Information Security Engineers
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. Design and implement appropriate security controls to identify vulnerabilities and protect digital files and electronic infrastructures. Monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation. May oversee the assessment of information security systems.
Information Security Engineers 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $108,970 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $54,360 and $162,440 and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.59 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Programming, Systems Analysis.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £54,647 a year for Cyber security professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £42,761 to £71,808 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2135). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Computer Applications (BCA) — BCA (three years, or four years for BCA Honours / with Research)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG, IPU CET
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
8 open listings on our jobs board → Recent listings whose job title matches this career. Some jobs in this career are advertised under other titles.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the day in the security operations area, reviewing overnight alerts from the network monitoring tools and deciding which ones need a closer look. One alert shows repeated failed logins on a server, so you investigate, confirm it was blocked and tighten the login rules. By mid-morning you run a vulnerability scan across a set of systems and review the results with the infrastructure team, agreeing which patches must go in first. After lunch you meet the audit team to check how well existing security controls are working, looking at measures such as how quickly incidents are detected and closed. Then you update the organisation's incident response plan, setting out who does what if a breach occurs and how systems will be restored. Later you run a short training session for staff on spotting phishing emails and handling passwords safely. Chasing people to install patches and follow policy can be frustrating, but knowing your work keeps the organisation's data safe is deeply satisfying.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
- Train staff on, and oversee the use of, information security standards, policies, and best practices.
- Scan networks, using vulnerability assessment tools to identify vulnerabilities.
- Develop response and recovery strategies for security breaches.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Information Security Engineers do?
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. Design and implement appropriate security controls to identify vulnerabilities and protect digital files and electronic infrastructures. Monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation.
What does a typical day look like in Information Security Engineers?
You start the day in the security operations area, reviewing overnight alerts from the network monitoring tools and deciding which ones need a closer look. One alert shows repeated failed logins on a server, so you investigate, confirm it was blocked and tighten the login rules. By mid-morning you run a vulnerability scan across a set of systems and review the results with the infrastructure team, agreeing which patches must go in first.
How much does Information Security Engineers earn?
The median annual salary for Information Security Engineers in the US is $108,970. The middle 80% of workers earn between $54,360 and $162,440 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $74,960 and $130,090.
What is the job outlook for Information Security Engineers?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 472,000 workers.
How do I become information security engineers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Information Security Engineers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Programming, Systems Analysis, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Information Security Engineers?
Our AI-durability model gives Information Security Engineers a score of 0.59 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Information Security Engineers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.