Cyber security positions are on the rise. With rising cyber security concerns as technology becomes even more individualized, companies and government entities are seeking highly-trained professionals. From security analysts to engineers and IT specialists, there are jobs for those with the appropriate skills.
According to a report released in 2016 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cybersecurity market is expected to grow from $75 billion in 2015 to $170 billion by 2020. U.S. News and World Report ranked a career in information security analysis eighth on its list of the 100 best jobs for 2015. They state the profession is growing at a rate of 36.5% through 2022.
The following cities represent a small sample of current hiring trends within the cyber security industry. Larger cities are indicative of the broader scene across the industry and across the United States.
Seattle: Seattle, Washington is host to many companies and government agencies serving a wide range of industries and offering solutions to an increasing technology problem. Cyber security is a top concern for agencies like the FBI and United States military branches. Seattle is home to many large corporations that have expanded their branding globally. This means that as these corporations grow, so does their cyber security. This city offers some of the highest paying cyber security positions in the United States, however candidates should be aware of the cost of living associated with a larger city like Seattle.
San Francisco: San Francisco, California is a hub of a variety of start-ups and tech companies. This study published by the Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA cites that San Francisco and California, in general, added a significant number of cyber security and tech jobs in 2018. With the addition of over 50,000 jobs added to the California workforce in 2018, about half of those positions were in the San Francisco area. The Bay Area has become known as one of the largest economic and technological centers in the world. There’s also a growing collaboration between universities and enterprise-level activity. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that “tech firms made up more than 60 percent of all leasing activity in San Francisco in 2018.” Since it’s all about location, real estate activity certainly indicates an elevation in cyber security employment.
Washington, D.C.: While there are non-governmental agencies and corporations in the District of Columbia, most of the cyber security and IT positions are within the federal government and defense industries. According to CompTIA “the tech industry accounts for approximately 10.3 percent of the District’s workforce.” Based on other years, this figure indicates that there is a steady increase in cyber security positions especially as political and government systems increasingly become targets for hackers.
