Introduction
Today’s discussion is another entry in our Cyber Security vs. Software Engineering series. We’re joined by Luuka, a software engineer, who also has a YouTube channel—be sure to check it out in the description. For those new to this blog, I’m Sandra, a security analyst, and today we’re answering questions about early career experiences, comparing the last three to four years of working in cyber security and software engineering.
Salary Comparison: Cyber Security vs. Software Engineering
Initial Starting Salary
Luuka started his career right out of college with an internship return offer at $80,000 in the Delaware area, a competitive salary for that location. However, he later received an offer from Google, where his compensation package included:
- $120,000 base salary
- $100,000 stock over four years
- $40,000 sign-on bonus
- Total first-year compensation: ~$200,000
For my career, I started in a cyber security rotation program at a financial institution. My initial offer was $105,000 in the NYC metro area, which I negotiated up to $115,000. Unlike FAANG companies, I did not receive a sign-on bonus or relocation package, but I eventually got restricted stock units (RSUs) after my first year.
Growth in Our Early Careers
Salary growth in both fields depends on promotions and performance reviews. In software engineering, title promotions usually require at least two performance review cycles (previously bi-annual, now annual at Google). Cyber security follows a similar trajectory, with small percentage salary bumps (~1-3%) and RSUs that vest over four years.
Despite high starting salaries, growth can be slow unless moving into managerial or high-level technical roles like director-level positions.
Should You Combine Cyber Security and Computer Engineering?
Career Overlap
Both fields share a strong foundation in computer science, but they differ in scope:
- Cyber Security: Focuses on protecting systems, networks, and data from cyber threats.
- Computer Engineering: Deals with hardware, software integration, and low-level system design.
By combining both, professionals gain a technical edge in securing hardware, embedded systems, and designing security-first architectures. This is especially valuable in fields like IoT security, automotive cybersecurity, and industrial control systems.
Job Roles
Career Paths in Cyber Security:
- Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Incident Responder
- Cyber Security Engineer
Career Paths in Computer Engineering:
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Hardware Security Specialist
- Firmware Developer
- Network Security Architect
If you have skills in both areas, you can move into specialized roles that require deep knowledge of both software and hardware security.
Should You Pursue Both Fields?
Pros:
✅ Higher salary potential with specialized skills ✅ Greater job flexibility across industries (tech, finance, defense, automotive) ✅ Stronger foundation for security engineering roles ✅ Access to both software and hardware security opportunities
Cons:
❌ Requires more time and effort to master both disciplines ❌ May be overqualified for entry-level positions ❌ Specialization may limit flexibility in choosing generalist roles
Final Thoughts
While cyber security and computer engineering are distinct, combining them can be highly beneficial if you aim for hardware security, embedded system protection, or software-hardware integration roles. If you’re passionate about security and system design, this combination can provide long-term career growth and earning potential.
If you enjoyed this discussion, make sure to like, share, and subscribe to our YouTube channels! We post new videos every Wednesday and Sunday at 12:00 PM, and Luuka posts every Saturday at 12:00 PM.
Stay tuned for more tech career insights!
