Career Path Partners
AI  ·  Cyber  ·  Software

Career guide

8 paths into cybersecurity.
Zero jargon.

Pick the one that fits your personality — not your degree. Every path below includes real salary data and a step-by-step roadmap.

🛡️ Security Operations📋 GRC☁️ Cloud Security⚔️ Pen Testing🔍 Threat Intel🎓 Security Awareness🔬 Digital Forensics🔐 IAM Software Development🧪 QA Engineering🤖 AI Operations Prompt Engineering
💰
$45k–$110k
Salary range
4–24 wks
Time to hired
🎓
No degree
Required
🗺️
8 paths
To choose from
🛡️

Security Operations

$50k–$75k

Watch for threats and respond when something goes wrong.

$50k–$75k
Starting salary
8–14 wks
Time to hired
CompTIA Security+
Key cert

What you actually do

You monitor alerts in a Security Operations Center. When something looks suspicious, you investigate.

A typical day

Review overnight alerts. Investigate a suspicious email. Document findings. Brief your team.

This is for you if...

you're detail-oriented, catch things others miss, and stay level-headed.

You notice when things seem off
You stay calm under pressure
You like investigating
You follow procedures well

Your roadmap

1
Foundation
4–6 wks
Get CompTIA Security+
Learn networking basics
Set up a free home lab
2
Build Skills
4–6 wks
Complete TryHackMe SOC Level 1
Practice analyzing alerts
Learn MITRE ATT&CK
3
Get Hired
2–4 wks
Build a lab portfolio
Apply to SOC Analyst I roles
Interview prep with our team
📋

GRC

$55k–$80k

Make sure companies follow the security rules.

$55k–$80k
Starting salary
6–12 wks
Time to hired
CompTIA Security+
Key cert

What you actually do

You review policies, check systems, and write reports. The least technical path into cybersecurity.

A typical day

Review vendor questionnaires. Update risk registers. Prepare audit evidence. Write reports.

This is for you if...

you're organized, love checklists, and communicate clearly.

Organized and detail-oriented
Like reading rules
Good at writing
Don't need to be technical

Your roadmap

1
Foundation
4–6 wks
CompTIA Security+
Read NIST Framework
Learn risk assessment
2
Build Skills
3–5 wks
Study SOC 2 / ISO 27001
Write practice assessments
Create sample deliverables
3
Get Hired
2–4 wks
Highlight transferable skills
Apply to GRC roles
Use writing strengths
☁️

Cloud Security

$70k–$110k

Keep companies' data safe in the cloud.

$70k–$110k
Starting salary
12–20 wks
Time to hired
AWS Cloud Practitioner
Key cert

What you actually do

You make sure cloud environments are locked down. Highest-paying entry path.

A typical day

Review cloud alerts. Check for public storage. Verify admin access. Help devs launch securely.

This is for you if...

you're curious about how the internet works and want the highest salary.

Like building systems
Comfortable with tech
Understand connections
Want fast growth

Your roadmap

1
Foundation
4–6 wks
AWS Cloud Practitioner cert
Cloud basics
Shared responsibility
2
Build Skills
6–8 wks
AWS Free Tier practice
Cloud security practices
Learn Terraform
3
Get Hired
2–4 wks
Build cloud portfolio
Apply to roles
Highlight certs
⚔️

Pen Testing

$60k–$90k

Get paid to hack companies (legally).

$60k–$90k
Starting salary
16–24 wks
Time to hired
CEH
Key cert

What you actually do

Companies hire you to hack their own systems before real hackers do.

This is for you if...

you love puzzles and creative problem-solving.

🔍

Threat Intel

$55k–$80k

Research hackers so we can stop them.

$55k–$80k
Starting salary
12–18 wks
Time to hired
Security+
Key cert

What you actually do

You study hacker groups, track their methods, and report on what they'll do next.

This is for you if...

you love research, reading, and writing reports.

🎓

Security Awareness

$45k–$65k

Teach employees to spot scams.

$45k–$65k
Starting salary
4–8 wks
Time to hired
Optional
Key cert

What you actually do

You design training programs that teach employees security best practices. Fastest path in.

This is for you if...

you're a natural teacher or communicator.

🔬

Digital Forensics

$55k–$78k

Investigate cybercrimes.

$55k–$78k
Starting salary
12–18 wks
Time to hired
Security+
Key cert

What you actually do

When a cybercrime happens, you investigate. You preserve evidence and build timelines.

This is for you if...

you're methodical and interested in investigations.

🔐

IAM

$60k–$90k

Control who gets access to what.

$60k–$90k
Starting salary
8–14 wks
Time to hired
Security+
Key cert

What you actually do

You manage who has access to what. Set up accounts, enforce policies, shut down access when people leave.

This is for you if...

you're organized and process-driven.

Software Development

$70k–$95k

Build the products people use every day.

$70k–$95k
Starting salary
16–24 wks
Time to hired
None — portfolio counts
Key cert

What you actually do

You write and ship real features alongside a team — bugs, interfaces, working product.

This is for you if...

you love making things and want the widest set of doors in tech.

🧪

QA Engineering

$65k–$85k

Break software before customers do.

$65k–$85k
Starting salary
10–16 wks
Time to hired
None required
Key cert

What you actually do

You design tests, hunt bugs, and guard releases — the most reliable side door into software engineering.

This is for you if...

you notice what others miss and like being the safety net.

🤖

AI Operations

$65k–$90k

Run the AI systems companies bet their future on.

$65k–$90k
Starting salary
8–14 wks
Time to hired
None — judgment counts
Key cert

What you actually do

You evaluate AI outputs, refine prompts and workflows, and keep AI-powered operations reliable.

This is for you if...

you already use AI tools and have strong judgment about quality.

Prompt Engineering

$80k–$110k

Get world-class output from AI systems.

$80k–$110k
Starting salary
10–16 wks
Time to hired
None required
Key cert

What you actually do

You design, test, and systematize the instructions that make AI products work.

This is for you if...

you write clearly and think in edge cases.

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