Government Security Roles: How to Choose Your Path Based on Your Personality Traits

"Change is challenging. And security is like a moving target, so make sure you are able to deal with and work through frequent changes." -Cindi Carter, Deputy CISO at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

Cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to breach systems every second of every day. As the crime rate soars, so does the market for Government Cybersecurity personnel. To address this global challenge, governments must begin hiring people to fight the good fight. Let’s dive into the top five Government Cybersecurity jobs to see if one of them sounds right for you.

1. Incident Responder

Incident responders mitigate damages and recover data as swiftly as possible. By identifying and addressing breaches companies can save millions annually. The swift upsurge in the scale and frequency of cyberattacks has paved the way for cybersecurity firms to grow in this area. This career is a great fit for any individual who excels in problem-solving and would describe themselves as resourceful or adaptable. Incident responders on average bring in $101,000 annually. The incident response market is estimated to grow at a rate of 17.9% in the forecast period and is expected to reach a value of USD 60.60 Billion by 2027.

2. Security Architect

Security architects are initially brought on when a company first needs to design, build, and implement a secure network. Learning agility is critical in Security Architects, as they are required to identify problems and quickly formulate effective solutions. The average annual pay is $122,676 and the highest-earning security architects can make up to $133,000 annually. Currently, this market is forecasted at 14.4% which is still .46% higher than the national average.

3. Security Engineer

These professionals work to identify threats and vulnerabilities in systems and software, then apply their skills to creating and implementing solutions to guard against cybercrime. The Security Engineer role is a perfect fit for someone who instinctively responds to security threats and understands the impact of security breaches. Coming in at an average of $97,000 annually and an 8.6% pay increase since 2018, Security Engineers enjoy a high level of job security. The expected market growth is currently forecasted to be a 12% increase through 2026.

4. Cybersecurity Consultant

Cybersecurity Consultants are in high demand currently with Government entities. They work to propose strategies for improving an organization's security infrastructure and assist in implementing those new security practices. This can include providing continuous support and training staff on appropriate security procedures. Being a cybersecurity consultant means you would need to be highly attuned to other people’s needs and emotions, which is critical to working with numerous sectors of different Government entities. On average, Cybersecurity Consultants can reach $87,000 annually, however, it is likely that that number will increase. The market growth for these positions is currently forecasted at 32% by 2028, 18% over the national average.

5. Penetration Tester

Our last profession is no easy feat, penetration testing can be a costly service - especially if not executed properly. Those trained in penetration testing look for potential security gaps in a network environment to pinpoint areas of improvement. If you have dabbled in "white hat" hacking, penetration testing would be a great fit for you due to your interest in hacking tools and familiarity with hacking techniques. The average salary for pen testers is currently sitting at $86,000 annually and the market is forecasted to rise 13.8% from 2021 to 2026 (Global Forecast to 2026). Interested in penetration testing? Check out the outline for CompTIA's Penetration Tester+ (PenTest+) Certification course.

Takeaways

Choosing a job can be difficult but using the qualities and traits you already have to build a career can lead to some opportunities you never thought of. Cybercrime shows no signs of slowing down and Government officials are just now grasping the magnitude of problems breaches can cause. This market growth is unprecedented and if you think a government cybersecurity job is right for you, check out our security course page for recommendations and free resources.