“Information security analyst” tops the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Jobs list. The list ranks the 100 best jobs across 17 sectors including business, healthcare and technology, taking into account factors such as growth potential, salary and work-life balance.

Having a cybersecurity position at the top of the list is exciting for a young industry that has struggled with perception problems . It highlights the importance of cybersecurity at a time when cyber threats have become one of the top concerns for all types of organizations, both in the private and public sectors, and regardless of size.

“Information security analysts are increasingly critical as organizations work to protect against data breaches and cyber attacks,” says Antonio Barbera, consumer advice senior editor at U.S. News & World Report. “The 10-year outlook for the occupation is strong. It is predicted to be in high demand, with an expected expansion of the profession and an increase in its volume of jobs.”

Barbera noted that unemployment and high median salaries also add appeal to a career in cybersecurity.

The purpose of the Best Jobs ranking is to help jobseekers achieve their career goals, according to the publication. The publication culls data from U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics to identify jobs with the greatest hiring demand.  

Jobs are then scored using seven component measures: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance.

Tough Contenders

Information security analyst beat out some strong contenders on a list where nearly four in 10 jobs were in healthcare and healthcare support roles. The cybersecurity position also topped the Best Technology Jobs category, followed in order by software developer, data scientist, IT manager and computer systems analyst.

Recognition for the cybersecurity space is always welcome. As (ISC)² research has shown, the profession isn’t always well understood, and having one of the field’s many positions rank first in a list of desirable jobs is important.

Also important is the recognition that cybersecurity is a vastly diverse field with positions that require varying degrees of technical skills and experience. The spectrum of cybersecurity roles is extensive, as noted in this (ISC)² training guide . Roles include CISO, security specialist, security analyst, risk manager, pen tester, forensic analyst, malware researcher, data recovery specialist, vulnerability specialist, and many more.

Cybersecurity teams are built with people that perform many of these roles and bring a diverse set of skills and experience to help protect their organizations. What U.S. News & World Report noted about the need for information security analysts is true of many other roles in the field: They are in high demand and have major potential for growth in the years to come.