Can You Break Into Cybersecurity Remotely? I Analyzed 500,000 Job Postings

THE REMOTE REALITY: 33% (BUT NOT ALL ROLES ARE EQUAL)

Only 33% of cybersecurity positions are fully remote. That's down from 44% during the pandemic peak, but way up from the 5-10% we saw pre-2020. Translation: Remote work is here to stay. But it's not universal.

Here's the breakdown by role:

The pattern: Roles tied to physical infrastructure or government facilities stay on-site. Everything else? Increasingly remote.

HOW AI IS RESHAPING REMOTE OPPORTUNITIES

Here's where it gets interesting.

AI isn't killing remote cybersecurity jobs. It's dividing roles into two paths.

What AI Is Eliminating:

Entry-level SOC analyst positions fell 52.8% since 2022 (from 68,600 to 36,000 postings).

Why? AI-powered tools like Darktrace's Cyber AI Analyst conducted 90 million investigations in 2024 — equivalent to 42 million human analyst hours.

Dropzone AI offers an autonomous SOC analyst for $36K annually. That's less than one human analyst's salary.

The level-one SOC analyst role monitoring alerts all day? That's disappearing fast.

What AI Is Creating:

Mid-to-senior remote positions are exploding.

AI-powered SIEM platforms (Microsoft Sentinel, SentinelOne, CrowdStrike Falcon) enable small distributed teams to do what used to require massive on-site operations centers.

New roles emerging:

• Security Automation Engineers (develop AI-powered workflows remotely)
• AI Security Specialists (protect AI systems, $95K-$185K)
• Threat Intelligence Analysts (AI processes feeds, humans analyze patterns)
• Cloud Security Architects (all work is cloud-native, inherently remote)

The ISC2 2024 study found 68% of professionals expect to effectively use GenAI within 2 years. 66% see it as a career growth opportunity, not a threat.

The Bottom Line on AI:

Entry-Level Remote Jobs: [-----] (Declining 40-50% by 2028)
Mid-Level Remote Jobs: [+++++] (Growing 30-50%)
Senior-Level Remote Jobs: [++++++++] (Increasing 60-100%)
AI-Focused Security Roles: [++++++++++++] (Exploding 200-400%)

Overall remote opportunity growth: +35% to +50% by 2028.

But you need to position yourself correctly.

THE REMOTE WORK SALARY PENALTY (YES, REALLY)

Here's what shocked me most in my research:

59% of managers now offer up to 20% HIGHER pay for employees working in-office 4-5 days weekly.

We've gone from "remote premium" to "on-site premium."

Remote cybersecurity professionals now typically earn 10-20% less than their on-site counterparts in high-cost metro areas.

Example:

• Cloud Security Engineer in San Francisco: $180K
• Same role, remote, in lower-cost area: $140K-$150K

The market has corrected. Hard.

Companies are implementing location-based pay bands. If you're remote in Montana, you're not getting San Francisco wages anymore.

The Exception:
Certifications help you negotiate better. CISSP holders average $175K-$215K regardless of location. Cloud certs (CCSP, AWS Security Specialty) add 15-20% premiums. AI/ML security skills? 17.7% salary boost.

CAN YOU BREAK IN REMOTELY? (THE HONEST ANSWER)

Getting your FIRST cybersecurity job remotely in 2024-2025?

Possible. But hard.

31% of organizations have ZERO entry-level cybersecurity professionals.

62% of hiring managers focus exclusively on mid-to-advanced positions.

Only 10-20% of genuine entry-level positions offer fully remote work.

The Realistic Timeline:

• Months 1-3: Foundation (Security+ study, home lab setup)
• Months 3-6: Skill Development (Complete cert, build projects, online presence)
• Months 6-9: Job Search Prep (Tailor resume, portfolio, network aggressively)
• Months 9-12: Strategic Application (100+ applications, leverage referrals, accept hybrid)

Total: 12-18 months for first cybersecurity position.

Remote-from-day-one? That's the exception, not the rule.

Most Practical Path:
Accept hybrid or on-site for first role → View it as learning opportunity → Build credibility 12-24 months → Transition to remote positions at higher experience levels where 66% of remote postings concentrate.

THE ROLES YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET REMOTELY (ENTRY-LEVEL)

If you're determined to start remote, target these:

1. SOC Analyst Tier 1
   24/7 shift operations make distributed teams viable
   $40-50/hourly
   Look for MSPs and MSSPs (managed security providers)
2. GRC Analyst
   Documentation-focused work
   Welcomes career changers from audit, legal, admin backgrounds
   $50K-$65K starting
3. Security Awareness Trainer
   Perfect for former teachers or content creators
   E-learning platforms dominate post-COVID
   $55K-$75K
4. Cybersecurity Sales/Pre-Sales Support
   Not traditional, but gets you technical exposure
   Customer-facing, often remote
   $60K-$90K base + commission

HERE'S WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO DO

Stop Googling "remote cybersecurity jobs."

Start here:

1. Pick Your Role First
Not all roles are equally remote-friendly. Choose strategically.

Take my free assessment to find your best-fit role based on your background and work style preferences: ASSESSMENT LINK

2. Get the Right Certification
Security+ unlocks 188+ remote positions
CISSP opens 749+ remote opportunities (but requires 5 years experience)
Cloud certs align with inherently remote work

3. Build Remote Credibility
Home lab (shows self-directed learning)
GitHub portfolio (proves capability)
Document your learning publicly (demonstrates communication skills)

4. Target Remote-First Companies
GitLab, Huntress, Trail of Bits, Red Canary
MSPs/MSSPs increasingly flexible
Avoid government/defense if remote is non-negotiable

5. Accept Hybrid Initially
Most companies follow "prove yourself first" model
6-12 months on-site or hybrid → Gradual remote day increases → Full remote as reward
High performers negotiate better terms faster

THE BOTTOM LINE

Remote cybersecurity jobs exist. 33% of positions offer it.

But the path isn't what most people think:

• X Myth: Apply to 10 jobs → Get remote offer next week
  ✓ Reality: Strategic 12-18 month plan → Hybrid first → Earn remote privileges
• X Myth: All cyber jobs are remote now!
  ✓ Reality: Cloud Security, Pen Testing, GRC are highly remote. SOC and IR are mixed. Government is on-site.
• X Myth: AI is killing remote opportunities
  ✓ Reality: AI is eliminating entry-level monitoring roles but creating mid-to-senior remote positions
• X Myth: Remote pays the same or better
  ✓ Reality: Remote now carries a 10-20% salary penalty in most cases

The professionals thriving remotely in 2025 either:
1. Built experience before going remote, OR
2. Possessed exceptional credentials, networks, and persistence

For career changers: Yes, remote cyber careers are achievable.

But likely not as your very first position.

READY TO POSITION YOURSELF CORRECTLY?

The $100K Cyber Career Challenge
January 5-7, 2026

In 3 days, you'll:
→ Validate THE ONE role that matches your background (including remote potential)
→ Build your 6-12 month roadmap (hybrid-to-remote progression strategy)
→ Position yourself strategically for the roles that are actually remote

Early bird: $97 (ends Nov 30)

CHALLENGE LINK

See you inside,
Dr. Rose Shumba

P.S. Still researching? Watch my free 13-minute masterclass where I break down the 8 cybersecurity roles and which ones offer the best remote opportunities: MASTERCLASS LINK