Evidence-backed career context
Careers & Pay
Wage figures are U.S. national annual estimates for May 2025. Direct occupation series and broader proxies are labeled separately.
Dataset accessed 2026-11-07 · review due 2027-11-07 · source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
| Occupation and code | Median | Mean | Mapping | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Network Support SpecialistSOC/O*NET 15-1231 | $76,220 | $81,870 | Direct occupation series | Primary source |
| Network and Computer Systems AdministratorSOC/O*NET 15-1244 | $99,130 | $103,680 | Direct occupation series | Primary source |
| Computer Network ArchitectSOC/O*NET 15-1241 | $134,050 | $139,580 | Direct occupation series | Primary source |
| Information Security AnalystSOC/O*NET 15-1212 | $129,180 | $132,510 | Direct occupation series | Primary source |
| Penetration TesterSOC/O*NET 15-1299.04 | $116,580 | $122,230 | Broad 15-1299 occupational proxy; not a penetration-tester-specific wage series | Primary source |
| Digital Forensics AnalystSOC/O*NET 15-1299.06 | $116,580 | $122,230 | Broad 15-1299 occupational proxy; not a digital-forensics-specific wage series | Primary source |
6 occupation categories
Median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. Mean is the arithmetic average and can be higher when high wages pull the average upward. These are national occupation estimates, not entry pay, local pay, or a forecast for a particular person.
How to read specialist-role mappings
Penetration testers and digital forensics analysts have O*NET occupation profiles, but the figures above use the broader BLS 15-1299 computer-occupations-all-other wage category as a proxy. That category is not specific to either specialty. New specialty fields do not have independent wage series in this dataset; related occupations provide context rather than specialty-specific pay estimates.
Field labels such as Blue Team describe a practice area, not a single standardized occupation. Use the linked occupation definitions and employer-specific job descriptions when comparing roles.
Field-to-career paths
- Network EngineeringFoundation → repeatable tools → portfolio case study → professional operations
- Penetration TestingFoundation → isolated labs → authorized project evidence → assessment practice
- Blue TeamFoundation → triage tools → validated case notes → defensive operations
- Biosecurity Intelligence & BiosurveillanceFoundation → synthetic records → source validation → supervised analysis
- CyberbiosecurityFoundation → synthetic system records → integrity checks → defensive assurance
- Digital ForensicsFoundation → offline fixtures → reproducible casework → forensic practice
Source notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Table 1 — national mean wages and occupation categories.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts — May 2025 median and role context.
- O*NET: Penetration Testers, 15-1299.04 — occupation profile, not a specialty-specific wage.
- O*NET: Digital Forensics Analysts, 15-1299.06 — occupation profile, not a specialty-specific wage.
Last reviewed for this site build: November 7, 2026. Recheck source releases and records before each public update.