A cybersecurity degree is a one-time investment that would continue to pay off throughout your career
The world is experiencing a major boom in the tech sector, as more and more companies rely on technology to provide their services and products. While the improved technology has made businesses more efficient, it has also inspired cybercriminals to attack the digital infrastructure. As a result, cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand jobs nowadays. While this career path does offer great perks, high salary packages, and upwards trajectory, most people considering this line of work ask themselves an important question: is it worth getting a degree? A lot of IT workers obtained their knowledge by being self-taught or attending coding boot camps. While you can enter the field without a degree, you might find your employment options limited.
How To Start Working Without Education
If you aim to enter the tech sector without a degree, you need to be able to show the relevant experience and certifications to obtain a job. CompTIA Security+ or Certified Ethical Hacker offers relevant certifications to help you secure a job. You can also enroll in coding boot camps, which generally only last three months. However, you’d likely be looking at volunteer work and entry-level jobs until you can rack up enough experience. Even after working in the cybersecurity sector for a few years, someone with an MS Cybersecurity degree would likely be in a better negotiating position than you. You might also notice that many jobs list a degree as a requirement for consideration. You might get lucky and convince a needy employer to hire you, but there is a high chance your CV would be left untouched on the HR desk.
Is It Impossible Without a Degree?
It is possible to get a cybersecurity job without a degree, but that is for two main reasons.
- The market is in the employee’s favor
At the moment, there are more openings in the cybersecurity world than there are people to fill the roles. A recent report by (ISC)2 showed that 65% of organizations reported themselves as being short-staffed when it came to their IT departments. In 2019, there was a shortage of 500,000 workers in cybersecurity roles. These factors mean that an employer is willing to bend the requirements to fill the position. However, as more and more people get a degree within cybersecurity, this perk will disappear. If you try to work in this field without educational qualifications, you’re in a race against the clock to get enough experience to retain your job before a fresh graduate outdoes you.
- The industry is unregulated
The tech sector is a rather technical industry, but it is not regulated. Compared to fields like medicine, you do not have to have a degree or certain qualifications before you’re allowed to work. The hiring process is at the company’s discretion without state or federal laws interfering. However, a study showed a growing demand for certainty and regulation in the field, which could result in poor job security without a degree.
Benefits of Qualifications
If you choose to enter this line of work after completing a bachelor’s degree or higher, you will find certain benefits. You may have spent more time and money getting your qualifications, but this changes the type of jobs you can obtain as well.
- Greater Job Security
A master’s degree easily puts your ahead of the competition when applying for jobs. There were approximately 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2021, and the ability to obtain the best of these jobs is dependent on your qualifications. A degree is a great way to convince a company to hire you and to retain that job even as more and more potential workers enter the IT sector.
- Higher Pay
Cybersecurity experts have high median salaries, usually around $98,000 per annum. However, those with a master’s degree often rank in the top 10% of earners within this field. In fact, a master’s degree can help you make 18-25% more per year, according to an estimate by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the degree, your employer knows that you have both the technical and managerial skills needed for the job. The master’s degree prepares you for leadership roles, which can lead to great upwards career growth. A security director earns around $200,000 while landing a job as a lead software security engineer nets you more than $230,000 per year. These positions definitively require higher education, so obtaining your master’s puts you on a direct path towards these roles.
- Learning Cutting-Edge Skills
If you work in a computer-related field but haven’t specialized in cybersecurity, getting a master’s degree is a great way to learn new skills and obtain new career opportunities. These degrees educate you on the latest technological trends, refresh your skillset, and teach you soft skills like critical thinking and management. Your exact responsibilities can vary from company to company. However, the right education will give you the skills you need to excel in any job you land.
- Life-long Qualification
Obtaining certifications is cheaper, but it also has short-lived benefits. As technology evolves, you would be expected to test for a new certificate to show that you are still qualified. The cost of all these tests and boot camps can add up over time. In comparison, a degree is a lifelong qualification that shows you dedication to the job. It is a one-time investment that would continue to pay off throughout your career. Completing a master’s shows that you have obtained a large breadth of highly transferable knowledge that can be translated into multiple different roles.
