State salary and training guide
Cybersecurity Analyst Salary and Career Path in Pennsylvania (2026)
Pennsylvania cybersecurity analysts work across healthcare, finance, universities, managed service providers, defense-adjacent contractors, and regional technology teams. BLS uses the formal title Information Security Analysts for this work, so this guide cites SOC 15-1212 while using the job-market label cybersecurity analyst.
Key Stats for cybersecurity analysts in Pennsylvania
- National median salary: $124,910/year (BLS OOH May 2024)
- PA Mean Annual Wage: $114,870/year (BLS OEWS May 2024 State XLSX) — SOC 15-1212 Information Security Analysts. State OEWS rows publish mean wages, not state medians.
- PA annual median: $110,230/year (BLS OEWS May 2024 State XLSX) — Shown as a secondary benchmark; the primary state figure on this page is the mean annual wage.
- PA employment estimate: 4,420 (BLS OEWS May 2024)
- PA location quotient: 0.63 (BLS OEWS May 2024)
- PA hourly mean: $55.00/hr (BLS OEWS May 2024)
Salary figures are for all workers in the occupation, not entry-level pay. Entry-level salaries typically start lower, and local employer requirements vary.
What cybersecurity analysts do in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania cybersecurity analysts work across healthcare, finance, universities, managed service providers, defense-adjacent contractors, and regional technology teams. BLS uses the formal title Information Security Analysts for this work, so this guide cites SOC 15-1212 while using the job-market label cybersecurity analyst.
In Pennsylvania, cybersecurity analyst roles may involve monitoring alerts, reviewing logs, supporting incident response, documenting security findings, coordinating with IT teams, and protecting regulated data. Employer requirements vary: some postings prefer a degree, some emphasize certifications and experience, and some require industry-specific background.
- Healthcare and finance demand: Health systems, insurers, banks, and fintech employers all need security monitoring, incident response, and compliance-aware analysts.
- Philadelphia to Pittsburgh range: The state includes dense metro markets, university corridors, and regional employers with different hybrid, onsite, and remote expectations.
- BLS title mapping: BLS reports this occupation as Information Security Analysts under SOC 15-1212; Qualora uses cybersecurity analyst as the learner-facing title.
Start with the Cybersecurity Analyst career overview.
Cybersecurity Analyst Salary Breakdown in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's verified BLS OEWS May 2024 row reports a mean annual wage of $114,870 and employment of 4,420 for Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212). This is a mean for all workers in the occupation, not promised entry-level pay.
The same state row lists an annual median of $110,230. Qualora labels the state figure as Mean Annual Wage because Walt's verified OEWS state-row report requires mean-wage labeling for these state pages.
The national BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook median for information security analysts is $124,910/year for May 2024, with 29% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
| Area | Mean Annual Wage | Employment Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania statewide | $114,870 | 4,420 | SOC 15-1212 Information Security Analysts; BLS OEWS May 2024 mean annual wage. |
| Philadelphia / southeastern Pennsylvania | Employer-based | Regional | Finance, healthcare, telecom, higher education, and managed security employers can shape analyst requirements. |
| Pittsburgh / western Pennsylvania | Employer-based | Regional | Healthcare, banking, university, robotics, and technology employers can create security analyst demand. |
| Central and northeastern Pennsylvania | Employer-based | Regional | University, healthcare, manufacturing IT, government-adjacent, and remote-friendly roles may differ by employer. |
How to become a Cybersecurity Analyst in Pennsylvania
- Build networking, operating-system, and security fundamentals
Start with networks, endpoints, identity, cloud basics, common attack patterns, and defensive vocabulary before chasing advanced tools.
- Practice analyst workflows
Learn alert triage, log review, phishing investigation, vulnerability prioritization, ticket documentation, and incident-response communication.
- Map certifications to employer expectations
Security+, Network+, CySA+, GSEC, CISSP, and cloud-security credentials can matter at different levels. Read Pennsylvania job postings before choosing a certification sequence.
- Compare Pennsylvania industries and work models
Healthcare, finance, higher education, defense-adjacent contracting, managed service providers, and remote employers may value different tools, compliance frameworks, and schedules.
Top employer settings in Pennsylvania
- Healthcare systems, hospitals, and health insurers
- Banks, fintech teams, and financial services firms
- Universities, research organizations, and public-sector teams
- Managed security providers, consultants, and defense-adjacent contractors
Start your Cybersecurity Analyst training path
Course links
- AI for Cybersecurity — Practice AI-assisted threat detection, alert triage, and defensive analysis workflows ($69)
- Network Security Fundamentals — Build networking and security foundations before role-specific analyst practice ($49)
- Browse cybersecurity courses — Compare Qualora courses mapped to cybersecurity analyst training paths
Related guides
- Security+ vs Network+ comparison — Compare beginner security certification routes before choosing a study plan.
- Cybersecurity career change guide — Plan a switch into security work without assuming a one-size-fits-all route.
- IT careers without a degree — Compare cybersecurity with adjacent no-degree IT entry paths.
- Medical Assistant salary in Pennsylvania — Compare a healthcare support path in the same state salary template.
Compare related careers in Pennsylvania
- Medical Assistant salary Pennsylvania — Compare medical assistant state salary context in Pennsylvania.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cybersecurity analysts make in Pennsylvania?
BLS OEWS May 2024 reports a Pennsylvania mean annual wage of $114,870 for Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212). The state annual median in the same row is $110,230. These are not guaranteed starting wages.
Why does this page cite Information Security Analysts?
Cybersecurity analyst is the common learner-facing title, while BLS reports the occupation as Information Security Analysts under SOC 15-1212. This page uses both labels so the salary source is clear.
Do cybersecurity analysts in Pennsylvania need a degree?
Some employers prefer a cybersecurity, IT, or computer science degree, while others weigh certifications, labs, help-desk or network experience, and security projects. Requirements vary by employer.
Is Pennsylvania a good market for cybersecurity analysts?
Pennsylvania has healthcare, finance, university, government-adjacent, consulting, and remote-friendly technology employers. Compare postings by region, schedule, clearance needs, and required tools before deciding.
Which certifications should a beginner compare first?
Beginners often compare Network+, Security+, and role-specific analyst credentials such as CySA+. CISSP is usually later-career because it expects professional experience.
Sources and salary notes
SOC 15-1212.00. Salary figures are for all workers in the occupation, not entry-level pay. Entry-level salaries typically start lower, and local employer requirements vary. Last updated: 2026-05-14. Next review: 2026-06-14.
- BLS OEWS May 2024 State XLSX — Information Security Analysts — May 2024. Official state_M2024_dl.xlsx row for SOC 15-1212; Pennsylvania mean wage and employment estimate.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Information Security Analysts — May 2024. National median pay, job outlook, and occupation overview.
- BLS OEWS occupational profile — Information Security Analysts — May 2023. Working individual occupational profile URL for SOC 15-1212.