The combination of San Francisco (4,520 cybersecurity efforts) and Seattle (3,910) accounts for nearly 47% of all cybersecurity roles. However, despite its size, Seattle is the only city in the top ten with a job change of -8.6%. This downturn may indicate that Seattle is one of the major markets for job losses. Cybersecurity-based professionals may face greater competition in the contracting market. Still, having a long-term advantage of Microsoft, Amazon or other tech giants on your resume is a powerful driving force to avoid short-term headwinds.
Bonus: Boston
For some cybersecurity professionals, a high-paying job is just a stepping stone. Their goal may be to launch their own cybersecurity startups, especially when emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain and the Internet of Things create new attack surfaces and corresponding business opportunities. Many of today’s industry giants – CrowdStrike, Sentinelone, Darktrace, Wiz, Security Security and Snyk – were once ambitious upstarts founded by domain experts who saw the gap in the market.
Others are planning to join an emerging tech company as soon as possible to secure a cybersecurity role in high-growth startups and potentially gain a lot of financial upside. For example, a survey found that 76% of NVIDIA employees are millionaires, thanks primarily to their stock options, which is a powerful example that early equity can provide.
Boston offers compelling opportunities and access to professionals with this mindset. Massachusetts ranks first in venture capital and is a hot spot for national launch activities and scale momentum. Boston ranked 12th in the Cybersecurity Job Index with a score of 6.3, with jobs up 14.6% to 3,920 jobs, up 6.9% year-on-year wages and an average salary of $132,810. Not only is a college town, but also arguably the best town, Boston provides founders with network professionals who can enter the in-depth talent pool of Harvard University, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Northeast China and others.
The trade-off is the cost of living. Massachusetts ranks 47th, making it one of the most expensive states to live in. But for those who bet on the next big thing, the potential rewards in professional and financial terms – may well outweigh the cost of eggs. Network professionals who are not attracted to Boston but are seeking similar opportunities may want to see New York City as an alternative.
Bonus: Birmingham, Alabama.
Once Alabama was nicknamed “The City of Magic” for its explosive growth in the late 1800s, Alabama may win that title again — this time with an improvement in cybersecurity. Birmingham ranks 17th in the Cybersecurity Job Index, with employment in Birmingham growing at 5.9 at 9.1% to 600 jobs and paying at 6.5% to $106,010.
What is fascinating about Birmingham is its extremely low cost of living. Alabama ranks third in the country, behind only Arkansas and Mississippi, two states that have no cities on the upper hand. For professionals who pursue high-level, low-cost strategies (such as those interested in financial independence, early retirement (fire), Birmingham has few opportunities to extend income without sacrificing career prospects.
The city is also home to several prominent tech companies, including Shipt, McLeod Software, Atlas RFID Solutions, EBSCO Industries and Fleetio, which recently received $450 million in $450 million. This massive amount of capital has poured into Birmingham-based companies, suggesting growing venture capital capital in the local technology ecosystem, even Alabama Alabama Chargs Clute Cappelles in Venture Cappelles in Velture Cappelles in Cappels in Cappels of Alabama invecy. High-profile deals like this may help attract more investors to the city, and in turn stimulate the creation of new cybersecurity jobs.
