20 Highest Paying States for Cybersecurity Jobs in 2022

Before we get into the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs in 2022, it’s important to remember that the demand for cybersecurity experts is increasing and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Although the talent gap for certified cybersecurity experts is widening, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 31% increase in employment for cybersecurity analysts between 2019 and 2029.

With the United States facing a cybersecurity workforce shortage of approximately 314,000 in 2019 and a projected increase to 498,480 by 2021, pursuing a career in cybersecurity may be the best career decision of your life. Furthermore, the workforce shortage resulted in a 50% increase in data breaches in 2019, providing you with an excellent opportunity to be a part of the solution.

That being said, anyone looking to advance their careers as a cybersecurity professional should be aware of key industry numbers and statistics, such as the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs based on factors such as high average salaries, long-term growth potential, and high employment per 1,000 jobs.

 

Best Cities For CyberSecurity Jobs In 2022

According to a recent Comparitech study, 9 states will be the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022. These states have the highest average annual wages, the greatest long-term growth potential, and the greatest 5-year employment increase.

1. Virginia

According to Comparitech research, Virginia is the highest paying state for cybersecurity jobs. The state has the most cybersecurity professionals employed, the highest employment per 1,000 jobs, a high annual government cyber security jobs salary ($114,760), and a strong long-term growth projection for cybersecurity roles (by 2028).

Northern Virginia’s role in federal contracting is critical to the state’s position at the top of the pyramid. Virginia is home to 41 of the top 100 federal technology contractors in the Washington, D.C. area. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia is home to five of the top 10 federal contracting companies in the 2020 Washington Technology Top 100.

The state also has 6 companies listed in the Cyber 150, the 4th most of any state in the country. Virginia is an ideal hub for cybersecurity companies and professionals due to its proximity to the Pentagon, the CIA, the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other federal assets.

According to one study, Virginia is the 13th highest paying state for cybersecurity jobs in the United States. Virginia also has the most cybersecurity analysts than any other state and has some of the largest companies on the Cyber 500 list. There are approximately 5,200 cybersecurity job openings in the state right now.

2. Texas

Texas has grown to become one of the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs, ranking second in 2018 for Infosec analyst employment (according to the BLS), second in the Comparitech report, and 3rd in cybersecurity jobs openings (according to CyberSeek). 

According to the most recent Business Facilities rankings, Texas is the leading state in terms of cybersecurity growth potential, outperforming Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Georgia. The metrics used to determine the rankings included higher education resources, employment rates, research labs, and innovation centers, and the overall cyber ecosystem. 

The city of San Antonio, which bills itself as the “Cyber City,” was instrumental in Texas ranking first as one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022. The city has been recognized for its fast-rising cybersecurity industry, which includes the headquarters of over 40 cybersecurity companies, dozens of cybersecurity hubs, and 6 NSA Excellence Centers.

It’s also worth noting that San Antonio has emerged as a leading cybersecurity hub, with the highest concentration of cyber and intelligence experts outside of the national capital region. Texas currently employs 10,430 cybersecurity analysts and has approximately 3,400 cybersecurity job openings. The average annual government cybersecurity jobs salary in Texas is $108,810.

3. New York City

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York ranks 4th among states with the highest employment levels and 1st among the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs. According to BLS data, the average annual wage for cybersecurity analysts in New York is $121,750, which is higher than the national average. 

The NYC Economic Development Corp’s Cyber NYC initiative seeks to generate $100 million in public and private investments to make New York an “international cybersecurity landing pad.” In addition, there are plans to create 10,000 cybersecurity jobs in the public and private sectors.

More than two dozen companies on the Cybersecurity 500 index, including Deloitte, Accenture, and Booz Allen Hamilton, have their headquarters in New York.

4. California

California is one of the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs that has more than 1.86 million tech experts (8th highest concentration of tech workers), and new tech jobs, including cybersecurity jobs, increase by about 60,000 years on year. The technology sector contributes approximately $492.8 billion (18.1% ) to the California economy, according to CompTIA. California has the following cybersecurity resources:

  • The greatest number of job postings (5,008)
  • The country with the 3rd highest number of cybersecurity analysts (9,200+)
  • Cyber experts earn the 5th highest salaries ($114,620).
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Although Silicon Valley does not have many cybersecurity job openings, the Los Angeles metro area has the country’s 6th highest employment level, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

5. Columbia

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the District of Columbia has the 2nd highest concentration of cybersecurity jobs and the 3rd highest location quotient in the country. Aside from employing over 2,000 cyber experts, the state has an employment per thousand jobs ratio of 2.80, which is relatively high when compared to many states, which have an employment level of less than 2.0.

The District of Columbia is also ranked 3rd in terms of the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs. cybersecurity analysts earn an average annual government cybersecurity jobs salary of $119,160. Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture are two cybersecurity firms with offices in the District of Columbia.

6. Colorado

According to a Comparitech report, Colorado has experienced the greatest 5-year increase in cybersecurity employment, with a 139%  increase. This is more than three times the growth rate seen in New York and Virginia (37%). Colorado is ranked 8th in the nation for cybersecurity growth, according to Business Facilities.

Colorado also has one of the highest location quotients, which is a measure of the concentrations of a state’s cybersecurity demand relative to the national average, according to CyberSeek. The state ranks 4th with a location quotient of 2.40, trailing only D.C. (7.9), Virginia (4.6), and Maryland (2.7). The lower cost of living and higher average annual salaries are two other factors that contribute to Colorado being one of the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs.

According to statistics, the cost of living in San Francisco is 77% higher, but Denver, Colorado is the 5th highest paying metro area for cybersecurity professionals, with the average annual government cybersecurity jobs salary in Colorado state being $104,510.

7. North Carolina

North Carolina was ranked in the top 10 of Business Facilities’ new Cybersecurity Growth Potential state rankings for creating a conducive investment ecosystem by offering a growing talent of young skilled workers, targeted incentives, and an appealing quality of life. Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Georgia are also among the top 5 states in BF’s Cyber Growth Potential rankings.

The Cybersecurity Growth Potential rankings are based on an overall assessment of each state’s cyber ecosystem, which includes higher education resources, collaborations with national security programs, research labs, and innovation centers, and employment statistics.

8. Maryland 

Maryland employs more than 5,860 cybersecurity experts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Its employment per thousand jobs ratio of 2.17 and location quotient of 2.54 makes it one of the highest paying states for cybersecurity jobs. The average annual wage for cyber experts working in Maryland is $108,300, which is among the highest in the country.

It’s also worth noting that Maryland came in 4th place in the latest Business Facilities Cyber Growth Potential rankings. This demonstrates their commitment to advancing the growth and development of the cyber industry through investments in research labs and innovation centers, higher education resources, and collaboration with national security programs.

9. Florida

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida has a workforce of 6,630 cybersecurity analysts. In Florida, the average annual government cybersecurity jobs salary is $91,580. According to the BLS, Florida’s employment per thousand jobs is 0.75 and its location quotient is 0.88. 

10. Washington, D.C.

As the headquarters of government agencies that employ many cybersecurity professionals, Washington, D.C. should come as no surprise. We found well over 10,000 open cybersecurity positions in Washington, ranging from law enforcement to investigative work to national security. Of course, where large government projects take root, a lot of private contracting occurs as well. 

General Dynamics Information Technology, Leidos, CACI, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC are among the top private firms hiring in the Washington, D.C. area. The proliferation of government and intelligence agency work, more than in other locations, necessitates the need for many jobs requiring security clearances. In Washington, D.C., the following security clearance roles have average salaries: 

  • Department of Defense, Secret Clearance, $86,313; 
  • Department of Defense, Top Secret Clearance, $105,938; 
  • CounterIntelligence with a Polygraph Test, $114,953; and 
  • Gov’t Contractor with full scope lifestyle polygraph test, $129,957.

11. New York

Finance firms in New York employ thousands of cybersecurity professionals, making it one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022. Furthermore, the largest city in the United States has many large hospitals, educational systems, and governmental headquarters that require cybersecurity. While there are nearly 7,000 cybersecurity job openings in New York right now, there should be many more in the future.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan called New York Works. New York Works is a 10-year plan focused on future jobs, with $30 million set aside to assist in the creation of up to 10,000 cybersecurity jobs supporting office districts in Manhattan and surrounding boroughs. The average government cybersecurity jobs salary in New York is well over $100,000, making it one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022.

12. San Francisco

It’s no surprise that thousands of cybersecurity jobs are available in the western financial and technology capital. Several large technology companies, as well as government headquarters, Health Care Providers, hospitals, and school systems, are among the top employers. Mid to upper-level jobs are more prevalent in San Francisco.

Despite the high cost of living, earnings are comparable to other technical jobs in San Francisco. The average government cybersecurity jobs salary is $161,286, which is more than double the national average. In addition, the highest paying mid-level cybersecurity roles approached $300,000 in salary.

13. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago’s prominence in cybersecurity is unsurprising given its status as one of the largest business hubs in the United States. When we checked, there were over 4,000 related cybersecurity job openings in Chicago. Many of the available positions also had important decision-making responsibilities. Chicago had one of the most openings for Chief cybersecurity Officers and Security Architects. 

Many Fortune 500 companies and large organizations, including Trustwave, Marriott International, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Howard Brown Health, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, are among the top employers for cybersecurity professionals in Chicago.

14. Arlington

Arlington is located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and is home to the Pentagon, the Department of Defense, and one of the world’s largest employers of cybersecurity professionals (often through private contractors). Arlington has a high demand for cybersecurity professionals, with close to the highest number of openings in a variety of job titles, including less common ones like encryption expert, incident responder, and penetration testers.

In total, we discovered over 3,000 cybersecurity job openings in Arlington and the surrounding areas. The top employers are similar to those in Washington, D.C., and include many large government contracting firms, such as General Dynamics Information Technology, Leidos, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and CACI.

15. Seattle

Seattle, home to some of the most well-known tech brands with thousands of job openings in cybersecurity. Seattle has been a hub for many large technology companies, leads the country in cybersecurity job openings for developers or software engineers. Security architect positions are also the most in-demand cybersecurity jobs in Seattle. 

We found over 3,000 cybersecurity-related job openings in Seattle. The University of Washington Medical Center, Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks, DISH Network, Metro PCS, T Mobile, and Expedia are among the top employers.

16. Atlanta

Atlanta has the nation’s 10th largest economy and the 4th most Fortune 500 companies, thereby making it one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022. In addition, 75% of Fortune 500 companies have a presence in the city, often in the form of regional headquarters. In keeping with Atlanta’s large corporate presence, job titles such as cybersecurity auditors and forensics experts are particularly prevalent in cybersecurity positions. 

Coca-Cola, Marriott International, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, NFC Amity Management, DISH Network, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Kroger Stores are among the top employers in Atlanta for cybersecurity-related job openings.

17. San Diego

In recent years, San Diego has slowly grown to become yet another west coast tech behemoth. The ability to launch businesses, as well as several already thriving industries, have all contributed to this growth. Because of the presence of a major deepwater port, major defense installations, and international trade, cybersecurity careers have a particularly bright future. 

San Diego, like Seattle, performed particularly well for states with cybersecurity job openings for developers or software engineers. Many healthcare and defense contractor organizations were among the top employers hiring for cybersecurity roles, including Family Health Centers of San Diego, General Atomics and Affiliated Companies, Epsilon Systems Solutions, San Ysidro Health Services, and Northrop Grumman.

18. Dallas

Dallas is the hub of a sprawling 12 county metroplex that is one of the largest economic centers in the United States. With 21 Fortune 500 companies in the extended metroplex, there is plenty of opportunity for cybersecurity professionals. Similar to San Francisco, the most popular cybersecurity job openings in Dallas are mid to senior-level positions such as Chief Cybersecurity Officer, cybersecurity Director, and cybersecurity Auditor. 

Dallas boasts of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022 with top employers like UT Southwestern Medical Center, Marriott International, JP Morgan Chase, Verizon, DISH Network, Citi, Capital One, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, as well as a higher number of finance and banking employers than any other city on our list.

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19. Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Anne Arundel County is one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022, including the surrounding area of Annapolis, Maryland’s capital. The county and Annapolis proper, like much of the surrounding area, have many local, regional, city, and federal government organizations, which leads to numerous cybersecurity gaps. 

The National Security Agency, in particular, as well as many corporations involved in defense, telecommunications, fiber optics, internet technology, and data centers. Security administrators and security engineers are the most common job titles for cybersecurity roles in Anne Arundel County. Annapolis Junction and Fort Meade, Maryland have particularly high concentrations of cybersecurity professionals.

20. Des Moines, Iowa 

Des Moines, Iowa is also among the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022. Des Moines has a cybersecurity workforce of over 3,400 people and approximately 2,500 open jobs. The city has a geographic concentration of cybersecurity jobs that is 5.8 times that of the national average, which makes it one of the best cities for cybersecurity jobs in 2022.

Conclusion

We’ve highlighted just a few of the highest-paying states for cybersecurity jobs. These states have some of the highest wages, a large number of cybersecurity job openings, and a high potential for career advancement. Notable mentions include Florida, New Jersey, and Delaware, all of which can be appealing options if you live in one of these states.

It’s no secret that organizations of all sizes are ramping up their hiring efforts now that the cybercrime epidemic is everyone’s concern. As a result, information technology professionals and others who want to position themselves for success in this critical and rapidly growing field are honing their skills through industry certifications and advanced degree programs.

Overall, the world of cybersecurity provides numerous opportunities to perform important and meaningful work while being well-compensated for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do Cybersecurity Experts Do?

As a cybersecurity professional, you aid in the protection of sensitive data and information both online and on the servers of your employer. You manage firewalls, encryption, and databases, always trying to stay ahead of any security threats that might jeopardize your employer’s security. Cybersecurity is a never-ending process; you must constantly assess risks and implement updates to stay ahead of them.

Where Can I Find a Job in Cybersecurity?

A high school diploma is required to become a cybersecurity professional, and most jobs require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. As a future cybersecurity specialist, you must constantly broaden your technical knowledge because this is a rapidly changing field; your job is to stay one step ahead of hackers and security threats. Your best path to a successful career in cybersecurity is a combination of certifications, experience, and education.

What Are The Most In-Demand Cybersecurity Jobs? 

Cybersecurity jobs are in high demand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the BLS, job growth in this field will be 28%  between 2016 and 2026. This is a significantly faster rate of growth than the national average for all occupations. This is an excellent career path if you are interested in security and information technology.

What Are the Tools That Cybersecurity Professionals Use?

An information technology professional working in cybersecurity, or cybersecurity, has more tools than ever before; however, hackers do as well. Cybersecurity is a career in which security professionals strive to always be one step ahead of threats to their employer, and when a breach occurs, they seek to rectify the situation as soon as possible and ensure it never happens again. This is accomplished through the use of firewalls, encryption, data management, and stringent security protocols.

How Do I Go About Getting A Job In Cybersecurity?

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field will prepare students for the majority of entry-level cybersecurity jobs.

What Should I Major In If I Want To Work In Cybersecurity?

Prospective cybersecurity experts should pursue studies in areas such as cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field. Most cybersecurity employers require at least a bachelor’s degree, but some prefer applicants with a master’s degree.

What Can You Expect To Earn With A Bachelor’s Degree In Cybersecurity?

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity provides students with the knowledge and practical skills required for a wide range of well-paying jobs. According to PayScale, those with a BS in cybersecurity earn an average annual salary of $69,773.

What Are The Most Promising Entry Level Cybersecurity Positions?

cybersecurity analysts, computer network analysts, security software developers, and security specialists are among the top entry-level cybersecurity jobs.

Is Cybersecurity A Lucrative Field?

Salaries for cybersecurity jobs vary depending on position, education, experience, and industry, but the average cybersecurity job pays significantly more than the national median.

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