Becoming a Network Security Analyst via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Strayer University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering network security courses to train individuals to become top-notch network security analysts, network engineers, network security specialists, network administratorss, network security professionals, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 226,080 people employed as network systems and data communications analysts alone in America, and their average annual salary is $76,560. Computer support specialists make on average $47,360 per year and there are about 540,560 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Strayer University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Network Security Analyst
  • in a computer lab
  • in an office
  • on a military base
  • at a government facility
  • at a security firm
  • in a court room
  • in a small business
  • at a customers house
  • at an airport
  • in a company board room
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Network Security Analyst
  • get paid well
  • contribute to overall strategic direction for a diverse security r&d team
  • mentor and guide junior network security analysts and researchers
  • be capable of conducting and supporting analytical studies and investigations of network security data
  • be capable of original research in network security analysis
  • gain experience with scripting and or programming in a high level language
  • develop strong problem solving skills
  • develop planning and organizational skills
  • develop excellent oral and written communication skills
  • develop an ability to work both independently and with teams
Potential Drawbacks
  • long nights
  • work is boring at times
  • you have to work alone a lot
  • you can develop eye strain from staring at the computer to long
  • the workplace can be highly competitive
  • companies wont always cooperate
  • have less time for relationships
  • learn things you may not want to know
  • have to work with people you may not like
  • long hours
Related Professions to Consider
  • Network security analyst
  • Network Administrators
  • System Landscape Consultant
  • Computer Network Administrator
  • System Administrator
  • Senior Network Security Analyst
  • Network Programmer
  • Information security analyst
  • Software Developer
  • Computer Security Specialists
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Network Security Analyst
  • What is the Difference between discretionary access control and mandatory access control?
  • Can you define the meaning of Authentication?
  • What is dora process in DHCP how does it work?
  • Why are proxy servers?
  • What are routing protocol and routed protocol?
  • What Is The Difference Between Bootp And Rarp?
  • What is a Denial of Service?
  • What is a firewall?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What about network security interests you?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Corporate Management
  • IT Analyst
  • Linux Administrator
  • Windows Administrator
  • Computer Technician
  • Electrician
  • Data Backup Technician
  • Red Hat Certified Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Hacker
Network Security Analyst Training books Network Security Analyst (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • computer forensics
  • computer networking
  • computer programming
  • computer science
  • computer studies
  • graphics and multimedia
  • information assurance
  • information systems security
  • information technology
  • internet technologies

Network Security Analyst Salary Information

Category: Computer support specialists

Total # Employed in the US 540,560
Average Hourly Wage: $22.77/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.08 $16.5 $21.3 $27.54 $34.95
Average Yearly Salary $47,360
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$27,200 $34,320 $44,300 $57,290 $72,690
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.0% 12.5% 29.4% 16.0% 33.1% 7.2% 0.9%
Computer support specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Missouri $28.96/hr $60,230
Florida $27.85/hr $57,920
Delaware $26.89/hr $55,920
District of Columbia $26.27/hr $54,630
Colorado $25.52/hr $53,080
Oklahoma $25.27/hr $52,570
Mississippi $24.98/hr $51,950
Connecticut $24.9/hr $51,790
North Dakota $24.62/hr $51,210
Kansas $24.53/hr $51,010
Arkansas $23.27/hr $48,400
North Carolina $23.01/hr $47,860
Nebraska $22.93/hr $47,700
Wyoming $22.76/hr $47,330
Indiana $22.71/hr $47,240
Idaho $22.64/hr $47,100
Alaska $22.63/hr $47,070
New York $22.42/hr $46,630
Puerto Rico $22.3/hr $46,380
Oregon $22.1/hr $45,960
Ohio $21.73/hr $45,190
Tennessee $21.47/hr $44,650
Montana $21.32/hr $44,350
Virginia $21.25/hr $44,210
New Hampshire $20.79/hr $43,250
Utah $20.79/hr $43,250
Wisconsin $20.78/hr $43,220
Massachusetts $20.74/hr $43,150
Guam $20.59/hr $42,830
Michigan $20.31/hr $42,250
Alabama $20.16/hr $41,940
Louisiana $20.12/hr $41,850
South Carolina $20.07/hr $41,750
Washington $20.02/hr $41,640
Maine $19.75/hr $41,090
Kentucky $19.54/hr $40,630
Hawaii $19.39/hr $40,320
New Mexico $19.33/hr $40,200
Iowa $19.31/hr $40,160
Maryland $19.13/hr $39,780
Nevada $18.59/hr $38,670
New Jersey $18.2/hr $37,850
South Dakota $18.03/hr $37,500
California $18.02/hr $37,480
Pennsylvania $17.95/hr $37,350
West Virginia $16.89/hr $35,140


Category: Computer systems analysts

Total # Employed in the US 512,720
Average Hourly Wage: $38.67/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$22.66 $28.88 $37.06 $46.73 $57.29
Average Yearly Salary $80,430
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$47,130 $60,070 $77,080 $97,200 $119,170
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.6% 6.4% 17.0% 10.5% 44.3% 18.7% 2.5%
Computer systems analysts — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Virginia $43.33/hr $90,140
North Dakota $42.92/hr $89,270
Missouri $42.74/hr $88,900
Mississippi $42.19/hr $87,750
Delaware $42.12/hr $87,600
Arkansas $40.72/hr $84,690
Florida $40.6/hr $84,450
Colorado $40.48/hr $84,210
Oklahoma $40.41/hr $84,060
District of Columbia $39.93/hr $83,050
Connecticut $39.86/hr $82,910
Idaho $39.05/hr $81,220
Wyoming $38.79/hr $80,680
Montana $38.55/hr $80,180
North Carolina $38.4/hr $79,870
Oregon $38.08/hr $79,200
Utah $37.88/hr $78,780
Kansas $37.7/hr $78,410
South Carolina $37.42/hr $77,830
Puerto Rico $36.98/hr $76,920
Tennessee $36.76/hr $76,460
Nebraska $36.49/hr $75,900
Alaska $36.34/hr $75,580
Ohio $36.07/hr $75,020
New York $35.26/hr $73,350
New Hampshire $34.64/hr $72,060
Alabama $34.41/hr $71,560
Maine $34.39/hr $71,530
Hawaii $33.99/hr $70,700
Kentucky $33.67/hr $70,030
Maryland $33.65/hr $69,980
Michigan $33.6/hr $69,900
Louisiana $33.5/hr $69,670
New Mexico $33.35/hr $69,380
Guam $32.83/hr $68,290
South Dakota $32.24/hr $67,050
Indiana $31.96/hr $66,470
Wisconsin $31.7/hr $65,940
Iowa $31.55/hr $65,620
West Virginia $30.61/hr $63,660
Washington $30.03/hr $62,460
Pennsylvania $29.97/hr $62,340
California $29.66/hr $61,700
New Jersey $28.95/hr $60,230
Nevada $27.72/hr $57,660
Massachusetts $26.74/hr $55,610


Category: Network and computer systems administrators

Total # Employed in the US 338,890
Average Hourly Wage: $34.1/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20.16 $25.45 $32.55 $41.26 $50.95
Average Yearly Salary $70,930
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$41,940 $52,940 $67,710 $85,830 $105,970
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.7% 8.4% 25.2% 15.5% 39.0% 10.2% 1.0%
Network and computer systems administrators — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $39.02/hr $81,160
Mississippi $38.51/hr $80,100
Colorado $38.38/hr $79,830
Florida $38.06/hr $79,170
Oklahoma $37.96/hr $78,960
Missouri $37.31/hr $77,600
Connecticut $36.59/hr $76,110
Kansas $36.19/hr $75,260
Delaware $35.29/hr $73,400
Utah $34.54/hr $71,840
Idaho $34.13/hr $70,980
Virginia $33.9/hr $70,520
Nebraska $33.67/hr $70,040
Hawaii $33.42/hr $69,520
Oregon $33.05/hr $68,750
Wyoming $32.52/hr $67,630
Tennessee $32.46/hr $67,520
New Hampshire $32.32/hr $67,220
Montana $31.98/hr $66,520
Arkansas $31.91/hr $66,380
Alaska $31.73/hr $65,990
North Carolina $31.64/hr $65,800
District of Columbia $31.49/hr $65,500
Indiana $30.93/hr $64,340
Guam $30.67/hr $63,790
Alabama $30.48/hr $63,390
New Mexico $30.27/hr $62,960
Wisconsin $30.2/hr $62,810
New York $30.08/hr $62,560
Washington $30.07/hr $62,540
South Carolina $29.96/hr $62,310
Louisiana $29.66/hr $61,700
Puerto Rico $29.66/hr $61,690
Maine $29.13/hr $60,590
Michigan $28.77/hr $59,830
California $28.46/hr $59,200
Kentucky $28.29/hr $58,850
Iowa $27.77/hr $57,750
Ohio $27.52/hr $57,230
Massachusetts $26.89/hr $55,930
South Dakota $25.93/hr $53,930
Nevada $25.17/hr $52,360
West Virginia $25.11/hr $52,230
Maryland $24.97/hr $51,940
New Jersey $24.85/hr $51,690
Pennsylvania $24.84/hr $51,660


Category: Computer specialists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 195,890
Average Hourly Wage: $37.5/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20.04 $28.11 $37.02 $46.58 $55.31
Average Yearly Salary $78,010
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$41,680 $58,460 $77,010 $96,890 $115,050
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.6% 6.4% 17.0% 10.5% 44.3% 18.7% 2.5%
Computer specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $50.04/hr $104,080
Mississippi $45.76/hr $95,190
Colorado $39.12/hr $81,360
Missouri $39.03/hr $81,190
Alabama $37.74/hr $78,490
Connecticut $37.33/hr $77,650
Oklahoma $37.27/hr $77,530
Alaska $37.22/hr $77,430
Kansas $37.21/hr $77,400
Wyoming $37.03/hr $77,030
Idaho $36.89/hr $76,740
Delaware $36.75/hr $76,440
Utah $36.69/hr $76,310
Indiana $36.64/hr $76,200
Nevada $36.48/hr $75,870
Ohio $36.46/hr $75,830
New Hampshire $36.46/hr $75,840
South Dakota $36.31/hr $75,530
Virginia $36.1/hr $75,100
Nebraska $35.45/hr $73,740
Maine $35.23/hr $73,290
Arkansas $35.16/hr $73,120
North Dakota $35.08/hr $72,970
Oregon $34.97/hr $72,730
Massachusetts $34.91/hr $72,610
South Carolina $34.61/hr $71,980
West Virginia $34.06/hr $70,850
Puerto Rico $33.9/hr $70,500
Guam $33.45/hr $69,580
New Mexico $33.09/hr $68,820
Tennessee $32.66/hr $67,930
North Carolina $32.55/hr $67,710
Michigan $32.48/hr $67,560
District of Columbia $32.16/hr $66,880
Maryland $31.9/hr $66,340
Montana $31.81/hr $66,170
Washington $31.37/hr $65,240
New York $31.12/hr $64,720
Kentucky $30.45/hr $63,340
Hawaii $30.41/hr $63,260
Wisconsin $29.99/hr $62,380
Louisiana $29.73/hr $61,830
Pennsylvania $28.57/hr $59,430
Iowa $27.53/hr $57,260
New Jersey $27.35/hr $56,890
California $27.02/hr $56,200


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