Cybersecurity Awareness Specialist

Career Guide

A Cybersecurity Awareness Specialist helps employees understand and follow safe practices when using email, devices, and company systems. The goal is to reduce human error, strengthen security culture, and support compliance through clear training, communication, and measurement.

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Key Responsibilities

Design and deliver security awareness training for employees and contractors
Create clear guidance on common risks such as phishing, password safety, and safe data handling
Run phishing simulation campaigns and track participation and outcomes
Write and maintain security awareness content such as newsletters, short videos, and quick tips
Partner with Human Resources, Legal, and Information Technology to align training with policies and onboarding
Measure program impact using completion rates, quiz results, and incident trends
Support security events and campaigns such as Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Maintain training records to support internal audits and regulatory requirements
Collect employee feedback and improve training based on what is confusing or frequently missed

Top Skills for Success

Clear Writing

Public Speaking

Instructional Design

Stakeholder Management

Program Management

Data Literacy

Phishing Awareness

Security Policy Communication

Learning Management Systems

Behavior Change Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Security Awareness Lead

Security Culture Manager

Governance Risk and Compliance Analyst

Security Program Manager

Security Training Manager

Transition Opportunities

Security Analyst

Incident Response Analyst

Identity and Access Management Specialist

Privacy Analyst

Third Party Risk Analyst

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Metrics DesignSurvey DesignContent StrategyExecutive CommunicationRisk CommunicationPolicy WritingLearning AnalyticsChange Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple measurement plan that ties training to outcomes such as reduced phishing clicks and faster reporting. Create a small content calendar, test messages with a pilot group, and iterate based on results. Practice translating security topics into short, plain language guidance for different audiences.

Market Intelligence Report

Cybersecurity Awareness Specialist is part of the Cybersecurity category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 105,000

Senior LevelUSD 105,000 to 145,000

Growth Trend

Demand is steady to growing as organizations invest more in reducing phishing risk and meeting training requirements. Hiring is strongest in regulated industries and larger companies.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Large banksHealth systemsInsurance companiesGovernment agenciesUniversitiesCloud service providersRetailers with large workforcesManaged security service providersLarge consulting firms

Industry Sectors

Financial servicesHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentEducationRetailManufacturingTelecommunicationsEnergy

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio with two training samples such as a short slide deck and a one page phishing guide

Run a mock phishing campaign plan including goals, audience, timeline, and success metrics

Learn a common learning management system and document how you would assign and track courses

Draft an awareness metrics dashboard outline with five core measures and a monthly reporting cadence

Prepare interview stories showing how you influenced behavior change and handled pushback

Earn an entry level security awareness or compliance credential that aligns with your target industry

Network with security teams and Human Resources partners to learn how training is delivered in your target companies