Career comparison
Cybersecurity Analyst vs. IT Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
IT managers earn more at the median ($175,140 vs. $129,180), while cybersecurity analysts usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Cybersecurity analysts monitor, detect and respond to cyber threats that target an organization. IT managers lead technology teams, budgets and strategy for an organization.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cybersecurity Analyst | IT Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $129,180 ($62.11/hr) | $175,140 ($84.20/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $75,090 – $199,850 | $107,550 – $297,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +21.0% (much faster than average) | +15.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 14,100 | 53,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 1–4 years | Bachelor’s plus 5+ years of IT experience |
| Key credential | CompTIA Security+ | Project Management Professional (PMP) |
| Work setting | Analysts work in offices, SOCs or remotely, at computers most of the day. | IT managers work in offices, often in hybrid arrangements, with frequent meetings and on-call responsibility for major incidents.. |
What each job does
Cybersecurity Analyst
- Monitor security alerts from SIEM and EDR tools
- Investigate suspicious activity, phishing and malware
- Respond to and document security incidents
- Run vulnerability scans and track remediation
- Configure and maintain security controls
IT Manager
- Lead and develop IT staff
- Plan technology strategy and budgets
- Manage infrastructure, security and applications
- Select and manage vendors
- Lead IT projects
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, problem-solving, remote-friendly work, and high responsibility. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cybersecurity analyst if…
- I’m curious about how systems can be attacked and defended
- I like investigating and solving puzzles
- I can stay calm under pressure
Choose IT manager if…
- I like leading people
- I understand technology deeply
- I can make tough budget decisions
Still torn? Take the Cybersecurity Analyst fit quiz and the IT Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cybersecurity analyst or IT manager?
IT Managers earn more at the median: $175,140 versus $129,180 for cybersecurity analysts, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Cybersecurity Analysts typically train faster (1–4 years) than IT managers (Bachelor’s plus 5+ years of IT experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cybersecurity analysts to grow +21.0% from 2025–35, compared with +15.8% for IT managers.