The gender pay gap is prevalent throughout the technology industry, and the cybersecurity sector is no exception, according to a new report from Infosec Institute.
The IT security training and resources company reviewed several reports on U.S. labor statistics to compile its report titled "Women in Cybersecurity: More Credentials, Less Pay & Even Fewer Opportunities."
Infosec used payscale.com to review data from 15 IT and security entry- to senior-level positions at various employers. It found, on average, women earn $103,052 while men earn $111,183 — a difference of 8 percent.
Moreover, women comprise just 11 percent of the cybersecurity workforce, according to a 2017 study cited by the firm. Another study revealed men are nine times more likely to be promoted into a managerial position, and four times more likely to become executives, according to the Infosec report.
Part of why women are being left out of the cybersecurity workforce is a lack of interest — 78 percent of young women have never considered a career in the sector, according to a different study cited by Infosec. However, the skills shortage is only deepening, and companies or other leaders should start to seek out women for their cybersecurity team.
"While the gender discrimination issues in cybersecurity remain widespread, the industry still holds significant potential for women candidates," the report reads. "Women in cybersecurity have the potential to earn far higher salaries than in other roles — doubling, or sometimes tripling the national average for women in other industries. And with 300,000+ open cybersecurity positions today and another 2 million projected openings by 2019, the industry shouldn’t just consider more female candidates — it needs them. Desperately."