The Washington Bureau featured Colorado’s high profile and high paying cybersecurity industry in 2016 when Governor John Hickenloper spoke about it at DC’s Wilson Center.
Built in Colorado highlighted key players in the state’s cybersecurity industry as of May 2016:
- ProtectWise – Denver
- LogRhythm – Boulder
- Webroot – Broomfield
- Absio – Highland Ranch
- Red Canary – Denver
- Grand Canyon University - B.S. and M.S. in Cyber Security
- SNHU - B.S and M.S. in Cybersecurity
- Purdue Global - Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Arizona State University - Online Master of Arts in Global Security
- ECPI University - Cyber and Network Security - Bachelor's
Erik Mitisek, the CEO of the Colorado Technology Association, described how businesses and government agencies in the state need 4,000 to 6,000 workers with expertise in cybersecurity and computer networking in a 2016 article in the Colorado Springs Gazette. Mitisek expects this shortage of professionals to grow rapidly in the next several years.
In 2016, Colorado Springs and the surrounding area were home to 60 firms offering cybersecurity services on a contract basis, while metropolitan Denver had another 30. Governor Hickenloper attributed the rapid growth of this industry in part to the presence of the Air Force Space Command, which is tasked with cyber defense responsibilities.
The Chief Economic Development Officer for the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, Al Wendstrand, stated that the city ranks among the top 10 in the country for companies involved in cybersecurity and among the top 5 in terms of the number of jobs for cybersecurity experts.
Colorado Springs is about to become even more high profile in cybersecurity with the announcement that a National Cybersecurity Intelligence Center will be opening there. In addition to conducting research on cybersecurity threats, the center will help businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits combat and recover from cyber attacks and will educate public officials on cybersecurity issues.
In addition to the 100 employees who will be working in the Center, Governor HIckenloper stated that the project could generate thousands of jobs over the long term from businesses that want to locate near there.
Salaries for Key Cybersecurity Positions Throughout Colorado
Cybersecurity specialists in Colorado can expect to earn salaries within the ranges shown here according to the Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide. The most experienced master’s-prepared cybersecurity specialists can expect to earn on the high end of these ranges:
Data Security Analysts:
- Boulder: $132,001 – $186,080
- Denver: $118,948 – $168,680
- Fort Collins: $107,825 – $152,000
- Colorado Springs: $104,761 – $147,680
Systems Security Administrators:
- Boulder: $122,697 – $173,869
- Denver: $110,564 – $156,676
- Fort Collins: $100,225 – $142,025
- Colorado Springs: $97,377 – $137,989
Network Security Administrators:
- Boulder: $120,080 – $170,961
- Denver: $108,206 – $154,056
- Fort Collins: $98,088 – $139,350
- Colorado Springs: $95,300 – $135,681
Salaries for Information Security Analysts in Colorado
The need for information security analysts in Colorado is so acute that the state’s Department of Labor and Employment predicted that the number of jobs would increase by 53.1% between 2014 and 2024. This rate is three times greater than the increase predicted as a national average.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provided a detailed analysis of the salaries for information security analysts in the major metropolitan areas of Colorado for 2015. Analysts with a master’s degree in cybersecurity can expect to earn salaries in the highest percentiles: