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Cybersecurity work is in demand, but that does not mean every role is easy to land—especially for beginners. U.S. job-listing data and employment projections point to growth, while employer surveys also show budget limits, skills gaps and expectations for prior experience. The practical picture depends on the role, location, seniority and skills an employer needs.
Are cybersecurity jobs actually in demand?
Several indicators point to demand in the United States, but they measure different things and should not be treated as interchangeable.
- Job listings: CyberSeek reported 514,359 cybersecurity and adjacent technical job listings over the 12 months covered by its 2025 reporting. NIST said that was nearly 57,000 listings, or 12%, more than in the prior 12-month period. Listings are not a count of unique vacancies, hires or people needed. NIST’s summary of CyberSeek data.
- Employment projections: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects information security analyst employment to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,100 openings a year on average over that period. Some openings are expected to come from workers changing occupations or leaving the labor force, not solely from newly created jobs. BLS occupational outlook.
- Employer surveys: ISC2’s 2025 survey of 16,029 cybersecurity professionals found that 95% reported at least one cybersecurity skills need in their organization and 59% reported critical or significant needs. These are respondents’ reports, not an independently counted number of vacancies. ISC2’s 2025 workforce study.
These measures support a conclusion of meaningful demand, not a guarantee of straightforward hiring. The listing figure is a historical 12-month total; the BLS figures are projections for a defined occupation and period; the ISC2 numbers describe survey responses.
Why can demand coexist with a difficult job search?
Organizations may need security capabilities without having the budget or hiring plans to add staff. In ISC2’s 2025 workforce survey, 33% of respondents said their organization lacked the resources to staff teams adequately, and 29% said it could not afford to hire the skills it needed. ISC2 Acting CEO and CFO Debra Taylor, CC, summarized the survey context in its December 4, 2025 release: “A shift is happening. This year’s data makes it clear that the most pressing concern for cybersecurity teams isn’t headcount but skills.” The statement reflects that survey, not a universal measure of every employer or market. ISC2’s 2025 workforce study.
Skills shortages also do not automatically mean that employers will hire any available applicant. ISC2’s April 2026 analysis of its 2025 study says 34% of respondents felt their organizations had the right number of cybersecurity staff, while 44% reported only a slight shortage. It also points to training lag and the challenge of applying skills in areas such as AI and cloud security. Difficulty accessing a specific capability, overall staffing levels and the number of posted jobs are separate questions. ISC2’s analysis of skills needs.
Is cybersecurity hard to get into right now?
It can be challenging, particularly if you are applying for specialist work without related experience. Hiring managers’ expectations vary by role and level, and some skills that employers prioritize are not necessarily expected of new entrants.
ISC2’s separate survey of 929 hiring managers in Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. found that managers often considered candidates with prior IT experience or an entry-level cybersecurity certification. Internships and apprenticeships were also identified as hiring channels. The survey highlighted a level mismatch around cloud security: 18% of managers thought entry-level professionals could handle cloud security tasks, compared with 46% who said junior-level expertise was required. These are hiring-manager survey results, not universal hiring rules. ISC2’s 2025 hiring trends study.
For the U.S. information security analyst occupation, BLS says a computer-science-related bachelor’s degree and related work experience are typical; employers may prefer professional certification. That description applies to the named occupation, not every cybersecurity job. Analyst duties can include monitoring for breaches, investigating incidents, checking vulnerabilities, maintaining protective software, preparing reports and communicating security needs. BLS occupational outlook.
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Can you get a cybersecurity job with no experience?
It is possible to pursue an entry-level route, but the available evidence does not establish a universal shortcut or promise that a certificate or course will lead to a job. ISC2’s 2025 workforce study found that 56% of participants entered cybersecurity through an IT pathway. Within that group of reported pathways, 36% had taken on cybersecurity responsibilities while working in IT before moving into a cyber-focused role, and 20% moved directly from IT. Other reported routes included cybersecurity education (10%), non-IT professional experience (8%), cybersecurity certifications (6%), self-study (4%), military backgrounds (3%) and internships or apprenticeships (3%). These are reported career routes, not success rates or proof that one route is best. ISC2’s 2025 workforce study.
For a beginner, a practical plan is to build evidence of relevant capability while targeting roles whose stated requirements match your current level.
- Read role-specific postings in your location. Separate entry-level, junior and experienced positions; note recurring duties, tools, education and experience requirements rather than relying on the broad label “cybersecurity.”
- Build relevant foundations. IT experience can provide a route into security responsibilities, but it is not the only route. Coursework, structured self-study, practical projects, internships or apprenticeships may help demonstrate skills relevant to a particular role.
- Choose credentials selectively. BLS says employers may prefer professional certification for information security analyst roles, and some ISC2 survey participants reported entering through certifications. Neither source says certification is mandatory across cybersecurity jobs or guarantees employment.
- Show applied work and communication. Where appropriate, document projects or responsibilities that demonstrate analysis, problem-solving, clear reporting and collaboration without exposing real systems or sensitive information.
- Apply at the level the evidence supports. If a posting expects independent ownership of complex cloud or engineering work, it may be aimed above entry level even if the job title sounds accessible.
Which cybersecurity skills are employers looking for?
ISC2’s 2025 hiring-manager survey lists these technical priorities: ISC2 hiring-manager findings.
| Technical priority | Hiring managers reporting it |
|---|---|
| Cloud security | 29% |
| AI | 27% |
| Security engineering | 24% |
| Security analysis | 23% |
| Risk assessment | 23% |
The same survey found these nontechnical priorities:
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| Nontechnical priority | Hiring managers reporting it |
|---|---|
| Problem-solving | 29% |
| Collaboration | 24% |
| Communication | 22% |
| Willingness to learn | 20% |
| Strategic thinking | 16% |
These percentages are survey priorities, not a checklist required for every job. A security analyst, cloud security specialist, engineer and risk professional can have very different day-to-day needs. Compare the actual duties and requirements in postings instead of treating broad industry priorities as universal prerequisites.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do cybersecurity jobs pay?
For U.S. information security analysts, the BLS median annual wage was $129,180 in May 2025. This is the median for that occupation, not a starting salary, a figure for all cybersecurity roles or a prediction of what an applicant will earn. Pay varies with role, experience and location; the cited figure should not be used as a global benchmark. BLS occupational outlook.
How should you judge the market where you live?
The evidence here is not one unified global labor-market series. CyberSeek listings and BLS occupation data are U.S.-specific; ISC2’s workforce survey and its separate hiring-manager study have different respondents and purposes. Use them as context, then evaluate opportunities against the market you can actually apply to.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Geography: Check local postings, qualifications and salary data; U.S. totals do not establish conditions in another country.
- Role definition: BLS’s information security analyst occupation is one defined slice of cybersecurity. Broader listing datasets may include adjacent technical roles.
- Seniority: Requirements for a new entrant are different from those for a junior specialist or experienced analyst.
- Skills: Compare the technical work and communication expectations in each posting with your current evidence of ability.
- Time period and evidence: Keep historical listings, future projections, dated wage data and survey responses distinct when drawing conclusions.
Is cybersecurity still a good career?
It may be a good fit if you are interested in security work and willing to build the skills a particular role requires. U.S. projections for information security analysts are strong, but neither projected growth nor reported skills needs remove the entry-level experience challenge. Decide based on the work you want to do, the requirements in your target market and a realistic route to demonstrate capability—not on shortage headlines alone.
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