We live in a world where data breaches and cyberattacks are increasingly common. That’s why there’s a growing need for people with the skills to protect sensitive information from compromise.
A Masters in Cyber Security is a solid qualification that prepares you for many potential career opportunities. Job titles include cybersecurity manager, cybersecurity analyst, security consultant, cybersecurity specialist, and security consultant.
The best and worst masters
Another factor to keep in mind is that some masters will pay a much higher salary than others. And some will pay much less. Even if the relative salary increase with a master’s degree in a profession is relatively high (such as a preschool or kindergarten teacher with a master’s degree), the actual salary may still be relatively low.
Monster.com reports that the following majors offer the highest salaries:
Occupational Degree Requirements
Finally, to decide whether to a master’s degree, you must take into account all professional requirements related to the degree. In some fields or roles, having a graduate degree is unlikely to stand out; it is an absolute necessity.
For example, you usually can’t get a mental health counselor or psychologist license without a master’s degree. Human resources management positions can be considered essential. The same is true for many health care roles. Some fields even require high school teachers to have a master’s degree, and almost all teachers must earn an advanced university degree to qualify for the position.
Is a Masters relevant to your profession?
Aside from the high cost and the emotional and mental stress, will you justify your time to pursue an education? The answer depends on your professional experience. Forbes recently released a list of the best and worst master’s degrees for work in 2017. According to the list, the top 10 master’s degrees for work in 2017 are:
- Applied Mathematics
- Financial Management (MBA)
- Statistics
- Management Information Systems (MIS) (MBA)
- Mathematics
- General and strategic management (MBA)
- Corporate Finance (MBA)
- Physics
- IT
- Biomedical Engineering
Conservation or regeneration?
Are you trying to preserve or reinvent your career? These are very different goals for going back to school.
I have heard of many who have gone back to school and earned a master’s degree in their chosen profession. As long as their current employer supports and/or funds the degree program, they are generally successful. A good example is earning a master’s degree in education for those in K-12.