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.

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.

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

1
Create a portfolio with two training samples such as a short slide deck and a one page phishing guide
2
Run a mock phishing campaign plan including goals, audience, timeline, and success metrics
3
Learn a common learning management system and document how you would assign and track courses
4
Draft an awareness metrics dashboard outline with five core measures and a monthly reporting cadence
5
Prepare interview stories showing how you influenced behavior change and handled pushback
6
Earn an entry level security awareness or compliance credential that aligns with your target industry
7
Network with security teams and Human Resources partners to learn how training is delivered in your target companies