Is cybersecurity good for introverts?
It depends on the role. Of the 4 cybersecurity roles we compared, digital forensics analysts report the least contact with others and information security analysts the most.
Information security analysts sit in the middle of the IT range on contact with others.
The specialist roles are rated on the same questions, so their contact and teamwork scores can be compared directly with analysts.
We compared information security analysts with three specialist roles that O*NET rates separately: penetration testers, information security engineers and digital forensics analysts. The BLS doesn't publish pay or outlook for the three specialties, so those columns show n/a for them. The ratings come from O*NET, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, where workers answer questions about what their job involves.
What the data shows
- Contact with others ranges from 3.8 out of 5 for digital forensics analysts to 4.3 for information security analysts. Both are closest to "contact most of the time".
- After contact, the biggest difference is in dealing with customers or the public: 2.9 out of 5 for information security analysts, against 3.6 for digital forensics analysts.
- The next biggest is face-to-face discussions: 3.8 out of 5 for information security engineers, against 4.5 for information security analysts.
- None of the 1 occupations with their own pay data involve more contact with others than the typical US occupation.
- 3 of the 4 rate working in a team as very important or more.
Social demands, side by side
Each figure is an O*NET average on a 1 to 5 scale. Lower means less of it. Hover a heading for the exact question.
| Role | Contact | Face-to-face | Phone | Speaking | Customers | Teamwork | Conflict | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Penetration Testers | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 |
| Information Security Engineers | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
| Digital Forensics Analysts | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
Pay, entry and outlook
| Role | Median pay | Typical entry education | Typical training | Growth 2025-35 | Projected openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | None | +21.0% | 14,100 |
| Penetration Testers | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Information Security Engineers | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Digital Forensics Analysts | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Each role in detail
Information Security Analysts
Contact with others: 4.3 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time", more than 44% of ranked occupations. Face-to-face discussions every day for 63% of workers. Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
Median pay $129,180 a year. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree. About 14,100 projected openings a year.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- 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.
Penetration Testers
Contact with others: 4.0 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time". Face-to-face discussions: closest to "once a week or more". Phone calls: closest to "once a week or more". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "very important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
The BLS does not publish pay or outlook for this specialty on its own.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Document penetration test findings.
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions.
Information Security Engineers
Contact with others: 4.1 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time". Face-to-face discussions: closest to "once a week or more". Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a month or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
The BLS does not publish pay or outlook for this specialty on its own.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Coordinate monitoring of networks or systems for security breaches or intrusions.
- Assess the quality of security controls, using performance indicators.
Digital Forensics Analysts
Contact with others: 3.8 out of 5, closest to "contact most of the time". Face-to-face discussions: closest to "once a week or more". Phone calls: closest to "every day". Public speaking: closest to "once a year or more". Teamwork rated "very important"; dealing with customers or the public "very important". Distracting noise: closest to "once a year or more".
The BLS does not publish pay or outlook for this specialty on its own.
Core tasks, as listed by O*NET:
- Duplicate digital evidence to use for data recovery and analysis procedures.
- Preserve and maintain digital forensic evidence for analysis.
- Adhere to legal policies and procedures related to handling digital media.
What the numbers can't tell you
- O*NET ratings are averages of worker answers on a 1 to 5 scale. Some questions ask how much (contact), some how often (face-to-face, phone, public speaking, conflict, noise) and some how important (teamwork, customers). They are shown on their own scales.
- The ratings describe the job, averaged across workers and workplaces. A particular employer, team or shift can be very different.
- They don't measure personality, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.
- Pay and openings are national figures from the BLS. Local pay varies.
Common questions
Which cybersecurity job involves the least contact with others?
Of the 4 roles compared here, digital forensics analysts report the least, at 3.8 out of 5 on O*NET's contact rating, closest to "contact most of the time".
Do these cybersecurity jobs need a degree?
All 1 occupations with BLS education data typically need more than a high school diploma to start.
Do these ratings measure personality?
No. They are averages of what workers say their job asks of them. They describe the work, not the people doing it, and they are not career, medical or psychological advice.