Describing cybersecurity as “one of the fastest growing industries” in the state in a 2015 press release, Acting Commissioner of the New York Department of Labor, Mario J. Musolino, also stated that “there are growing needs to fill jobs” in this field.
- 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
Data from the workforce research firm Burning Glass Technologies bears this out. Between 2010 and 2014, the tremendous number of cybersecurity job postings in New York gave the state some unique distinctions:
- New York State had the 4th highest number of cybersecuritiy job postings of any state
- New York City had the 2nd highest number of cybersecuritiy job postings of any metropolitan area
With all this demand comes impressive starting salary offers for cybersecurity auditors, architects, analysts, engineers, and administrators. In fact, Burning Glass Technologies reported that cybersecurity experts command salaries that are 9% higher on average than other IT professionals.
Given the increasing frequency and sophistication of attacks on financial services institutions, New York’s Department of Financial Services thoroughly analyzed the threat potential to regulated insurance companies in the state by conducting a survey during 2013 and 2014. While 95% of the companies believed they had adequate staffing levels for cybersecurity, 35% reported experiencing at least one cyber breach, while 7% reported experiencing 6 or more breaches. Despite these statistics, only 14% of the insurance industry’s CEOs received monthly briefings on information security.
With estimates of the net effect of cybercrime in New York State ranging from $5 to $10 billion a year, Governor Cuomo prioritized ramping up cybersecurity knowledge and implementation in the state. Cybersecurity experts in New York laud the Governor’s efforts and warn of the need to stay vigilant. In the words of the Cyber Security Advisory Board Director and Senior Policy Advisor, Peter A. Bloniarz, “a cyber-incident could have sizable consequences for New York’s economy and its residents.”
New York benefits economically from its rigorous efforts to make cybersecurity a “top priority,” since providing businesses with a safe environment serves as “the best way to encourage business growth” according to the Empire State Development’s CEO, Commissioner, and President Howard Zemsky.
The Governor’s multi-agency effort includes:
- Office of Information Technology Services
- Cyber Security Advisory Board
- Empire State Development
- Department of Labor
Salaries for Cybersecurity Professionals in New York State’s Major Cities
The Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide provides the salary ranges that cybersecurity admins and analysts can expect to earn in the largest cities of New York. Experts in cybersecurity who have a master’s degree can expect to earn salaries on the high end of these ranges:
Data Security Analysts:
- Albany: $106,792 – $150,544
- Buffalo: $104,590 – $147,440
- Long Island: $132,114 – $186,240
- New York: $154,133 – $217,280
- Rochester: $100,957 – $142,318
- Syracuse: $99,416 – $140,146
Systems Security Administrators:
- Albany: $102,335 – $145,015
- Buffalo: $100,225 – $142,025
- Long Island: $126,600 – $179,400
- New York: $147,700 – $209,300
- Rochester: $96,744 – $137,092
- Syracuse: $95,267 – $134,999
Network Security Administrators:
- Albany: $100,153 – $142,590
- Buffalo: $98,088 – $139,650
- Long Island: $123,900 – $176,400
- New York: $144,550 – $205,800
- Rochester: $94,680 – $134,799
- Syracuse: $93,235 – $132,741
Salaries for Information Security Analysts Throughout New York
Information security analysts in New York State earned the 2nd highest average salary in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In particular, the New York City metropolitan area boasted both the:
- 2nd highest average salary of any metropolitan area
- 2nd highest number of jobs of any metropolitan area
The New York State Department of Labor predicts that the number of jobs for information security analysts will increase 17% faster than the national average between 2012 and 2020.
The BLS provides a high level of detail on salaries for information security analysts who are employed throughout New York State in 2015. Analysts with a master’s degree can expect to earn in the highest percentile: