Columbus experienced dramatic growth in the number of job postings for cybersecurity engineers, analysts, architects, auditors, and administrators between 2010 and 2014 according to the workforce research firm Burning Glass Technologies. With a growth rate of 178%, Columbus was second only to Austin in the volume of cybersecurity jobs available during that time frame.
- 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
Overall, Ohio posted the 13th highest number of jobs for cybersecurity experts during the four-year period of the analysis. Such a strong demand for these positions raises the bar on salaries, and Burning Glass Technologies reports that the average salary for a cybersecurity position exceeds that of other types of IT jobs by $6,500.
The state of Ohio embraced the field of cybersecurity as one of the keys to its growth, and JobsOhio targets cybersecurity and IT as a promising industry to expand in the state. In fact, the Ohio Development Services Agency issued a press release in 2014 entitled “Ohio Takes Lead in Cybersecurity & Analytics.”
The press release focused on the Ohio Third Frontier Commission which brings companies together to solve high-tech problems and create jobs in the process. The Commission approved $5 million for the Columbus Collaboratory—a multi-industry partnership that will create 100 new jobs over the next five years. Battelle, American Electric Power, OhioHealth, Nationwide, Huntington Bank, Cardinal Health, and L. Brands provided $20 million in investment for the partnership.
Battelle’s Kay Delaney state that “Columbus has a highly skilled workforce” in The Columbus Region factsheet on cybersecurity. The city offers a thriving IT ecosystem ranging from Fortune 500 companies to consulting startups.
Ohio’s American Electric Power (AEP) ranks as the first utility company in the country to develop a cybersecurity operations center. Its Center in Columbus allows for real-time monitoring of cybersecurity. AEP worked with the DOE and Lockheed Martin to develop this center.
Dayton also made news by attracting the cybersecurity company Lunarline in 2014. The company’s CEO, Waylon Kush, told the Dayton Business Journal that they picked the city because they needed to duplicate their 24/7 operation in Washington as well as a school of cybersecurity that could provide new skills to its employees. Lunarline spent $600,000 to build its facility in Dayton that includes a 1,200-square-foot “compartmented information facility.”
Salaries for Cybersecurity Professionals in Ohio’s Major Cities
According to the Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide, cybersecurity admins and analysts throughout Ohio can expect to earn within these salary ranges. Professionals with a master’s degree have the training and skills to earn salaries on the high end of these ranges:
Data Security Analysts:
- Akron: $97,985 – $138,128
- Canton: $90,278 – $127,264
- Cincinnati: $107,343 – $151,320
- Cleveland: $105,691 – $148,992
- Columbus: $107,343 – $151,320
- Dayton: $95,783 – $135,024
- Toledo: $93,030 – $131,144
- Youngstown: $83,672 – $117,952
Systems Security Administrators:
- Akron: $93,895 – $133,055
- Canton: $86,510 – $122,590
- Cincinnati: $102,863 – $145,763
- Cleveland: $101,280 – $143,520
- Columbus: $102,863 – $145,763
- Dayton: $91,785 – $130,065
- Toledo: $89,148 – $126,328
- Youngstown: $80,180 – $113,620
Network Security Administrators:
- Akron: $91,893 – $130,830
- Canton: $84,665 – $120,540
- Cincinnati: $100,669 – $143,325
- Cleveland: $99,120 – $141,120
- Columbus: $100,669 – $143,325
- Dayton: $89,828 – $127,890
- Toledo: $87,246 – $124,215
- Youngstown: $78,470 – $111,720
Salaries for Information Security Analysts in the Major Regions of Ohio
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that information security analysts in the West Northwestern nonmetropolitan area of Ohio earned the 2nd highest average salary of such analysts in any rural part of the country as of 2015. The BLS provided both annual and hourly salary statistics for information security analysts in Ohio’s major cities and this nonmetropolitan area. Analysts who possess a master’s degree can expect to earn salaries that fall within the 90th percentile: