No. 14: Data Security Analyst

Candidates need a deep knowledge of computer and network security, including firewall administration, encryption technologies and network protocols, and must stay abreast of trends in security and government regulations.

Employers generally look for at least three years of practical information security experience and value candidates with a professional certification such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation.

Data security analysts’ duties include establishing security policies and procedures; performing security audits, risk assessments and analysis; recommending data systems security enhancements; researching attempted data security breaches; and resolving security weaknesses.

The median starting salary for data security analysts is $134,000.