A guide to 10 careers in cyber security (With salaries) 

 If you are actively searching for cybersecurity careers but haven’t quite figured out where to begin, you are heading in the right direction. The field of cybersecurity is quite broad, practical, and oddly accessible to people who enjoy the aspects of troubleshooting, pattern recognition and steady learning instead of relying on brute force programming abilities. The prospective salaries are quite healthy across the board, while staying steady and showing increments through each economic phase. Most importantly, there are plenty of routes into the field that do not require having a computer science degree. For individuals with no experience in the field of IT, an introductory qualification can open up new pathways and make the entrance into the world of potential work less intimidating. 

Cyber Security Analyst

The role of an analyst is the foundational basis of many security teams. The role of an analyst deals with monitoring alerts, tuning detection rules, reviewing suspicious activity and turning findings into executable actions that a non-specialist can follow. On a given day, the tasks may take the form of tracing the route and steps taken in a phishing attempt or reducing security gaps found in access controls. Given a drastic incident such as a live breach, an analyst will focus on containment and stabilisation while giving accessible reports to non-specialised individuals. Typical UK salary sits around £32,000 to £55,000 for mid-level posts, with experienced analysts reaching the low £70,000s in competitive markets.

Penetration Tester (Ethical Hacker) 

Penetration testers delve into a system just as a potential attacker would, to document entry points and weaknesses with insights on how to bolster defences. It’s a field that blends technical know-how with an inquisitiveness to explore, with an emphasis on accessible presentation as a clear report that a client can implement matters as much as finding vulnerabilities. One may start off as a penetration tester, but there are pathways outward that branch into red teaming, web application security or product security. Pay commonly hovers near £45,000 to £70,000, while senior specialists and team leads can push toward £90,000 and above in niche areas.  

Security Engineer 

Security engineers build and maintain the necessary tools required to keep an organisation and its assets safe. The solutions they provide range from aiming to keep identity and access across different platforms safe, along with endpoint protection for individuals and logging platforms to monitor employee activity. The salary averages are frequently in the £58,000 to £66,000 range nationally, with London packages often £70,000 to £80,000 and senior paths well beyond that.  

Security Architect 

Architects translate risk into design. They shape how networks, applications, and cloud platforms are secured, review projects before launch, and set the standards others follow. The job suits people who enjoy seeing the whole picture and guiding teams diplomatically. Experienced architects commonly earn £80,000 to £105,000, with top packages higher in complex, regulated environments. 

SOC Analyst (Security Operations Centre) 

A Security Operations Centre is the centralised nerve centre that conducts preliminary assessment of alerts, figures out existing threats and escalates detected incidents. Being a SOC analyst requires strong pattern-recognition instincts, with in-depth knowledge about cybersecurity tools such as SIEMs and EDRs. They are also required to develop solutions while staying calm and controlled, given a high-pressure work environment. Typical salaries cluster around £29,000 to £46,000, with progression as responsibilities expand.  

Incident Response Analyst 

When issues arrive, the relegated incident responders lead the effort to contain, investigate and recover the compromised assets and services. This role mixes technical capabilities in forensics with clear communication capabilities. It often displays a host of legal, HR and communication requirements while preserving evidence for documentation and review. Many roles land near £35,000 to £56,000 nationally, while experienced London-based responders can command materially higher pay.  

GRC Analyst (Governance, Risk and Compliance) 

GRC specialists connect the dots between security controls and business obligations. They facilitate risk assessments, map policies to frameworks, prep teams for audits, and help leaders make informed trade-offs. The job suits people who enjoy structured thinking and stakeholder work as much as technology. Salaries are commonly in the £32,000 to £55,000 band for core roles, with upper-range offerings in heavily regulated industries. 
 
Specialists in Governance, Risk and Compliance aim to connect the elements between security controls and business obligations. It is part of the role to facilitate risk assessments, map policies to frameworks, and to prepare teams for upcoming audits. It is a GRC analyst’s responsibility to convey information in a useful manner to leaders to make informed decisions. The role suits individuals who enjoy structured thinking towards an issue and a business-oriented mindset as much as their passion towards technology. Salaries are commonly in the £32,000 to £55,000 band for core roles, with upper-range offerings in heavily regulated industries. 

Cloud Security Engineer 

As deployments are shifting from locally hosted, costly upfront investments to service providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, the demand for cloud security engineers is on the rise. Cloud security engineers design the safeguards, harden access points and automate detection of threats and vulnerabilities at a large scale. As a cloud security engineer, you will operate in an environment with ingrained infrastructure as code, identity policies, and logging pipelines while ensuring close collaboration with developers. A broad pay band from the low £50,000s into the high £70,000s is common, with experienced specialists reaching the £90,000s. 

Digital Forensics Analyst 

A Digital Forensics Analyst aims to extract and interpret evidence from given devices, servers, and cloud services as incidents occur or as a regular review of operational health. The role demands careful documentation and methodical processing of data, since the work will involve acts of assisting legal action. It also covers the whole timeline of an attack, which helps develop experience and knowledge as a practitioner. Starting positions often sit around £25,000 to £30,000, while mid-career professionals land near £38,000 to £60,000, and senior specialists can rise higher depending on sector and casework.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 

A CISO is an executive-level position that aims to set strategy, lead teams, and report risks and vulnerabilities to the board of directors. It is a leadership-oriented role that balances technical depth with communication skills and the ability to be diplomatic. Professional growth occurs within the role of CISO through incident response and architectural development, although strong people-oriented managers can approach the role from adjacent routes through understanding risks involved and regulations required. Six-figure packages are the norm in larger organisations, with London averages often in the £130,000 to £160,000 band and medians across the UK sitting a little lower. 

How to approach the field if you are starting from scratch 

An intelligent method to approach the field is to build upon the required fundamentals, then aim towards approachable projects and positions. An introductory Ofqual-regulated qualification, such as the Level 3 Award in Introduction to Cyber Security with an institution such as South London College, provides a clear baseline in concepts like risks, controls, and common threats while being flexible enough to approach while accommodating existing work or school. Pair such a structured approach with some practical personal projects, such as configuring multi-factor authentication across home devices, or writing playbooks for phishing, hardening a cloud trial account and keeping proper documents on changes made. A portfolio of projects carries great value in this field, even more than credentials in some instances. Acquire the entry-level credentials alongside complimentary certifications if possible, and apply for analyst or SOC internships. Ensure to record all involvements to add towards a portfolio which indicates professional development, judgement as well as inherent skill. 

Wrapping it all up 

Careers in cybersecurity reward curiosity, patience and the willingness to keep learning indefinitely as the threat landscape alongside the technology deployments tends to be ever-changing. If you are an individual who yearns to work with technical puzzles that have real real-world impact, pick a starting entry point that feels accommodating towards your current conditions, build skills as required and engage yourself in projects that can build an impressive portfolio. Consider using a structured course to shorten the early learning curve. South London College’s Level 3 Award in Introduction to Cyber Security is an approachable first step that helps you move into the field and to potential future positions.