Cybersecurity Jobs in Maryland: 7 Top-Paying Roles

The Old Line State, as Maryland is sometimes affectionately referred to, is a top destination for job searches due to the high demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals from government and military organizations located nearby. The state also has a close connection (and proximity) to Washington DC and federal intelligence organizations, the presence of many international corporations, and the overall need of these organizations to protect their sensitive information. 

Educational options for learners interested in the field are also plentiful in Maryland, home to multiple Centers of Academic Excellence certified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) and local universities offering cybersecurity-related degrees. After all, as organizations grow their use of and reliance on technology, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals who can protect personal information and prevent cybersecurity attacks has increased, posing a serious risk to companies in various industries.

Explore why Maryland is an attractive location to pursue cybersecurity jobs in more detail, including the types of roles available, the associated demand, and the average salary for these positions.

Why a cybersecurity career in Maryland?

Due to the types of companies and organizations located within Maryland, an increased focus on utilizing cybersecurity professionals exists in the state, with a concerted effort to maintain the security of critical systems, safeguard confidential data, and prevent cyberattacks from occurring. Between 2021 and 2022, Maryland saw the most considerable growth rate in the nation’s technology workforce [1]. With the location of Washington DC, right on the border of Maryland, federal intelligence agencies, international companies, and health care providers are among the types of companies seeking skilled and specialized cybersecurity workers in the state. 

Maryland has also demonstrated its commitment to growing the cybersecurity industry in-state by establishing the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland (CAMI) in 2015. This association provides education and advocacy around the local cybersecurity community in Maryland [2]. Some of its specific duties include facilitating relationships between local cybersecurity companies and government organizations needing cyber-related services, aiding in the job placement process for professionals by providing relevant certification and educational resources and hosting programs for networking opportunities. 

Cybersecurity education options in Maryland

Maryland also has a wide range of education options to support you as a learner in starting a cybersecurity career and building your skill set, including 19 Centers of Academic Excellence and many colleges and universities offering cybersecurity-related degrees at all levels [3]. 

These colleges even offer certificate programs that allow you to build relevant skills through training curated by experts in the industry and prepare for certification exams. The University of Maryland Global Campus is one prominent example of a college providing these offerings. Here, you can choose a bachelor’s, master’s, or cybersecurity certificate program to help you grow your skill set, specialize in a relevant field, and establish your credentials to showcase to employers.  

High-paying cybersecurity jobs in Maryland

Due to the demand for cybersecurity professionals in almost every industry and organization, a diverse set of career paths exist for you to explore when beginning your journey to become a cybersecurity professional. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates jobs in this industry will increase by 32 percent from 2022 to 2032. This level of demand is well above average compared to all professions in the US [4]. 

The following offers an opportunity to explore some of the top professions available today, a description of the role, and their average annual base salary in Maryland according to March 2024 data. 

Computer and information research scientist

Average annual salary: $133,370 [5]

Computer and information research scientists serve as experts in developing new technology and driving efficiency in how you interact with computers. In this position, you will focus on discovering new ways to utilize newly developed technologies and old technology already in production. As a computer and information research scientist, you will aim to innovate and optimize the use of technology by building new solutions and leveraging your expertise in computer science to develop new theories, design programs, research, and develop solutions. 

Information security analyst

Average annual salary: $120,156 [6]

Information security analysts safeguard their employer's computer and security-related networks and systems from potential cyberthreats. You will work to ensure that hackers cannot access sensitive, essential information in the organization. In this role, you focus on prevention by leading security efforts with various software and programs and testing to find weak points in your company’s systems. 

Other duties you may perform include updating firewalls, troubleshooting security issues, installing data encryption software, training various employees at your company about cybersecurity procedures, locating vulnerabilities, and researching cybersecurity solutions that match your organization's needs. 

Network system administrator

Average annual salary: $94,353 [7]

Network system administrators ensure the proper operation of critical computer systems for organizations through an advanced understanding of networks and security measures related to these networks. In this role, you help efficiently connect computers and software platforms throughout your company and manage these systems by configuring hardware, conducting maintenance, and implementing security features to protect sensitive data. 

One security measure you may deal with as a network system administrator is virtual private networks (VPNs). Additional tasks could include resolving user problems, designing network routing, and installing hardware and software. 

Computer network architect

Average annual salary: $129,395 [8]

As a computer network architect, you will be in charge of all infrastructure related to information technology (IT) and communication for your company, including designing, modeling, securing, and documenting networks. A few types of networks you may handle as a computer network architect include local area networks (LANs), intranets, and wide area networks (WANs).

Your focus would be on maintaining networks' efficiency by monitoring them and conducting analysis to determine future improvements and network requirements. Your everyday responsibilities include communicating proposed network plans to critical stakeholders, upgrading software and hardware, researching new advancements, performing networking tests, and patching weak points within the network architecture. 

Software developer

Average annual salary: $110,362 [9]

Software developers handle computer science tasks and manage the entire software lifecycle, from designing, deploying, and managing. Within this role, you may become involved with testing software, building specific features from requirements, and working with various other teams in your organization to complete these tasks. 

Other typical responsibilities as a software developer include debugging problematic code, performing upgrades, holding sessions with clients to discuss projects, presenting project results, and creating proper application documentation. Another common name for this type of position is software engineer. 

Computer systems analyst

Average annual salary: $107,028 [10]

As a computer systems analyst for a company, you will specialize in optimizing and boosting the efficiency of computer systems. The first step to improving the performance of your organization’s computer systems is to analyze and study the current systems’ performance and use that information to create new solutions and processes to enhance productivity. You may consult stakeholders on potential upgrades to their system, research software and hardware that could improve performance, and conduct cost-benefit analyses on possible upgrades.

In this role, you’ll work with many other professionals in your organization to effectively complete your duties, including software developers, IT professionals, and business analysts. You may also be required to train end-users within your organization to teach them how to operate on recently implemented systems.

Database administrator

Average annual salary: $103,432 [11]

Your role as a database administrator revolves around handling all matters related to your organization's database systems, including the actual databases, authorization measures, applications, and schemas. You must maintain the security of these databases, ensure they operate correctly, and validate that data coming into your organization is successfully stored within your databases. 

The typical tasks and responsibilities for database administrators include designing updated features, building database models, troubleshooting errors within your databases, training end users on new systems, migrating critical data between databases, and developing sufficient recovery procedures for your organization's data. 

How to launch your cybersecurity career in Maryland

You have multiple paths available to enter the field of cybersecurity. First, it’s helpful to understand the skills required for cybersecurity careers and the various options available to build them, including formal education, experience, certifications, and boot camps. 

Use the following to help you determine how to best start your journey toward landing a cybersecurity job. 

Skills 

Developing a robust set of technical and workplace skills and filling in gaps in your current knowledge can help you stand out from the competition when applying for cybersecurity jobs. Some of the vital skills for this career path include:

• Computer science fundamentals

• Security auditing

• Ethical hacking

• Risk assessment

• Penetration testing

• Programming language knowledge (Java, C++)

• Networking

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Collaboration

• Attention to detail

Education

Cybersecurity professionals commonly complete bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity or other related fields, such as programming, information sciences, or computer engineering. In some circumstances, depending on the specific employer, obtaining a job may only require an associate degree or no degree if you have applicable experience.

With a master’s degree, you could advance your career and secure a senior position within an organization. A more advanced degree may be ideal for these positions because they could involve managing public policy in cybersecurity or training other professionals on related tasks.

Work experience

Cybersecurity rarely offers entry-level, no-experience-needed jobs. Education, certification, and training help prepare you for the rigors of the industry. Employers often look for candidates with cybersecurity experience at another company or job. Completing an internship can also offer an excellent option for gaining practical experience, including those provided by various businesses and sectors. Depending on your career path, you might want to get experience working in areas like engineering and architecture, testing and ethical hacking, or incident response. 

Certifications and boot camps

Completing a cybersecurity boot camp or obtaining a relevant certification is a solid way to increase your knowledge base and sharpen your cybersecurity skills. Boot camps can help you land your first entry-level role by providing you with practical experience and exposure to real-life scenarios you may handle on the job. At the same time, certifications are a great option to help you progress in your career because they offer employers tangible proof of your skills and knowledge base. 

A few of the top cybersecurity credentials to consider are:

• CompTIA Security+

• Microsoft Technology Association Security Fundamentals

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

If you are more interested in exploring boot camps to begin your career in cybersecurity and find an entry-level role, some of the best ones to look into include:

• Berkeley Cybersecurity Bootcamp

• Penn Cybersecurity Bootcamp

• The Cybersecurity Bootcamp at UT Austin

• Northwestern Cybersecurity Bootcamp

Getting started on Coursera

Maryland is a thriving location for finding top cybersecurity roles due to the state's significant presence of government and military organizations. The state as a whole seeks talented and specialized cybersecurity professionals to fill positions in top organizations throughout a multitude of industries. 

Completing a course or program on Coursera can prepare you to attain these types of roles in Maryland or elsewhere. For example, you might check out Foundations of Cybersecurity by Google. This course explores the fundamentals, including cybersecurity-related ethics, the necessary core skills, and a glimpse into how cybersecurity threats affect businesses.   

Another option to consider is the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Assessment. Learn from experts in the industry and complete projects for valuable experience in this intermediate-level course.