In 2019, cybersecurity engineers will be the best-paid, most recruited tech professionals as organizations struggle to fill vacant cybersecurity positions. The average salary for the position is now $140,000, according to job-finding website Scout Exchange .

While this is good news for cybersecurity professionals, it shows how much of a challenge organizations are facing to fill the position. The intensity and damage caused by cyber attacks continues to increase, and as cybercriminals continuously refine their methods, it gets harder and harder to find skilled candidates to build cybersecurity teams to fend off the threat. (ISC)² estimates there is currently a cybersecurity skills shortage of about 3 million worldwide , and nearly 500,000 of those positions are in North America.

“Cybersecurity has become critically important and employers are looking for up-to-the-minute skill sets,” Scout Exchange CEO Ken Lazarus said in a news release . “They want candidates with experience in network security, endpoint security, malware analysis and encryption technology. With the current shortage of talent in the pipeline, companies are looking to solutions like on-the-job training and certifications, while engaging specialty recruiters to fill their needs today.”

Cybersecurity engineer ranked first in Scout Exchange’s top five in-demand jobs for this year, followed by:

• Systems Administrator (average salary: $131,000)
• IT Auditor (average salary: $130,000)
• Software Engineer (average salary: $127,000)
• Software Architect (average salary: $126,000)

The Certification Advantage

For job candidates, having the right certifications is a definite advantage. Certifications show you have achieved proficiency in specific areas of technology and security, making you more attractive to prospective employers. (ISC)² offers certifications that can help candidates in any of Scout Exchange’s top five jobs.

Cybersecurity engineer candidates can benefit from holding SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner), CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) and CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) certifications.

Employers looking to fill system administrator positions value SSCP and CCSP certifications. Candidates also should consider earning their CISSP certification to validate a deeper knowledge of cybersecurity policy principles, which is especially handy in organizations where IT professionals share security responsibilities.

CISSP and SSCP certifications are valuable for IT auditors, who typically need a strong cybersecurity foundation to ensure their organizations comply with security requirements and applicable regulations. Those working in cloud environments – an increasingly common scenario – will find a CCSP certification makes them more attractive to employers.

For both software engineers and software architects, the CCSP and CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional) certifications are desirable criteria in the eyes of employers and recruiters.

Good Time to Be Looking

According to Scout Exchange, job listings for the top five tech positions appear more than twice as often as other positions, and salaries for the in-demand positions are on the rise. For candidates with the right skills and knowledge, and who can prove their qualifications through the certifications they hold, there’s never been a better time to look for a job.