High Pay, Low Respect: 60% of Cybersecurity Pros Want to Change Jobs

According to this new report, 60% of cybersecurity pros are itching to jump ship. And it’s not just about chasing the next fat paycheck. It’s about the mental toll of a field where being overworked and undervalued isn’t the exception—it’s the norm.

The Price Tag on Mental Health

Sure, we’re making six-figure salaries. Security architects and engineers are cashing in over $200K a year. But when only one in three would recommend their employer, something’s rotten in paradise.

I found this at the top of the r/cybersecurity subreddit this week and the comments were …enlightening. As one redditor bluntly put it, “Overworked and underpaid is MO.” The numbers might look sexy, but the daily grind is anything but glamorous.

The problem isn’t just the long hours or the constant firefighting. It’s the lack of career progression, the endless meetings with what many feel are clueless execs, and that gut-wrenching feeling of being treated like an expendable resource. One comment summed it up:

That’s not just burnout—that’s a broken system.

The Toxic Cyber Culture

We’re in a field of naturally curious, brilliant minds who thrive on solving problems and innovating. But instead of being empowered, we’re often stuck in environments where career growth is an afterthought.

Another comment hit the nail on the head and resonated with a lot of people:

Who can relate? Accidentally become important at work and regret it? I wrote about this a while back about how Incident response can turn into a Super Hero driven culture where it all hinges upon the one team member who has become the lynch pin of the entire process.

Even the promise of high pay can’t mask the underlying frustration of dealing with c-suite leadership that seems allergic to accountability. As one comment noted, there’s “gross incompetence at the c-suite level”—a sentiment echoed throughout the community. When execs treat strategic investments in security as an optional expense, we end up paying with our sanity.

The Remote Work Double-Edged Sword

At least there’s a silver lining: flexibility. Since the talent pool is in such high demand, generally the staff can be hired remote. I remember working places with strict office policies that seemed to disappear when talking about cybersecurity pros.

With a majority of cybersecurity pros working remotely or in hybrid setups, we’ve seen a glimmer of hope. “I never want back in the office,” one redditor declared, and who can blame them? Working from home lets us reclaim some sanity by dodging the daily commute and office politics.

But even remote work isn’t a cure-all. The lines between personal and professional life blur, and the “always-on” culture doesn’t disappear. It’s a band-aid on a much larger wound.

I personally have decided I need that line and I make sure to use some office space or at least coworking space. The caveat for me is that it can’t come with a commute. But 10-15 minutes? Or even better, walkable? Great way to clear your head and keep work at work.

This also helps the loneliness issue in our industry I’ve talked a lot a fair bit.

What Needs to Change—And Yesterday

Here’s the brutal truth: High salaries alone aren’t going to fix a system that leaves us feeling undervalued and burned out. Companies need to do more than pad our paychecks. They have to invest in our growth, recognize our contributions, and prioritize our mental well-being.

Let’s be crystal clear:

• Career Growth: Create structured career paths that show us the way out of the stagnant cycle, or incentivising job hopping.

• Real Recognition: Stop the empty promises and actually acknowledge the hard work being done.

• Mental Health Support: Provide genuine resources—think counseling, wellness programs, and an open dialogue about burnout. Instead of fake unlimited PTO promises, try PTO minimums. Every week on call with the pager overnight should come with a week off of work IMO.

• Smart Flexibility: Embrace remote or hybrid work while actively combating the isolation that can come with it.

No Lifeguard on Duty: We’ve Got to Look Out for Ourselves

Listen, there’s no magic fixer coming to rescue us—so we’ve got to be our own heroes. When I’m drowning in alerts and endless meetings, here’s what we can do:

Set Your Boundaries:
Think of it like putting on your own life vest. Block out time where you’re off the grid. Whether it’s designating “no work” hours at home or stepping out to a coworking space for a change of scenery—even just a 10–15 minute walk can work wonders.

But you can’t “walk” your way out of an awful situation. No breathwork is going to help if you’re house is on fire. - Get to where you need to be, then figure it out.

Lean on Your Crew:
Don’t underestimate the power of time with friends or industry peers who get it. Whether you’re swapping war stories online or meeting up in person, knowing you’re not alone in this crazy world makes a huge difference.

Take Charge of Your Growth:
If your company isn’t offering the career path you need, then take it upon yourself. Dive into a new certification, pick up a side project, or learn something that excites you.

Level up.

Prioritize Your Mental Health:
Remember, self-care isn’t just a buzzword—it’s essential. It helps me to think of it in the same bucket as hygiene. Whether it’s a regular break, indulging in a hobby, or exercising, take care of your mental well-being as fiercely as you defend your network.

If we don’t take care of ourselves, who will? We’re the ones on the front lines, and it’s up to us to make sure we’re not burning out before we can even make a difference.

The Bottom Line

I’ve worked a number of places that have used the “manning the wall” terminology for our department. Some of us have the thousand yard stare to come with it.

The industry is hot, but our work culture has barely caught up. If companies want to attract and keep the best talent, they need to wake up and invest in us—beyond the paycheck.

It’s time to start getting better. Because if we’re expected to fend off cyber threats day in and day out, we deserve a work environment that doesn’t treat our mental well-being as an afterthought.

High pay is great, but it’s not worth sacrificing our sanity. Let’s flip the script and build a cybersecurity culture that values people as much as profit.