Security is needed on both the personal and business front. Until the world reaches a place where theft and vandalism aren’t as commonplace as they are now, there will always be a need for some sort of protection. Criminals break into homes, they vandalize businesses, and pose threats to our cybersecurity. The world needs more people to join the growing ranks of security services.
The security field includes a variety of different professions, all of which operate towards the goal of making things a little bit safer. These careers include security guards, armored car drivers, private security contractors, information security analysts, network security administrator, cybercrime investigators, network security engineers, system/network, and/or web penetration testers, chief information security officers, security architects, and security managers.
The pay range for these security-related professions varies. Beginning with security officers, the median pay is $29,710 annually. People within this field are often assigned to guarding locations such as industrial settings, retail stores, and office buildings. These positions often involve wearing a uniform, patrolling a particular location, while also watching surveillance footage captured through the use of a dome camera or other security cameras.
For private security, which might utilize more well trained and seasoned individuals, the pay rate can range from $20-$30 an hour to $75-$150 per hour, depending on the task at hand. A private security officer is often utilized as a personal bodyguard for individual protection. They work for more upscale customers, and may even go overseas to provide security for businesses in other countries.
On the more tech-related side of things, working as an information security analyst can pay extremely well. The median pay for an analyst like this is $99,730 per year, which is $47.95 per hour. These types of security employees plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.
This role is extremely important, especially as businesses find themselves constantly attacked within the digital realm by hackers and viruses. These jobs aren’t as regimented as other security jobs, and you can probably get away with a business casual dress like tunic tops, short sleeve tees, sweaters, and leggings. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 31% between 2019 to 2029.
Though the field of security is male-dominated, sizeable contributions are being made by security professionals who are women. In 2014 the U.S. Department of Labor reported that only 7.5 percent of security 18 percent of information security analysts, and 23 percent of security guards were women. In 2019 Women in Cybersecurity report, represented 24 percent of the cybersecurity workforce.
These numbers need to change to reflect this talented but overlooked demographic in the security field. The first reason why more women should enter the security field is that it’s a high paying field. Women should have just as much an opportunity to shoot for high-paying positions as their male counterparts.
Secondly, job security is key. There’s a growing demand for security services, whether it’s cybersecurity or private security. In today’s world where layoffs are too common, having job security is essential. On another front, companies are eagerly seeking women to join their cybersecurity workforces, especially women of color. These organizations have acknowledged the lack of diversity in their ranks and are actively seeking to rectify this problem.
There is a wide variety of scholarships and programs which focus on increasing the ranks of women within the ranks of cybersecurity. These include The SANS CyberTalent Women’s Immersion Academy, The Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu (WSC), Women in Cybersecurity, and The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies.
One last and especially important reason for why women should enter the security field is that such movement helps to break down stereotypes and advance equality for women in this field. For too long the field of security has been male-dominated. For women breaking through in this field, it opens the doors to show that they can do this work as much as anyone else.
