Dubai: With the inclusion of technology in so many aspects of our lives, there is an increased demand for cybersecurity jobs worldwide. But where could you earn the most if you want to enter this lucrative field?
Trevor Cooke, the online privacy expert at EarthWeb, provides insight into which cities offer the most cybersecurity careers.
For the research, the cities were selected based on their popularity. The job vacancy data was taken from LinkedIn.com, and the yearly average salary data was taken from Glassdoor.com. After collecting the data, both factors were given a combined score by giving them a 50-50% weightage. Cities were ranked according to that combined score.
The Best Cities For Cybersecurity Jobs are:
| City | Country | Number of Job Openings | Yearly Average Salary (in USD) | Combined Score |
| San Francisco | USA | 3036 | $161,845 | 82,440.5 |
| Boston | USA | 3710 | $155,786 | 79,748 |
| Dubai | UAE | 236 | $147,056.80 | 73,646.4 |
| Washington D.C. | USA | 12,298 | $115,509 | 63,903.5 |
| Tel Aviv | Israel | 468 | $127,068 | 63,768 |
San Francisco
San Francisco has long been the tech capital of the United States since Silicon Valley was founded in the early 1970s, so it is no surprise that it has the highest salaries for cybersecurity jobs in the world.
San Francisco has a consistent stream of new cybersecurity recruits, with Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, located in the area. 'Both schools have exceptional undergraduate cybersecurity programs, ranking 4th and 5th in the nation,' says Trevor. 'Many prospective students choose these schools so that they can graduate and immediately enter the tech workforce in the same city.'
When choosing a cybersecurity firm to work for, cybersecurity experts have the cream of the crop at their fingertips in San Francisco. Five out of the ten most valuable public cybersecurity companies in the world are headquartered in the area, so there are always lots of job openings as these companies continue to grow.
Boston
Boston is the current hub of cybersecurity conferences, hosting more than 15 conferences and summits on the topic. 'This city brings in top cybersecurity experts from around the world to trade ideas and work together to build a safer world,' says Trevor.
It is also home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which currently ranks second in cybersecurity undergraduate degrees, and Harvard and Brandeis, other reputable research and technological schools.
The salaries in Boston are lower than in San Francisco, but on average, the city provides around 700 more jobs annually.
Dubai
Dubai is one of the two cities on this list located in the Middle East. In recent years, it has been rising in popularity, wealth, and cybersecurity expertise. After years of efforts to build robust cybersecurity programs, Dubai's cybersecurity infrastructure is now ranked fifth in the world, and they want to start sharing it with the rest of the world. 'Because of how much research is being done into cybersecurity in Dubai, it is a very appealing place for experts in the field,' says Trevor.
Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., is on the cusp of cybersecurity greatness with the most yearly job openings. Trevor states, 'Although salaries are the lowest in this city compared to the other four, Washington D.C. is a great place to start a career in cybersecurity and work your way up to a higher salary.'
Apart from the significant social aspects of living in Washington, D.C., residents live amongst lawmakers and politicians making daily decisions about cybersecurity and cyber threats. This offers a unique perspective for those working in the industry and the chance to influence those critical decisions.
Tel Aviv
Israel's government has invested heavily in creating a cybersecurity hub in Tel Aviv. 'It was also the first country to offer a PhD in Cybersecurity as an independent discipline,' notes Trevor, 'which brought many prospective students to the region to further their education.'
Israel's cybersecurity approach is proactive, comprehensive, and long-term, focused not on potential attackers but on possible threats. For these reasons, many cybersecurity experts feel it is the best place to be for the future of cybersecurity.