Unless you’re in a non-technical field, cyber security strongly requires a good knowledge of IT. Cyber security degrees are generally watered down IT. My experience working with cyber security grads is that they lack a lot of basic skills which most IT grads would possess. Plus, most talented cybersecurity professionals I’ve met moved in from another industry - systems administration/engineering, software engineering, etc. Answer from Mammoth_Loan_984 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/itcareerquestions › cybersecurity vs information technology…
r/ITCareerQuestions on Reddit: Cybersecurity VS Information Technology…
January 13, 2024 -
Hey I’m a freshman at EMU intrested in Cybersecurity or IT. I was wondering if the 2 bachelors degrees are the same. From the looks of it it seems like Cybersecurity offers more that the IT program. So I was looking for some outside advice on which would be the smartest to presue.
CATALOGS: IT: https://catalog.emich.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=39&poid=16845
CS: https://catalog.emich.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=39&poid=16845
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Unless you’re in a non-technical field, cyber security strongly requires a good knowledge of IT. Cyber security degrees are generally watered down IT. My experience working with cyber security grads is that they lack a lot of basic skills which most IT grads would possess. Plus, most talented cybersecurity professionals I’ve met moved in from another industry - systems administration/engineering, software engineering, etc.
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Generally I would rank degrees like: Comp sci -> Comp eng -> CIS/IS -> IT -> Cybersecurity Reason: comp sci will open all doors the other degrees will and is seen as pretty much the gold standard for the field. IT is a bit too generalized in that you don’t get enough dev courses to be a great dev out of the gate IMO. Cybersecurity is not an entry level field , so a degree in it is a big gamble to land a cybersecurity internship or bust.
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University of San Diego
onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu › home › blog › information technology vs cyber security: which degree fits your goals?
IT vs Cyber Security: Degree Differences, Jobs & Pay
July 20, 2023 - The salary ranges for each career are similar, from about $69,000 to $125,000 for cybersecurity professionals and $58,000 to $113,000 in IT. Both paths offer strong earning potential and steady employer demand.
Are Infosec salaries lower than those in Software development?
Yes, they are. In my experience companies tend to recognize more the dev teams as they provide more tangible results than a security team, which is working on the shadows to them. They only realize their importance once the shit hits the fan, until then....,they are a waste of money.... More on reddit.com
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May 6, 2024what field more money: Networking or IT Security?
like CCNA/CCNP vs CEH/CISSP/GIAC/ISACA. I dont like networking but like Info sec but more where? More on community.infosecinstitute.com
I’m not sure what choice to make - start in cyber or IT?
Its just an internship, take the security one if offered. More on reddit.com
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June 21, 2024Cybersecurity VS Information Technology…
Unless you’re in a non-technical field, cyber security strongly requires a good knowledge of IT. Cyber security degrees are generally watered down IT. My experience working with cyber security grads is that they lack a lot of basic skills which most IT grads would possess. Plus, most talented cybersecurity professionals I’ve met moved in from another industry - systems administration/engineering, software engineering, etc. More on reddit.com
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January 13, 2024Which is bigger, information security or cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is considered a subset of information security, so information security is a bigger field than cybersecurity. However, as more and more confidential information and critical infrastructure are housed online, cybersecurity skills and knowledge have become necessary for most infosec professionals.
forbes.com
forbes.com › advisor › education › it and tech
Information Security Vs. Cybersecurity: Differences And Salary ...
Is there a difference between cybersecurity and information security?
“Cybersecurity” and “information security” are often used interchangeably—even by some practitioners in these fields—but they’re not quite the same. A significant difference between cybersecurity vs. information security is their respective scopes; cybersecurity emphasizes protecting critical data from online attacks, while information security deals with both online and off-line threats.
forbes.com
forbes.com › advisor › education › it and tech
Information Security Vs. Cybersecurity: Differences And Salary ...
What is the average cyber security salary in the U.S.?
The average salary for cyber security professionals varies by role, but information security analysts earn a median annual wage of $124,910, according to the BLS. Salaries can be significantly higher in major metro areas, high-cost states and senior-level positions.
allcriminaljusticeschools.com
allcriminaljusticeschools.com › home › cybersecurity › salary by state
Cyber Security Salaries by State | All Criminal Justice Schools
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Cyber Security Roles with the Highest Salaries & Most Jobs - YouTube
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The Truth About Cyber Security Salaries and Lifestyle - YouTube
Forbes Advisor
forbes.com › advisor › education › it and tech
Information Security Vs. Cybersecurity: Differences And Salary – Forbes Advisor
February 4, 2025 - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes both cybersecurity and information security professionals under the broad category of information security analysts, reporting a 2023 median salary of $120,360 for this occupational group.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
bls.gov › ooh › computer-and-information-technology › information-security-analysts.htm
Information Security Analysts : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of information security analysts.
University of Tulsa
online.utulsa.edu › blog › information-security-vs-cybersecurity
Information Security vs. Cybersecurity: What’s the Difference? | The University of Tulsa
April 27, 2026 - Managerial titles such as cybersecurity manager or information security manager earned a median salary of $171,200, according to BLS reporting.
All Criminal Justice Schools
allcriminaljusticeschools.com › home › cybersecurity › salary by state
Cyber Security Salaries by State | All Criminal Justice Schools
March 18, 2026 - Information security analysts earn a median annual salary well over six figures, as do many other similar careers in IT. Metropolitan areas with notable tech hubs like Silicon Valley or Seattle tend to command the highest cyber security salaries, ...
NEIT
neit.edu › home › blog › 7 highest-paid cyber security jobs & salaries
Cyber Security Salary: 7 Highest-Paid Cyber Security Jobs | NEIT
December 21, 2023 - A cybersecurity analyst or manager is in charge of protecting the confidentiality and integrity of data, whether in storage or transit. With an average salary of $140,109, information security managers help assess an organization’s existing ...
Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › finding-a-job › cybersecurity-vs-computer-science
Cybersecurity vs. Computer Science: What’s the Difference? | Indeed.com
June 16, 2026 - National average salary: $80,692 per yearCybersecurity engineers, such as cryptographers, secure information online with algorithms or encrypted coding. They may also decipher encrypted data for a company or organization.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cybersecurity › are infosec salaries lower than those in software development?
Are Infosec salaries lower than those in Software development? : r/cybersecurity
May 6, 2024 - Keep in mind that devs introduce features that are revenue generating and infosec is a cost center that protects existing and future assets. Yes salaries are higher for devs but devs are more susceptible to layoffs and restructuring. Google literally laid off their whole Python team. It is pretty hard to automate cyber security positions, look at the government.
CyberDegrees
cyberdegrees.org › resources › cybersecurity-jobs-vs-information-technology-jobs
IT vs Cybersecurity Jobs | Similarities and Differences
October 12, 2023 - Cybersecurity and information technology both offer opportunities to earn high salaries. The amount you can expect to make depends on your job title, industry, and employer.
Coursera
coursera.org › coursera articles › computer science and engineering › networks and security › cybersecurity vs. software engineering: what’s the difference?
Cybersecurity vs. Software Engineering: What’s the Difference? | Coursera
The median cybersecurity salary in the US is $124,910, and the median annual salary for software engineering is $131,450, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of April 2026 [1, 2]. Factors that influence your salary include ...
Published April 19, 2026 Views 486
Quora
quora.com › What-is-more-important-as-far-as-job-opportunities-go-cybersecurity-or-information-security-Does-one-have-more-career-growth-than-the-other-and-why
What is more important as far as job opportunities go: cybersecurity or information security? Does one have more career growth than the other and why? - Quora
Answer: “Information Security” or Infosec and Cyber Security (sometimes spelled as one word, cybersecurity, or shortened to just “cyber”) are two terms used in the global west that mean practically the same thing. It’s simply a matter of which one you prefer to use.
University of North Dakota
und.edu › home › und blog › computer science vs. cyber security
Cybersecurity vs Computer Science: Which One to Choose in 2026? | University of North Dakota
December 19, 2025 - While they share fundamental concepts, cyber security focuses specifically on protecting systems, networks, and data from threats. Salaries vary by experience and role, but software engineering generally offers higher average pay, especially ...
Infosec Institute
community.infosecinstitute.com › home › education & development › jobs and careers
what field more money: Networking or IT Security? - TechExams Community
May 8, 2012 - like CCNA/CCNP vs CEH/CISSP/GIAC/ISACA. I dont like networking but like Info sec but more where?
University of San Diego
onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu › home › blog › how much does cybersecurity pay in 2026? top roles and salary considerations
Cybersecurity Job Salaries: What to Expect at Every Level
April 13, 2026 - Average base salary: $136,000 This role ranks high on U.S. News & World Report’s lists of 100 Best Jobs, Best STEM Jobs and Best Technology Jobs. Information security analysts are described as “the gatekeepers or security guards of information ...
DestCert
destcert.com › easily pass the cissp exam-destination certification › articles › cybersecurity vs. software engineering: which to pick?
Cybersecurity vs a Software Engineering Career: Which is Best?
December 2, 2025 - Entry-level positions often start strong, and salaries climb steadily with experience and expertise. Compensation often includes: ... Cybersecurity professionals command similar ranges, with total compensation spanning from $112K to $203K per year.
Springboard
springboard.com › blog › cybersecurity › cybersecurity vs. software engineering: comparing careers
Cybersecurity vs. Software Engineering: Comparing Careers
October 3, 2024 - Cybersecurity Professionals: Entry-level positions typically start around $70,000 annually, with experienced professionals or those holding specialized certifications (like CISSP) earning upwards of $120,000 or more.
Fullstack Academy
fullstackacademy.com › homepage › blog › information security vs. cybersecurity: what's the difference?
Information Security vs. Cybersecurity
April 8, 2026 - The median entry-level salary of cybersecurity analysts was around $79,300 as of June 2022, according to Lightcast™. Penetration tester. The role of the penetration tester is to identify a network’s vulnerabilities and use that information ...
Roadmap
roadmap.sh › ai-data-scientist › vs-cyber-security
Data Science vs. Cyber Security: Which Is Best for You?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a Certified Information Security Manager in the United States is $136,104 per year. Let's dive in and take a closer look at the work environment in both fields to help you decide which one is best for you. The work environments in data science ...
Cyber Security Jobs
cybersecurityjobs.com › home › information security analyst salary – how much can you earn as an information security analyst?
Information Security Analyst Salary – How Much Can You Earn as an Information Security Analyst? | Cyber Security Jobs
June 14, 2023 - An Information Security Analyst’s salary can vary depending on the state in which they work. Some of the highest paying states for the role include: ... Cyber security is a highly lucrative career choice. It is an industry that requires professionals with highly specialized knowledge of the field.