The Resurgence of Cybersecurity Job Openings: Trends, Salaries, and Skills
In recent months, the cybersecurity industry has experienced a notable rebound in job openings, signaling a recovery from a previous hiring lull. According to data from CyberSeek, over 514,000 cybersecurity job listings were posted in the past year, marking a 12% increase compared to the previous year. This resurgence reflects a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity across both public and private sectors, as organizations strive to bolster their defenses against an increasingly complex threat landscape.
The State of the Cyber Job Market
While the job market for cybersecurity professionals is on the rise, compensation remains a critical issue. Pay scales vary significantly based on the skills and expertise that cyber professionals bring to their roles. A recent report from CyberSN, a workforce management platform specializing in security and IT, provides valuable insights into the current state of salaries within the cybersecurity sector. The report highlights that as the threat landscape evolves and the adoption of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) increases, the key to higher salaries lies in experience, specialized skills, and the ability to understand and mitigate emerging risks.
Shifting Hiring Strategies
Organizations are increasingly focusing their hiring strategies on candidates with technical depth, strategic vision, and clearly defined responsibilities. As some generalist cybersecurity roles face stagnation due to automation and outsourcing, companies are prioritizing specialized skills that can address specific security challenges. According to CyberSN’s Cybersecurity Salary Data Report 2025, roles that are experiencing salary stagnation or decline are often those impacted by automation or economic constraints that limit annual raises.
Industry experts emphasize that the highest salaries are reserved for professionals who possess deep knowledge in areas such as cloud security, threat hunting, and regulatory compliance. Stephen Kowski, field CTO at SlashNext, notes that companies are seeking individuals who can quickly identify complex online threats and make informed decisions, rather than merely following instructions. Continuous learning and the ability to bridge technical and business needs are essential for those aiming to command higher salaries.
Specialized Skills Drive Compensation
The CyberSN report categorizes 45 cybersecurity job titles into ten distinct categories, revealing significant variations in average salaries. The cybersecurity defense category, which includes roles such as cybersecurity engineer, data security engineer, and cyber threat intelligence analyst, boasts some of the highest average annual salaries in the industry. For instance, a cybersecurity engineer can earn around $180,000, while a data privacy officer can command an average salary of $180,000 as well.
As organizations increasingly invest in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), skilled professionals in these areas are seeing greater compensation. Patrick Tiquet, vice president for security and architecture at Keeper Security, emphasizes that GRC roles have evolved into strategic priorities as organizations navigate compliance pressures and reputational risks. The ability to anticipate threats and align cybersecurity with business continuity is becoming essential for modern security teams.
The Rise of Offensive Security Roles
Offensive cybersecurity roles are also witnessing a surge in salaries, a trend highlighted at the 2025 RSA Conference in San Francisco. Positions such as penetration testers, threat hunters, and application security engineers are commanding impressive salaries, with red teamers earning around $180,000. Bugcrowd Founder Casey Ellis explains that the shift towards red teaming is not just about identifying vulnerabilities; it’s about fostering cyber resilience through adversarial testing. Organizations that embrace this mindset are better positioned to stay ahead of cyber threats.
Management Roles and Their Prominence
Cybersecurity management tracks continue to offer some of the most lucrative career opportunities. Positions such as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) command average salaries of $325,000 and $310,000, respectively. As automation takes over more security functions, the need for human expertise in management remains critical. Chris Gray, field CTO at Deepwatch, highlights that managers play a vital role in identifying issues, developing improvements, and overseeing program advancements.
Effective communication and the ability to articulate how cybersecurity contributes to organizational success are crucial skills for professionals in management roles. Positions such as cybersecurity advisors and project managers, which require strong communication skills, also command salaries of $175,000 or higher.
Embracing the Future of Cybersecurity
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, professionals must adapt to the changing demands of the industry. Automation is optimizing many repetitive tasks, but the human element remains essential for identifying threats and communicating effectively. Gray advises practitioners to embrace automation and enhance their skill sets to leverage these advancements.
In conclusion, the cybersecurity job market is experiencing a resurgence, with a growing number of job openings and evolving compensation structures. Professionals who invest in specialized skills, continuous learning, and effective communication will be well-positioned to thrive in this dynamic field. As organizations prioritize cybersecurity more than ever, the demand for skilled professionals will only continue to rise, making this an opportune time to pursue a career in cybersecurity.