Cyber attacks and data breaches continue to grow increasingly prevalent—and big business isn’t immune. Transportation tech giant Uber recently suffered a massive cyber attack, which shut down many of its internal communication systems and displayed lewd messages and photos, according to previous Fortune reporting.
As the threat of cyber attacks becomes a more pressing issue, C-suite executives are forced to take a look at their bottom line and take these challenges more seriously. In fact, a focus on cybersecurity needs to start in the boardroom, Steve Morgan, founder of Cybersecurity Ventures, argues. CEOs at every Fortune 500 company and midsize-to-large organization should put members with cybersecurity experience on their board, he says.
“That could be the [chief information security officer (CISO)] or an outside executive with real-world cybersecurity experience,” he previously told Fortune. “Do it now to protect your organization, not after a breach or hack to protect your reputation.”
Cybersecurity talent extends beyond the boardroom, however. Companies need more cybersecurity talent entering the pipeline for entry-and mid-level jobs, which can land six-figure salaries. While more experienced professionals are likely to earn higher salaries, many cybersecurity roles pay more than other tech jobs. An information security analyst (typically an entry-level cybersecurity role) earned a median salary of $102,600 in 2021, U.S. Department of Labor Statistics figures show.
And professionals in the field are likely to continue to bring home outsized checks. Between 2020 and 2021, some cybersecurity salaries jumped by more than 16%, to well over the six-figure mark, according to a 2021 report from Dice, a tech recruiting platform.
For professionals who earned their master’s degree in cybersecurity, took some online courses, or recently underwent upskilling at their company, Fortune compiled a list of a few of the highest-paying cybersecurity-related roles. While CISOs can bring home close to million-dollar paychecks, this list will give you a good idea of the type of baseline you can have for your earnings in the cybersecurity industry.