Information Security Engineers
Information TechnologyO*NET 15-1299.05United States
Develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies. Build, maintain and upgrade security technology, such as firewalls, for the safe use of computer networks and the transmission and retrieval of information.
- Median annual earnings
- $113,638
- Projected change
- +11.4%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 499.03K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
47.4% of the workforce
Growing to 555.79K by 2035
Explore this career by location
Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.
Showing United States
Loading available locations…
Build the skills
ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
Loading related ASU learning
The work
What information security engineers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Coordinate monitoring of networks or systems for security breaches or intrusions.
- Assess the quality of security controls, using performance indicators.
- Scan networks, using vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities.
- Train staff on, and oversee the use of, information security standards, policies, and best practices.
- Conduct investigations of information security breaches to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate the damage.
- Develop response and recovery strategies for security breaches.
- Develop or install software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information.
- Oversee development of plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure or to meet emergency data processing needs.
- Develop information security standards and best practices.
- Identify or implement solutions to information security problems.
- Recommend information security enhancements to management.
- Oversee performance of risk assessment or execution of system tests to ensure the functioning of data processing activities or security measures.
- Coordinate vulnerability assessments or analysis of information security systems.
- Review security assessments for computing environments or check for compliance with cybersecurity standards and regulations.
- Troubleshoot security and network problems.
- Coordinate documentation of computer security or emergency measure policies, procedures, or tests.
- Develop or implement software tools to assist in the detection, prevention, and analysis of security threats.
- Write reports regarding investigations of information security breaches or network evaluations.
- Provide technical support to computer users for installation and use of security products.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $53,796
- 25th percentile
- $76,983
- 50th percentile
- $113,638
- 75th percentile
- $155,092
- 90th percentile
- $191,936
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $113,638 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+11.4%faster than average
2025499,030 jobs
2035 projected555,787 jobs
56,757 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 47.4%
- Certificate
- 15.8%
- Some college
- 10.5%
- Associate degree
- 10.5%
- High school diploma or less
- 10.5%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 5.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Cybersecurity Engineers5,535 postings
- 02Security Engineers4,042 postings
- 03Network Security Engineers1,905 postings
- 04Cloud Security Engineers1,756 postings
- 05Information Security Engineers1,494 postings
- 06Cybersecurity Managers1,417 postings
- 07Application Security Engineers1,292 postings
- 08Information Systems Security Officers1,228 postings
- 09Lead Cybersecurity Engineers986 postings
- 10Product Security Engineers751 postings
- 11Information Systems Security Engineers736 postings
- 12Identity and Access Management Managers735 postings
- 13Information Security Managers725 postings
- 14Directors of Cyber Security709 postings
- 15Cybersecurity Architects638 postings
- 16Cybersecurity Analysts497 postings
- 17Engineers485 postings
- 18IAM Engineers469 postings
- 19Systems Security Engineers466 postings
- 20Directors/Enterprise Architects465 postings
Top employers
- 01Accenture1,398 postings
- 02KPMG799 postings
- 03Amazon764 postings
- 04CVS Health693 postings
- 05Ford655 postings
- 06Capital One580 postings
- 07Lumen Technologies579 postings
- 08Deloitte542 postings
- 09Insight Global536 postings
- 10RTX495 postings
- 11Leidos464 postings
- 12PricewaterhouseCoopers454 postings
- 13Honeywell International448 postings
- 14Shi International Ltd443 postings
- 15Robert Half431 postings
- 16Google415 postings
- 17Booz Allen Hamilton406 postings
- 18Ernst & Young395 postings
- 19Lockheed Martin376 postings
- 20TEKsystems373 postings
Keep looking