<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="15" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Master’s in Cybersecurity Online From UC Berkeley </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn a Master’s in Cybersecurity Online in Just 20 Months </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>The UC Berkeley School of Information’s online Master of Information and Cybersecurity prepares students to become leaders in cybersecurity. No GRE/GMAT required.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-15" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-15" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://ischoolonline.berkeley.edu/requestinfo/cyber/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UCB-CYB_School-Secondary_Stacked_RGB_COLOR.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://ischoolonline.berkeley.edu/requestinfo/cyber/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> <table class="edu-card-table"> <tbody> <tr> <td>GRE Required</td> <td>No</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Part Time</td> <td>Yes</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="55" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Hawai‘i Pacific University MS in Cybersecurity </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Certification prep available </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>The online MS in Cybersecurity program from Hawai‘i Pacific University prepares students to defend their organization from data breaches, strengthen their résumé by taking key certification exams, and advance their career as responsible leaders in cybersecurity.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-55" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-55" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="http://onlinedegrees.hpu.edu/requestinfo/mscyb/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HPU-UMT_logo-university_primary_cmyk_rev.jpg?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="http://onlinedegrees.hpu.edu/requestinfo/mscyb/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

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<p>With <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/06/30/companies-are-desperate-for-cybersecurity-workers-more-than-700k-positions-need-to-be-filled/">more than 700,000 unfilled positions</a> in the U.S., cybersecurity skills are among the highest <a href="https://www.udacity.com/blog/2022/04/5-most-in-demand-tech-skills-of-2022.html">in-demand tech competencies</a>. And despite the massive talent gap in the industry, it’s nowhere near peak growth. During the next decade, the number of cybersecurity jobs will jump 36%—much faster than the average of all other occupations at just 5%, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>There are plenty of ways to break into cybersecurity, as <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/07/11/how-to-break-into-cybersecurity-as-told-by-accentures-head-of-cyber/">industry leaders</a> like <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/about/leadership/ryan-lasalle">Ryan LaSalle</a>, head of Accenture Security’s North America practice, and <a href="https://www.jonathanreiber.com/">Jonathan Reiber</a>, vice president of cybersecurity strategy and policy at <a href="https://www.attackiq.com/">AttackIQ</a>, have <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/09/19/the-key-to-breaking-into-a-high-paying-cybersecurity-job-as-told-by-obama-admin-cyber-leader/">previously told <em>Fortune</em></a><em>. </em>Popular options include upskilling programs through your company, earning a <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-cybersecurity/">master’s degree in cybersecurity</a> or another related field, or even taking courses on your own time. </p>



<p>While investing in continuing education can require an upfront cost, the payoff can be worthwhile. An <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#:~:text=%2445%2C760-,The%20median%20annual%20wage%20for%20information%20security%20analysts%20was%20%24102%2C600,percent%20earned%20more%20than%20%24165%2C920.">information security analyst</a> (typically an entry-level cybersecurity role) earned a median salary of $102,600 in 2021, Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show.</p>



<p>Another way to increase your cybersecurity salary is by earning related certifications, which “demonstrate a level of commitment and knowledge,” to the field, Mike Hendrickson, <a href="https://www.skillsoft.com/">Skillsoft’s</a> vice president of tech and development, tells <em>Fortune. </em>“They indicate that an individual is motivated to put the time, effort, and expense into improving their job performance and acquiring new skills,” he adds. “That’s something that pays off and fosters growth for both the employer and employee alike.”</p>



<p><a href="https://www.skillsoft.com/">Skillsoft</a> offers online training and courses on tech subjects and gave <em>Fortune </em>a first look at its 2022 list of the top-paying IT certifications. Among the top 15, three of the highest-paying IT certifications were cybersecurity specific. </p>



<p>“Security has always been well-paying and it really comes down to scarcity—both in the number of professionals and in the required skills,” Hendrickson says. “With today’s limited pool of security professionals, organizations need to make their offers quite attractive, both in compensation and opportunities for professional development. Skills expectations are also high for these professionals.”</p>



<p>These three cybersecurity certifications can help you land starting average paychecks of $150,000 and up. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-certified-information-security-manager-cism">1. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)</h2>



<p><strong>Average salary</strong>: $162,347</p>



<p><strong>What certification shows</strong>: Expertise in information security governance, management, programs, as well as incident management</p>



<p><strong>What you need</strong>: Five years of professional work experience before sitting for the exam</p>



<p><strong>Cost of certification</strong>: $575 for Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) members and $760 for non-members</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-certified-information-systems-security-professional-cissp">2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)</h2>



<p><strong>Average salary</strong>: $158,191</p>



<p><strong>What <strong>certification</strong> shows</strong>: Mastery of security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security. It’s also “been compared to earning a master’s degree in IT security,” according to Skillsoft.</p>



<p><strong>What you need</strong>: Five years of paid, relevant work experience in one of the above domains</p>



<p><strong>Cost of certification</strong>: $749</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-aws-certified-security-specialty">3. AWS Certified Security—Specialty</h2>



<p><strong>Average salary</strong>: $149,741</p>



<p><strong>What <strong>certification</strong> shows</strong>: An ability to secure AWS cloud data and “navigate complex security challenges”</p>



<p><strong>What you need</strong>: AWS recommends having at least five years of IT security experience with two securing AWS workloads</p>



<p><strong>Cost of certification</strong>: $300</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-know-before-working-toward-certifications">What to know before working toward certifications</h2>



<p>Like earning most accolades, cybersecurity certifications require people to have real-world experience, then commit to study and pay for the test itself. There are several ways to study for the certifications, including books, on-demand courses, classroom-style prep, and even bootcamps, Hendrickson says. </p>



<p>“Learning shouldn’t be approached with a one-size-fits-all model,” he adds. “Everyone follows a different path to skill proficiency, competency, and eventually mastery.”</p>



<p>After earning a certification, Hendrickson also emphasizes the importance of continuing to learn on the job. </p>



<p>“You still need to be able to do the job once you are hired,” he says. “Hands-on training is critical, especially in security, because newly acquired skills can immediately transfer to the workplace.”</p>



<p><em>See how the schools you’re considering fared in Fortune’s rankings of the best master’s degree programs in data science (<a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/masters/rankings/best-masters-in-data-science/">in-person</a> and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/data-science/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-data-science/">online</a>), <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-nursing/">nursing</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-computer-science/">computer science</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-cybersecurity/">cybersecurity</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">psychology</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/public-health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/">public health</a>, and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business-analytics/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-business-analytics/">business analytics</a>, as well as the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/leadership/doctorate/rankings/best-online-doctor-education-programs/">doctorate in education</a> programs MBA programs (<a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-parttime-mba-programs-in-2022/">part-time</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-executive-mba-programs-in-2021/">executive</a>, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-mba-programs/">full-time</a>, and <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-online-mba-programs/">online</a>).</em></p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<li>Looking into learning more about cybersecurity? Check out our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-masters-in-cybersecurity/">best masters in cybersecurity programs</a>.</li>
<li>Our list of <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/most-affordable-online-masters-in-cybersecurity/">affordable online masters in cybersecurity programs</a> can help you find the school that best fits your budget.</li>
<li>Achieve your goal of becoming an expert in data science by choosing from our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-masters-in-data-science/">best masters in data science</a> programs.</li>
<li>Interested in computer science? Here’s our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/information-technology/best-online-masters-in-computer-science/">best online computer science masters programs</a>.</li>
<li>Cybersecurity is essential in the modern workforce, and one of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/bootcamps/best-cybersecurity-bootcamps/">best cybersecurity bootcamps</a> can help you hone that skill.</li>
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Another way to up your cybersecurity salary is by earning related certifications, says Mike Hendrickson, a Skillsoft’s VP.

These three cybersecurity certifications can help you land $150K-plus paychecks

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THESE THREE CYBERSECURITY CERTIFICATIONS CAN HELP YOU LAND $150K-PLUS PAYCHECKS

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These three cybersecurity certifications can help you land $150K-plus paychecks

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