Entry level
Typical roles
- SOC Analyst
- IT Support
- Help Desk
Top skills
Networking, ticket triage, operating systems
Top certifications
Security+, Network+, ISC2 CC
Career development
Cybersecurity Career Paths
Explore entry, mid, and senior cybersecurity roles and build a practical path toward the work you want to do.
Plan with trusted frameworks
CyberSeek and the NIST NICE Framework can help you compare work roles, identify transferable skills, and map training to a realistic next move. Use them as a guide, then validate your plan against the roles employers are hiring for.
Career progression
Common roles, skills, and certifications at each stage.
Mid level
Typical roles
- Security Engineer
- Penetration Tester
- GRC Analyst
- Incident Responder
Top skills
SIEM, scripting, vulnerability management, frameworks
Top certifications
CEH, CISM, AWS Security Specialty
Senior level
Typical roles
- Security Architect
- CISO
- Red Team Lead
- Detection Engineer
Top skills
Strategy, architecture, leadership, threat modeling
Top certifications
CISSP, CCSP, OSCP
Feeder roles into cybersecurity
Many successful cyber careers start with strong IT fundamentals.
1. IT Support
2. SOC Analyst
3. Security Engineer
4. Security Architect
Find your next role
Browse cybersecurity jobs and narrow your search by role.