How to get into entry level cyber security + salary guide

A new cyber attack hits Australia every six minutes. The country received over 84,700 cybercrime reports in FY2024–2025, with criminals targeting everything from corner shops to critical infrastructure. Ransomware alone costs the Australian economy $2.59 billion yearly, so cyber security is nothing short of an essential industry.

Every ransomware attack and data breach creates jobs for people who know how to defend networks. Banks hire cyber security professionals to protect their customer data. Hospitals need defenders stopping ransomware from locking up patient records. Government agencies recruit people blocking nation-state hackers. Getting into cyber security lets you protect all these important entities from digital attacks.

This guide walks you through the steps to start a career in cyber security in Australia without a computer science degree or years of information technology experience. You’ll learn which entry level roles are best, what the average cyber security salary is, what training prepares you for your first job and what certifications let you earn even more. Australian organisations are waiting for your help defending against a growing number of cyber threats affecting organisations across the country.

Is cyber security a good career in Australia?

Cyber security careers in Australia are excellent thanks to strong job security, solid salaries and real demand that keeps climbing as businesses face increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Large Australian businesses now lose an average of $202,700 per cyber incident, representing a staggering 219% increase year-on-year. Small businesses are also at risk, losing an average of $49,500 per incident, so organisations of all shapes and sizes need cyber security specialists.

The increasing number and cost of cyber attacks is forcing companies to hire people who can protect their systems. So much so, that the demand far outpaces supply right now. Employment for cyber security professionals is expected to grow 14.2% from 2024 to 2029, more than double the national average. This skills shortage means qualified professionals are often in a strong position in the job market. Finance, healthcare, defence, government and critical infrastructure all compete for the same pool of talent.

This career is future-proof because threats keep evolving faster than defences. Digital transformation and AI expand the attack surface constantly as companies adopt more connected devices and automated tools. Threat actors often exploit new vulnerabilities, which means organisations need cyber security professionals defending their networks permanently.

The Australian Government committed $586.9 million to the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, stacked on top of $2.3 billion already flowing through existing initiatives. Government investment creates jobs across the public sector whilst regulatory pressure pushes private companies to lift their security standards, further creating job opportunities.  

If you’re considering a future-focused career with strong demand and meaningful impact, cyber security is one of Australia’s most promising pathways. It combines technical challenge with real-world purpose, protecting organisations, communities and critical infrastructure.

How to start a career in cyber security in Australia

Starting a cyber security career in Australia doesn’t require a computer science degree or years of IT experience. Most people break into the field through structured training combining foundational IT knowledge with practical cyber security skills, then land entry-level roles building their expertise. Cyber Security Analyst ranked as the top job in LinkedIn’s 2024 Jobs on the Rise report, making it a compelling career path to consider. 

1. Get clear on what “cyber security” jobs actually are

Cyber security isn’t one single role. The field splits into different specialisations that require different skills and suit different personalities. Most entry-level cyber security careers lead into one of three areas:

• Security Operations Center (SOC) and security operations: You’ll monitor security alerts, investigate potential incidents and respond when systems get compromised.

• Network and infrastructure security: You’ll protect systems, networks and cloud environments by configuring firewalls and hardening infrastructure against attacks.

• Governance, risk and compliance (GRC): You’ll develop security policies, conduct risk assessments, manage audits and make sure organisations meet security standards.

Pick a starting direction based on what energises you. Hands-on technical work appeals to some people whilst others prefer big-picture work in risk management.

2. Build the core IT and networking foundations first

You can’t defend networks without understanding how they work. Employers expect security professionals to grasp basic networking, operating systems and common threats before handling security incidents.

You’ll need foundations in IP addresses, DNS records, routing and firewalls. Basic Windows and Linux knowledge is essential because you’ll work with both daily. You’ll also need to understand threats like phishing and malware that give you context for why specific security controls exist.

Training pathways combining cyber security with advanced networking prepare you better than security-only courses. Monarch’s Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security and Advanced Networking) builds both skills simultaneously.

3. Choose a job-ready training pathway

Training for a cyber security career in Australia splits into three main options:

Monarch’s Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security and Advanced Networking) targets job-ready skills whilst teaching foundational networking concepts that employers expect. You’ll study online at your own pace, gaining practical experience through custom-built virtual labs simulating real cyber security environments.

4. Check entry requirements and make sure you’re ready to start

You don’t need cyber security experience or advanced IT knowledge to begin. Most programmes accept anyone with basic computer confidence and motivation to learn. Be prepared for:

• Technical concepts: Networking, security protocols and system administration build progressively from foundational concepts to complex applications.

• Practical assessments: You’ll complete hands-on projects and case studies proving you can apply knowledge practically.

• New tools: You’ll get comfortable with security tools and command line interfaces as you practice with them. 

5. Build hands-on experience while you study

Employers want proof you can do the work. Building practical experience whilst studying can significantly improve your chances of securing a role after completing your course.

Monarch partners with eduLAB to create interactive virtual computer labs where you’ll test cyber security skills in simulated real-life settings. All virtual labs are custom-built for Monarch students and run 100% online.

Beyond course labs, build:

• Documentation of your learning like notes and screenshots of projects

• Simple home lab projects to practice your skills

• Evidence of troubleshooting like notes on how you solved specific problems

6. Apply for roles that match your first stepping stone

You don’t need to be an expert before applying for entry-level roles. Entry-level cyber security careers in Australia let you build the experience employers want. These are some great options for your first role:

• SOC analyst: Monitor security alerts and investigate potential incidents.

• Junior cyber security analyst: Support security teams with vulnerability scanning and log analysis.

• IT support with security focus: Help desk roles exposing you to security policies and access management.

• Network support roles: Particularly relevant if you’ve studied advanced networking alongside cyber security.

7. Grow into a defined cyber security career path

After building initial experience, specialise into areas that match your interests:

• Security engineering: Design and implement security controls and build security architecture.

• Penetration testing: Simulate attacks and find vulnerabilities before criminals exploit them.

• Cloud security: Protect cloud environments as organisations migrate to AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.

• GRC and risk leadership: Develop security strategies and advise executives on cyber risk.

• Network security: Specialise in protecting network infrastructure and implementing zero-trust architectures.

Entry level cyber security career options

Entry-level roles aren’t about knowing everything. They’re about showing you can learn, think critically and apply foundational skills in real-world scenarios.

Entry-level cyber security roles in Australia offer multiple career pathways into the field depending on whether you prefer technical monitoring or risk analysis work. The Australian cyber security market generated revenue of USD $5.87 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD $13.31 billion by 2030, growing at 14.6% annually. This explosive growth makes it easier than ever for people to break into the field.

Even better, the demand for entry-level cyber security roles far exceeds the supply. The shortfall of qualified cyber security professionals in Australia is forecast to hit 30,000 unfilled positions by 2026. The skills gap means entry-level candidates with solid foundational training can land roles that build their careers.

These are the main entry-level positions you’ll target after completing cyber security training:

Cyber security career path explained

Cyber security careers in Australia follow a clear progression from hands-on technical work through to strategic leadership roles managing entire security programmes. Your exact path depends on which specialisation you choose early on, but the general pattern moves from monitoring and responding to threats towards designing security architectures and leading teams protecting organisations at scale.

Early career stage

You’ll spend your first two to four years building foundational experience in entry-level roles like SOC analyst or junior security analyst. This stage teaches you how real attacks happen and which security tools actually work in practice compared to theoretical or vendor-led approaches.

Most people pick a specialisation during this period based on what they enjoy most. Some gravitate towards technical hands-on work like penetration testing or security engineering. Others prefer the strategic side of governance, risk and compliance. Your early career experiences are the best way to find out what kind of work energises you and what feels like a chore.

Mid-level cyber security roles

Mid-level roles demand deeper technical expertise and the ability to work independently on complex security challenges:

• Security engineer: Design and implement security controls, build security architectures and harden systems against evolving threats.

• Penetration tester: Simulate sophisticated attacks to find vulnerabilities before criminals exploit them, basically working as an ethical hacker testing organisational defences.

• Cyber security consultant: Advise multiple organisations on security strategy, conduct risk assessment and implement security programmes across different industries.

Senior and leadership roles

Senior roles start becoming less about hands-on technical work and more about strategy and leadership. Here are the most common senior cyber security roles:

• Cyber security architect: Design enterprise-wide security architectures, set technical direction and make high-level decisions about security technology investments.

• Security manager: Lead security teams, manage budgets, coordinate incident response and report security posture to executives.

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Own the entire organisational security strategy and manage security risk at the executive level.

Cyber security salary in Australia

Cyber security pays well, and the data across every source confirms it. Qualified professionals are hard to find, employers know it and the numbers show that at every experience level. The catch is that the figures can vary quite a bit depending on where you look, so it’s important to understand why the numbers can be so different.

SEEK puts the average annual salary for cyber security analysts between $100,000 and $120,000, based on what employers are actively advertising right now. That figure skews toward experienced hires because that’s who most job ads are targeting. 

PayScale’s median lands at a considerably lower $84,002, with the bottom 10% earning around $62,000 and the top 10% making at least $124,000. PayScale pulls from self-reported salaries across all experience levels, which brings the middle figure down by quite a bit, with a much smaller sample size. Therefore the data should be treated as qualitative, rather than quantitative and more statistically accurate. Neither source is wrong, they’re just measuring different slices of the same profession.

The most authoritative government figure is Jobs and Skills Australia, which reports median weekly earnings of $2,461, or around $128,000 per year. It’s important to note that this figure is for the occupation group that includes ICT Security Specialists along with Database and Systems Administrators. It’s not a pure cyber security figure as that’s not an official ANZSCO classification, but it’s the closest official benchmark available and a solid indicator of where experienced practitioners in this field land salary-wise.

*Salary estimates are based on data from SEEK Australia, PayScale and Jobs and Skills Australia and should be treated as indicative ranges rather than guaranteed earnings.

Factors that influence cyber security salary

Your cyber security salary depends on choices you make about where you work and what credentials you stack over time. Location, industry sector and certifications create the biggest pay gaps between cyber security professionals doing similar work.

Location

Capital cities pay much more than regional areas because demand concentrates in places that big organisations call home. Sydney and Melbourne cyber security professionals earn more per year than their regional counterparts doing similar work.

Regional roles come with trade-offs worth considering, though. Lower living costs sometimes mean that your smaller salary stretches further, whilst remote work arrangements let you earn capital city rates whilst living anywhere with a solid internet connection.

Industry

Different industries pay different rates based on how important security is to their operations:

• Finance and banking: High regulatory requirements and massive attack surfaces make it hard to overstate how important cyber security is in the financial industry.

• Government and defence: Public sector roles offer strong job security and generous benefits packages, though base salaries sometimes trail private sector rates.

• Consulting firms: They pay competitive salaries plus opportunities to upskill as you work with multiple different clients at a time.

• Tech companies: They offer strong salaries, equity options and cutting-edge security challenges working with modern cloud infrastructure.

Qualifications and certifications

Industry certifications can significantly impact your earning potential by proving specialised knowledge:

How to increase your entry level cyber security starting salary

You can negotiate higher starting salaries by demonstrating capabilities beyond basic qualifications:

• Stack relevant certifications early: CompTIA Security+ or Certified Ethical Hacker credentials show initiative and technical knowledge before landing your first role.

• Build demonstrable hands-on experience: Complete virtual labs and document home lab projects to show off your skills.

• Leverage prior IT or business experience: Transferable skills from network administration or business analytics roles justify higher starting salaries than fresh graduates with zero work experience.

FAQs 

How long does it take to start a career in cyber security?

Monarch’s Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security and Advanced Networking) takes 12 to 30 months studying online, with no minimum timeframe to complete this course. You can start applying for entry-level roles whilst studying or immediately after completing your qualification.

Do you need a degree to work in cyber security in Australia?

No you don't need a degree to work in cyber security in Australia. Many cyber security professionals enter through diploma-level qualifications or bootcamps rather than university degrees. Employers care more about practical skills and hands-on experience than specific credential types.

What is the best entry-level cyber security career?

SOC analyst roles are usually the strongest entry pathway into a cyber security career because they expose you to real security incidents and threat detection. Junior cyber security analyst and IT support with a security focus also work well.

What is the average cyber security salary in Australia?

The average cyber security salary in Australia ranges from $84,000 to $120,000, depending on experience and the source you consult. SEEK puts the average for advertised cyber security jobs between $100,000 and $120,000, while PayScale’s median across all experience levels is $84,002. Entry-level positions typically start around $62,000, with senior professionals clearing $128,000 or more.

Is cyber security hard to learn for beginners?

Cyber security requires learning technical concepts like networking and security tools. The material is challenging but completely learnable if you’re motivated and willing to practice hands-on skills progressively.

Can you start a cyber security career without an IT background?

Yes. Diploma programmes like Monarch’s combine foundational IT networking with cyber security training, teaching you everything you need from scratch. Many successful cyber security professionals started from non-technical backgrounds.

Start your cyber security career with confidence

Cyber security offers a clear pathway, strong earning potential and the opportunity to make a real impact. If you’re ready to take the first step, exploring a structured qualification can help you build the skills employers are looking for.

Speak with a Monarch course adviser to see how the Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security and Advanced Networking) can support your goals.