How much can you earn with an online master's degree in cybersecurity?

Discover the earning potential of an online Master's in Cybersecurity. With high demand and six-figure salaries common, an MBA in this field can lead to top tech roles and excellent pay.

There is a massive talent shortage in the cybersecurity industry. By the end of 2021, almost three-quarters of a million positions were unfilled as more and more companies felt the impact of data breaches and digital transformation.

"Obviously, the pandemic has pushed this [demand] up a bit, but we were already on the path to digital transformation," Deborah Golden, head of Cyber and Strategic Risks at Deloitte US, tells Fortune. "Because of this, we have become very diverse in terms of the types of skills we are looking for: from deep cyber skills to specialized expertise."

These hyper-technical skills require very intensive training. Some professionals who want to enter the cyber field participate in their company's train-to-hire programs. Deloitte, for example, offers this to its current employees to help them develop the skills needed to fill thousands of positions each year.

For employees who do not have the opportunity to complete a training program through their work, a master's degree in cybersecurity can be a surefire way to enter the industry. According to CyberSeek, a tool that provides data on the cybersecurity job market, students with a master's degree in cybersecurity can earn a six-figure income right after graduation. The tool is sponsored by Emsi Burning Glass, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education.

"We often find that cybersecurity skills come with a significant salary premium, in some cases on the order of $10,000, $15,000 or more" compared to other technical positions, Will Markow, vice president of applied research and talent at Emsi Burning Glass, tells Fortune.

How much graduates of online master's programs in cybersecurity earn

At the University of California-Berkeley, Fortune's top-ranked online master's program for cybersecurity, the average base salary for graduates is $200,000. Some students earn more than $154,000 as Computer Information Systems Managers. Other jobs for graduates include Computer Network Architect and Software Developer, earning $117,000 and $112,000 respectively, according to statistics compiled by the university.