Oklahoma Cyber Command states that “cybersecurity is a growing field” in the state. In fact, the number of jobs posted for cybersecurity engineers, analysts, architects, auditors, and administrators in the state nearly doubled 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
The shortage of experienced cybersecurity professionals results in high salaries for this field, and Burning Glass Technologies states that cybersecurity experts earn an average of 9% more than other types of IT professionals.
Cybersecurity concerns affect operations in Oklahoma that range from large defense contractors such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman to small businesses. Kitt Letcher, the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma, told The Oklahoman that “cyber crime is a real problem” faced by Oklahoma businesses every day.
This BBB chapter aligns with that of the national organization to partner with the National Cyber Security Alliance and help business owners create a “culture of cybersecurity.” This strategy employs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework to improve security within small businesses.
Large entities in Oklahoma also embrace the NIST’s framework. Leo Staples, a Senior Manager at Oklahoma Gas & Electric was quoted in a White House document that focused on the new cybersecurity framework. Staples described how this company looks forward to utilizing the guidelines “as part of a paradigm from which we form the basis of our Integrated Security Plan.”
Salaries for Cybersecurity Professionals in Oklahoma City and Tulsa
The Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide provides the salary ranges for cybersecurity analysts and administrators in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Professionals with a master’s degree have the training and skills to earn on the high end of these ranges:
- Data Security Analysts: $102,388 – $144,336
- Systems Security Administrators: $98,115 – $139,035
- Network Security Administrators: $96,023 – $136,710
Salaries for Information Security Analysts in Urban and Rural Oklahoma
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a detailed analysis of the salaries for information security analysts in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and major rural areas of Oklahoma. Information security analysts who have a master’s degree can expect to earn within the 90th percentile: