Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
Cybersecurity analyst
Information security analysts monitor networks for intrusions, investigate alerts, run vulnerability scans, and help organizations respond to incidents. Entry roles are usually in a security operations center.
By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS, O*NET
What a cybersecurity analyst makes
Median pay, May 2025, United States
$129,180
$62.11 an hour, median
- 25th percentile
- $97,810
- 75th percentile
- $163,500
- 90th percentile
- $199,850
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wages of employed workers, not offers.
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- BLS
- Workers without a bachelor's
- 22%
- O*NET
- Growth, 2025 to 2035
- +21.0%
- BLS projections
- Openings a year
- 14,100
- BLS projections
Read this before you plan on it
How people get in without a degree
The realistic no-degree route is IT support first, then a security certificate and CompTIA Security+. The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate prepares for Security+ and is accepted by many employers as evidence of skills; a home lab, capture-the-flag practice, and a help-desk background make the application credible.
The work, as O*NET defines it: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.
The next step
Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, then CompTIA Security+
- Typical cost
- $49 per month on Coursera, then a $404 Security+ exam
- Time to complete
- About 6 months for the certificate, plus exam preparation
Where to start Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
Costs and durations are ranges gathered from provider and state sources; confirm the current price and your state's rules before you pay anything. Never pay a fee to apply for a job.
Questions
Do you need a degree to be a cybersecurity analyst?
Not always. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, but 22% of workers in the occupation report less than a bachelor's degree (O*NET). Employers that hire without one look for the credential and the work described on this page.
How much does a cybersecurity analyst make?
The median pay was $129,180 a year ($62.11 an hour) in May 2025, according to BLS. The middle half earned between $97,810 and $163,500, and the top 10 percent earned more than $199,850.
How long does it take to become a cybersecurity analyst?
About 6 months for the certificate, plus exam preparation. The typical cost is $49 per month on Coursera, then a $404 Security+ exam.
Is cybersecurity analyst work growing?
BLS projects employment to grow 21.0% from 2025 to 2035 with about 14,100 openings a year from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation code 15-1212.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2).
- O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), CC BY 4.0. The share without a bachelor’s degree is our summary of O*NET’s education distribution; USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed it.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile