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Cybersecurity, computer science salaries are on the rise with workers making $150K, on average

March 8, 2023 at 7:53 PM UTC
A healthcare career fair at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, as seen in February 2023. (Photographer: Allison Joyce—Bloomberg/Getty Images)
A healthcare career fair at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, as seen in February 2023. (Photographer: Allison Joyce—Bloomberg/Getty Images)

There’s been a lot of talk about layoffs in Big Tech, but a vast majority of job cuts have been in product management, product development, marketing, sales, and recruiting at tech companies, including the so-called FAANG group (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google). By contrast, cybersecurity and computer science jobs are steady within the broader tech industry. 

Pro tip

Earning a master’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science can boost career prospects and help you earn higher wages within the broader tech industry.

In fact, cybersecurity layoffs have been “few and far between,” Dan Walsh, chief information security officer with VillageMD, a primary care company majority-owned by Fortune 500 company Walgreens Boots Alliance, previously told Fortune.

The five highest-paying tech jobs in 2022—with base salaries of at least $145,000—were C-suite roles in IT management, solutions architect, principal software engineer, systems architect, and cybersecurity engineer/architect, according to a tech salary trends report from Dice, a job-search platform for tech jobs. Overall, average tech salaries increased 2.3% year-over-year in 2022 to $111,328. 

“Following a year of strong salary growth for tech professionals, the continued upward trend in average tech salary shows that tech skills and the professionals that provide them can still command high compensation because of sustained demand,” according to the report.

IT management salaries

IT management salaries jumped nearly 9% to $164,814 in 2022, Dice data shows. This category includes professionals such as a CEO, chief information officer, chief technology officer, vice president, or director at a tech company. 

While these positions don’t necessarily require a master’s degree to obtain, continuing education can be helpful with career development. Executive education courses can aid in developing leadership and other in-demand skills.

Pro tip

Many top B-schools have been leading the way in developing and launching executive education programs on topics such as business analytics.

“There is no question that it is becoming easier to measure everything, and to crunch enormous datasets. But in most organizations, the real limiting factor is leadership,” Richard Freishtat, vice president of curriculum at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, previously told Fortune. “Every leader must possess the ability to use, analyze, and make sense of it all.”

Computer science salaries

A solutions architect acts as a technical visionary, creating the overall plan and vision for a technical solution to challenges facing a company. Most solutions architects hold a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in computer science. They make an average salary of $155,934, according to Dice. 

Principal software engineers, on the other hand, actually develop and test the software designed by the architects. These professionals typically have several years of experience under their belt, as well as a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in computer science or a related field. They typically complete certifications in programming languages and other tech skills, earning an average salary of $153,288, Dice data shows. 

Systems architects focus more on configuring, operating, and maintaining computer and networking systems. They bring home salaries of $151,364, according to Dice. These workers typically need a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in computer science, IT, or computer engineering to get a job.

Cybersecurity engineer/architect salaries

Cybersecurity is a very in-demand field with more than 700,000 unfilled positions in the U.S. alone. The high demand and technical know-how required in the industry has led to high salaries for cybersecurity workers. 

These jobs have average salaries of $145,512, according to Dice, but workers with a master’s degree in cybersecurity can earn well above $200,000.

“Security has always been well-paying and it really comes down to scarcity—both in the number of professionals and in the required skills,” Mike Hendrickson, Skillsoft’s vice president of tech and development, previously told Fortune. “With today’s limited pool of security professionals, organizations need to make their offers quite attractive, both in compensation and opportunities for professional development.”

Plus, cybersecurity salaries continue to grow. Between 2021 and 2022, cybersecurity salaries jumped by more than 7%, according to Dice.

Read more

  • Looking into learning more about cybersecurity? Check out our ranking of the best masters in cybersecurity programs.
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  • Interested in computer science? Here’s our ranking of the best online computer science masters programs.
  • Cybersecurity is essential in the modern workforce, and one of the best cybersecurity bootcamps can help you hone that skill.
  • About the Contributors

    Sydney Lake
    By Sydney LakeAssociate Editor

    Sydney Lake is an associate editor at Fortune, where she writes and edits news for the publication's global news desk.

    See full bio
    Jasmine Suarez
    Reviewed By Jasmine SuarezSenior Staff Editor

    Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

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