# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-engineers
- SOC code: 15-1299.05
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $116,580 (10th percentile $55,940, 90th percentile $188,470)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.1%
- Openings a year: 27,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Computer occupations, all other".

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 55 |
| Investigative (I) | 76 |
| Artistic (A) | 6 |
| Social (S) | 14 |
| Enterprising (E) | 28 |
| Conventional (C) | 84 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 97/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Processing Information (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Writing, Speaking, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, Design, Mathematics, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Communications and Media

## Also called

AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist), Application Security Administrator (Application Security Admin), Application Security Engineer, Automotive Security Engineer, BISO (Business Information Security Officer), Cloud Engineer, Cloud Security Architect, Cloud Security Engineer, Communications Security Manager (COMSEC Manager), Cyber Defense Incident Responder

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4005) (CIP 4005, 1,371 colleges)
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1107) (CIP 1107, 1,070 colleges)
- [Security Science and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4304) (CIP 4304, 513 colleges)
- [Information Science/Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1104) (CIP 1104, 446 colleges)
- [Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2611) (CIP 2611, 200 colleges)
- [Medical Illustration and Informatics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5127) (CIP 5127, 178 colleges)
- [Data Processing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1103) (CIP 1103, 149 colleges)
- [Mathematics and Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3008) (CIP 3008, 113 colleges)
- [Computational Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3030) (CIP 3030, 109 colleges)
- [Human Computer Interaction](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3031) (CIP 3031, 60 colleges)
- Accounting and Computer Science (CIP 3016, 17 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer Science | $173,492 | $268,121 | $19,000 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Computer Science | $171,815 | $225,141 | $10,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Computer Science | $151,551 | $223,309 | $12,500 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Computer Science | $155,162 | $217,973 | not reported |
| [Pomona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pomona-college-2139) | Computer Science | $100,072 | $217,051 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Computer Science | $157,763 | $214,907 | $12,000 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Computer Science | $141,816 | $214,479 | $15,000 |

## Related careers

- [Penetration Testers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/penetration-testers): $116,580 median pay
- [Information Security Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-analysts): $129,180 median pay
- [Security Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-management-specialists): $83,050 median pay
- [Network and Computer Systems Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators): $99,130 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Security Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-managers): $106,660 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.