, she seized an opportunity offered to her by a connection she made when she was a cybersecurity student.

In addition to her day job, Cramer is an adjunct at a community college, teaching a course that helps prepare students for the CompTIA Linux+ certification exam.

“(Teaching) is something I've always actually wanted to do,” she said.

Which Position is Best in Cybersecurity?

This answer is different for everyone.

Do you want to be boots-on-the-ground, using ethical hacking strategies to simulate cyberattacks? Or maybe you’d like to develop training and policies that help employees organization-wide understand their role in information security.

The best position is one that interests you and helps you meet your goals. It’s also one that feels like the right ‘fit,’ according to Glen Mitchell, a cybersecurity instructor at SNHU who's been working in the field since 2001.

“Remember, when you are interviewing to get a job, they are not just interviewing you,” he said. “You should be interviewing them.”

He recommends asking questions that help you get to the bottom of these fundamental questions:

• Is this a company I want to work for?
• Do I support their mission — does it mean something to me?
• Are these the people I want to work with every day?

It’s also important to note that your goals and interests may change throughout your career. The best position for you today may not be the same as the one down the line.

Can I Get a Master’s in Cybersecurity With No Experience?

Yes, you can — even if your bachelor’s degree is in another field. Earning a master’s in cybersecurity can be worth it if you’re looking to shift your career direction.

If you’re applying for a master’s in cybersecurity program, you may be required to submit a resume with your application. This allows the college admission team to determine if you need to take any foundational courses first.

For instance, at SNHU, you might need to take a core technologies course if you don’t have a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree or experience in the field. This course makes some important introductions to:

• Hardware
• Software
• Networks
• Delivery systems

It's intended to make sure you have the basics down pat before you launch into the advanced program.

*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.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.