The number of jobs for cybersecurity analysts, auditors, architects, engineers, and administrators in Washington State increased by 94% between 2010 and 2014 according to the workforce research firm Burning Glass Technologies.
- 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
Even when Seattle Business Magazine forecasted in 2011 that cybersecurity was an emerging industry in the Puget Sound region, they didn’t expect the unprecedented growth that’s now being seen in 2016. Seattle is now home to 32% more cybersecurity professionals than the average for other metro areas of similar size according to Burning Glass Technologies.
Still, demand for skilled IT security professionals remains high amid a growing “talent shortage,” which has been driving up starting salary offers as employers compete for top talent. In fact, Burning Glass Technologies reports that the salaries for cybersecurity professionals is $6,500 higher on average than for other IT professionals.
Washington State’s robust cybersecurity industry merited coverage in the 2015 “State of the States on Cybersecurity” prepared by Francesca Spidalieri of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. This analysis claims that Washington “has been at the forefront of cybersecurity protection and preparedness” for the past several years.
In fact, according to the Washington State Military Alliance, Washington has strong connections to military agencies that have been doing pioneering work in the field of cybersecurity for years. Among them is the National Guard’s 194th Regional Support Wing, which oversees the 262nd Network Warfare Squadron, the first National Guard squadron to be assigned cybersecurity duties.
The military works closely with industry partners to ensure that it stays ahead of the curve when it comes to cyber threats. As home to influential tech companies like Microsoft, Boeing, Idea Entity, Cray, and IID, Washington plays a key role in such public-private partnerships.
Salaries for Cybersecurity Professionals in Seattle and Spokane
Cybersecurity admins and analysts in Seattle and Spokane can expect to earn salaries within the ranges shown here, according to the Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide. Professionals with a master’s degree can expect to earn salaries that fall at the upper end of these ranges:
Seattle:
- Data Security Analysts: $130,903 – $184,533
- Systems Security Administrators: $125,440 – $177,756
- Network Security Administrators: $122,764 – $174,783
Spokane:
- Data Security Analysts: $90,278 – $127,264
- Systems Security Administrators: $86,510 – $122.590
- Network Security Administrators: $84,665 – $120,540
Salaries for Information Security Analysts in Washington’s Major Cities
The demand for information security analysts in Washington is so high that the state’s Employment Security Department predicts that the number of jobs in this field will increase by 2.55% a year between 2014 and 2019.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary data for information security analysts in the major cities of Washington State as of 2015. Information security analysts that hold a master’s degree can expect to earn within the 90th percentile:
*Values are equal to or greater than $90/hour or $187,200/year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report salary data beyond these values.