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Combined, San Francisco (4,520 cybersecurity jobs) and Seattle (3,910) accounted for nearly 47% of all cybersecurity roles across the top 10 cities. Yet, despite its size, Seattle was the only city in the top 10 to post a negative YoY change in employment at -8.6%. This downturn may signal that Seattle is one of the primary markets losing jobs to emerging, lower-cost tech hubs. Cybersecurity professionals based there may face greater competition in a contracting market. Still, the long-term advantage of having Microsoft, Amazon, or other tech giants on your resume is a powerful incentive to weather the short-term headwinds.
Bonus: Boston
For some cybersecurity professionals, a well-paying job is just a stepping stone. Their goal may instead be to launch their own cybersecurity startup — especially as emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT create new attack surfaces and corresponding business opportunities. Many of today’s industry giants — CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Darktrace, Wiz, Abnormal Security, and Snyk — were once ambitious upstarts founded by domain experts who saw gaps in the market.
Others aim to join a rising tech company early, securing a cybersecurity role at a high-growth startup with the potential for a significant financial upside. For example, one survey found that 76% of Nvidia employees were millionaires thanks mainly to their stock options — a powerful example of what early-stage equity can deliver.
Boston offers a compelling blend of opportunity and access for professionals with this mindset. Ranked first in venture capital, Massachusetts is a national hotspot for startup activity and scaleup momentum. Boston ranks 12th on the Cybersecurity Job Index with a score of 6.3 and saw a 14.6% YoY increase in employment to 3,920 jobs and a 6.9% YoY wage rise to a $132,810 average. As not just a college town but arguably the best one, Boston offers founder-inclined cyber pros access to a deep talent pool from Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, and many more.
The tradeoff is the cost of living. Massachusetts ranks 47th, making it one of the most expensive states to live in. But for those betting on the next big thing, the potential returns — professionally and financially — could far outweigh the cost of eggs. Cyber pros who aren’t drawn to living in Boston but are seeking a similar opportunity profile may want to consider New York City as an alternative.
Bonus: Birmingham, Ala.
Once nicknamed the “Magic City” for its explosive growth in the late 1800s, Alabama may be earning that title again — this time for its rising profile in cybersecurity. Ranked 17th on the Cybersecurity Job Index with a score of 5.9, Birmingham has experienced modest YoY growth in employment of 9.1% to 600 jobs and in wages of 6.5% to $106,010.
What makes Birmingham compelling is its exceptionally low cost of living. Alabama ranks third nationally, behind only Arkansas and Mississippi — two states with no cities featured on Upwind’s list. For professionals pursuing a high-salary, low-cost-of-living strategy — such as those interested in financial independence, retire early (FIRE) — Birmingham presents a rare opportunity to stretch income without sacrificing career prospects.
The city is also home to several notable tech companies, including Shipt, McLeod Software, Atlas RFID Solutions, EBSCO Industries, and Fleetio, which recently secured a $450 million Series D. This significant influx of capital into a Birmingham-headquartered company suggests growing venture capital confidence in the local tech ecosystem — even as Alabama currently ranks only 25th in venture capital. High-profile deals like this may help draw more investor attention to the city and, in turn, spur the creation of new cybersecurity job opportunities.
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