Computer and Mathematical · Holland code CIR

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.

Also called: Information Security Auditor, Information Security System Engineer, Infrastructure Security Engineer, Security Engineer, BISO (Business Information Security Officer), Cloud Engineer, Engineer, Security Analyst.

O*NET 15-1299.05

At a glance

US median annual pay: $116,580; Middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: Bachelor's Degree; 47% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 4 of 5; Considerable preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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.
Conduct investigations of information security breaches to identify vulnerabilities and evaluate the damage.
Develop or install software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Reading Comprehension4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking4.0 / 5
Active Listening3.9 / 5
Writing3.6 / 5
Monitoring3.6 / 5
Speaking3.5 / 5

Knowledge areas

Computers and Electronics4.6 / 5
Engineering and Technology4.0 / 5
English Language3.5 / 5
Telecommunications3.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service3.0 / 5
Design2.9 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic55
Investigative76
Artistic6
Social14
Enterprising28
Conventional84

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

chief ICT security officer · DE IT-Sicherheitsleiter/IT-Sicherheitsleiterin · FR responsable de la sécurité des TIC
ethical hacker · DE ethischer Hacker/ethische Hackerin · FR hacker éthique
ICT resilience manager · DE IT-Notfallmanager/IT-Notfallmanagerin · FR responsable de la résilience informatique
ICT security administrator · DE IT-Sicherheitsadministrator/IT-Sicherheitsadministratorin · FR administrateur sécurité informatique/administratrice sécurité informatique
ICT security manager · DE IT-Sicherheitsmanager/IT-Sicherheitsmanagerin · FR responsable de la sécurité informatique
ICT security technician · DE IT-Sicherheitstechniker/IT-Sicherheitstechnikerin · FR technicien en sécurité informatique/technicienne en sécurité informatique

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

IT user support technicians (3132)135,000 employed
Cyber security professionals (2135)91,200 employed
IT quality and testing professionals (2136)32,600 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Professionals, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€61,714
Germany	€59,529
Ireland	€56,877
Austria	€55,374
Netherlands	€53,595
Sweden	€43,567
France	€41,515
Spain	€35,735
Italy	€33,649
Portugal	€26,072
Poland	€14,380

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test