Career comparison
Information security analyst vs. Software engineer
Software engineers earn more: a median of $135,980, $6,800 (5%) above information security analysts at $129,180.
Information security analysts have the stronger outlook: +21% projected growth through 2035, vs. +10%.
Getting in is slower for information security analysts: about 2.3 years vs. 16 months for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Information security analyst | Software engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $129,180 | $135,980 |
| Top 10% earn over | $199,850 | $214,670 |
| Growth to 2035 | +21% | +10% |
| Openings per year | 14,100 | 95,300 |
| Jobs today | 192,900 | 1,717,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Time to qualify* | 2.3 years | 16 months |
| Training cost* | $1K–$6K | $0–$21K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Information security analyst
Software engineer
Switching from one to the other
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Information security analystSoftware engineer
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Getting in
Information security analyst
- Entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Required: CompTIA Security+ (most entry roles) · CISSP later (needs 5 years' experience)
Software engineer
- Entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: No license; technical interviews are the gate
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Information security analyst: 62% usually work over 40 hours a weekSoftware engineer: 8% usually work over 40 hours a week
Information security analyst: core tasks
- Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
- Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
- Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
- Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
- Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
Software engineer: core tasks
- Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
- Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
- Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
- Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis.
New for an information security analyst moving to software engineer: Programming, Technology Design, Systems Evaluation.
New for a software engineer moving to information security analyst: Speaking, Writing, Monitoring.
Interests (Holland codes): Information security analyst: Conventional, Investigative, Realistic. Software engineer: Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Information security analyst
+21%
much faster than average · 14,100 openings a year
Demand change, productivity change - share increases as firms increase their IT security staffs and capabilities as a response to increasing threats of cyberattacks aimed at sensitive or financial data, offset slightly by efficiencies gained through increased use of automated and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve security measures.
Software engineer
+10%
faster than average · 95,300 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, an information security analyst or a software engineer?
Software engineers earn more: a median of $135,980, $6,800 (5%) above information security analysts at $129,180.
Which has the better job outlook?
Information security analysts have the stronger outlook: +21% projected growth through 2035, vs. +10%.
How long does it take to become a software engineer?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 16 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $20,500. Required: No license; technical interviews are the gate.
How long does it take to become an information security analyst?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 2.3 years, with tuition of roughly $1,000 to $6,000. Required: CompTIA Security+ (most entry roles), CISSP later (needs 5 years' experience).
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