Pennsylvania ranked 14th for the total number of job postings for cybersecurity engineers, architects, auditors, analysts, and administrators 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
Data from the Philadelphia-based staffing firm Yoh Services, LLC also identified a significant uptick in cybersecurity job postings. The company filled 58 jobs for cybersecurity in 2014 according to Philly.com. As of the end of July 2015, this number increased to 92. The percentage of tech jobs that required cybersecurity skills increased from 7.7% to 20% during this time frame.
The salaries for cybersecurity experts remains high given the level of demand for these professionals. Burning Glass Technologies reported that the average salary for a specialist in cybersecurity exceeded that of other IT professionals by $6,500.
Pennsylvania’s government prioritizes cybersecurity and is considered a leader according to rankings by the Center for Digital Government’s 2014 Digital States Survey. Pennsylvania received an A- along with four other states. Only three states ranked higher. The Center also awarded the 2014 Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation Award to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania received this award for implementing the Commonwealth Application Certification and Accreditation (CA2) process to respond to increased security attacks. This process enabled the state’s cybersecurity experts to correct vulnerabilities before applications went live on the Web. Estimates indicate that this process saves the Commonwealth’s taxpayers $38 million a year.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has had security regulations in place for more than 10 years according to Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer who wrote an opinion piece for The Morning Call in 2015. With cyberattacks on key infrastructure such as water, power, transportation, and telecommunications a grave threat, the PUC considers cybersecurity to be one of its priorities. The Commission works in concert with law enforcement, other state and federal agencies, and key industry stakeholders to safeguard Pennsylvania’s key infrastructure.
Salaries for Cybersecurity Professionals in Pennsylvania’s Major Cities
The Robert Half Technology 2016 Salary Guide provided the salary ranges for cybersecurity analysts and administrators in the largest cities of Pennsylvania. Professionals who possess a master’s degree have the expertise to earn on the upper end of these ranges:
Philadelphia:
- Data Security Analysts: $126,609 – $178,480
- Systems Security Administrators: $121,325 – $171,925
- Network Security Administrators: $118,738 – $169,050
Pittsburgh:
- Data Security Analysts: $107,893 – $152,096
- Systems Security Administrators: $103,390 – $146,510
- Network Security Administrators: $101,185 – $144,060
Harrisburg:
- Data Security Analysts: $104,590 – $147,440
- Systems Security Administrators: $100,225 – $142,025
- Network Security Administrators: $98,088 – $139,650
Salaries for Information Security Analysts Throughout Pennsylvania
The Computing Technology Industry Association reported that the number of job postings for information security analysts in the US more than doubled between the first quarters of 2014 and 2015 according to Philly.com.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an analysis of the annual and hourly earnings for information security analysts in Pennsylvania’s largest cities, as well as the whole of Montgomery County. Information security analysts who possess a master’s degree can expect to earn salaries that fall within the 90th percentile: