Cybersecurity Intern Salary and Responsibilities: A Comprehensive Guide

A cybersecurity internship can be a crucial stepping stone towards a fulfilling career in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. Many job postings, even for entry-level positions, often require prior experience, making internships a valuable way to gain real-world security experience. This article delves into the typical responsibilities of a cybersecurity intern, the types of internships available, the benefits of pursuing one, and tips for maximizing your internship experience, including a discussion of potential salary expectations.

What Does a Cybersecurity Intern Do?

A cybersecurity internship is generally a temporary position within a company, designed to provide hands-on experience and exposure to the field. As an intern, you'll often gain experience with some of the basic administrative tasks of a cybersecurity analyst, often under the supervision of an experienced professional. In other internships, you may be assigned a specific security project to work on, either on your own or with other interns.

One former intern's experience involved a six-week program where they worked alongside a senior SOC analyst, primarily monitoring the network for suspicious activity. This involved watching the Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) tool to ensure there's nothing super suspicious. The intern explained that a computer program would catch suspicious activities and alert the security team. Examples of suspicious activity include multiple failed login attempts in a short period.

A significant portion of the internship, around 30%, was dedicated to contacting individuals to verify the legitimacy of alerts. For example, if multiple failed login attempts were detected, the intern might contact the person's supervisor to confirm whether the login attempts were legitimate.

Another 10% of the time was spent creating tickets, using strict templates to document the event, findings, and recommendations. The process involved temporarily diverting attention from the monitoring screen. The intern would fill up the template with exactly what happened, what their findings were, and what their recommendations were to the company. The ticket would then go through an approval process.

Interns may also be involved in analyzing security incidents. For example, if a computer was infected with malware, the intern might run queries and do some analysis to trace the source of the infection, such as identifying the website and URL the user visited before the infection.

Interns are generally not responsible for the entire incident response lifecycle, but they can provide valuable support to the security team.

Sometimes, interns are tasked with specific projects to test and improve security measures. One example involved interns being asked to "break" a secure browser designed for call center agents, testing its vulnerabilities and identifying potential weaknesses.

Beyond technical tasks, internships often involve carrying out specific assignments from analysts or managers, including side projects that managers have been asked to do by their managers. Interns may also be asked to analyze data and identify trends.

Cybersecurity Intern Salary Expectations

Yes, cybersecurity interns can get paid. That said, not all internships pay, and those that do may offer wildly different amounts. The amount you earn will vary based on the position, employer, internship length, location, and education level. According to Glassdoor, the average total pay for a cybersecurity intern in the US is $104,582 per year [1]. This figure includes a median base salary of $77,732 and an average additional pay of $26,850, according to Glassdoor’s May 2025 data. Additional pay may include commissions, profit sharing, and bonuses. According to ZipRecruiter [2]. the average pay for a cybersecurity intern in the US in May 2025 is $48 an hour.

Read also: A Guide to Cisco Internships

It's important to remember that these figures are averages and can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned above.

Types of Cybersecurity Internships

Internships may also vary from company to company based on how they compensate you for your work. Let’s take a look at some common types of cybersecurity internships.

Paid internships: Many internships in cybersecurity offer payment at an hourly rate.
For-credit internships: If you’re a student, check with your college or university to see if you can earn credits toward your degree program by completing an internship. Internships for academic credit might be paid or unpaid. Many internships meant for students take place during the summer months when classes are not in session.
Externship (job shadow): An externship, or job shadow, allows you to follow a cybersecurity professional for a set period of time. This could be anywhere from a couple of days to several months. Think of it as a short preview of what the job is like. Unlike internships, job shadows are usually unpaid, and the training tends to be less detailed. This is a good option if you want to experience whether a career in cybersecurity is the right fit for you.

Essential Skills Developed During a Cybersecurity Internship

Experience can be the best teacher. Putting your cybersecurity knowledge to work in a real company setting can be an excellent way to accelerate your skill development. Depending on the role, you may also get to hone your programming skills by writing scripts and automating tasks. Here are a few cybersecurity skills and concepts you might expand upon as a cybersecurity intern:

Network security monitoring tools like packet sniffers and vulnerability scanners
Incident response
Working with firewalls and antivirus software
Web application security testing
Penetration testing
Threat research and evaluation

Working on a team-whether remotely or in person-also presents an opportunity to develop critical workplace skills (also known as non-technical or soft skills). Essential workplace skills for cybersecurity interns to master include:

Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Written and verbal communication
Critical thinking

How to Obtain a Cybersecurity Internship

Applying for several opportunities can widen your options. Whether you’re looking for cybersecurity internships for summer 2025 or something before or after, the following tips can help you find one that fits your needs, as well as how to make the most of the opportunity:

Apply for more than one internship. Some programs can be competitive, so giving yourself options is a good idea.
Document your academic and independent work. Keep track of the projects you work on and the security software you work with, so you can include them in your resume. Find ways to measure your impact with metrics, if possible.

Below, we outline some of the steps you can take to land a cybersecurity internship yourself:

Ensure you meet common cybersecurity intern requirements. An internship can be a good step toward a career in cybersecurity, as they’re often designed for students or career switchers without prior job experience. Specific requirements will vary from company to company, but here are a few you might see:
- Student status: Some internships require that you be a student in an accredited institution.
- Citizenship: You'll likely need to be a US citizen to get a security internship with a US government agency.
- Security clearance: Due to the sensitive nature of the work, you may be required to attain a certain level of security clearance.
Tailor your resume. Similar to a job, you can expect to apply for an internship by completing an application and submitting your resume and cover letter. You may also have to complete one or more interviews as part of the application process.
Since you may not have work experience directly related to cybersecurity, your resume should highlight any relevant coursework, information technology (IT) experience, and transferable skills (like programming, leadership, or technical writing). You can also demonstrate your interest in cybersecurity by participating in cybersecurity contests or bug bounty programs. These events, hosted by various organizations and software developers, offer recognition and sometimes compensation to individuals who find and report bugs in code or vulnerabilities.
Find cybersecurity internship opportunities. You may wonder where to find cybersecurity internships, especially if you’re not currently a student with access to a career services office. Take a closer look at sources of government and non-government internships to accelerate your search.
Remember that you can also expand your search results by including remote cybersecurity internship opportunities. Because much of cybersecurity involves monitoring and responding to systems for any security incident, these types of jobs can be done from anywhere with a strong internet connection.

Government Cybersecurity Internships

In information security, one of the best places to find an internship is through a government organization. Governments typically have robust cybersecurity programs, and many government internships run at regular intervals. Wondering how to find cybersecurity internships? Check out the following government-sponsored internship programs in the US:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): This internship program places current undergraduate and graduate students interested in cybersecurity alongside industry professionals within the DHS. Programs last 10 weeks, take place in Washington, DC, and include a salary.
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): CISA hires students enrolled in accredited programs from high school to the graduate level for their paid internships. Interns can tour the labs, meet with senior management, and attend local conferences. CISA also has a program for recent graduates.
National Security Agency (NSA): The NSA offers internship programs for high school and college students, as well as Development Programs for those already in the workforce to gain the skills needed for a career switch. Internships are paid, and the length varies based on the individual program.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA hires both undergraduate and graduate students to its paid internship program. In addition to a salary, participants get full benefits during the program.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The cybersecurity intern program with the FBI allows undergraduate and graduate students to apply for 10-week paid internships at select field offices nationwide.

Non-Government Cybersecurity Internships

Many companies and organizations also offer internships for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.

Maximizing Your Cybersecurity Internship Experience

The following list outlines a few ways you can maximize the benefits of your cybersecurity internship:

Be eager to learn, but remember you’re also there to do work. Ask lots of questions.
Build relationships with the people you meet. If someone at the company is working on a project that interests you, ask if you can have lunch together to talk about it.
Remember to ask for a letter of recommendation when your internship ends. Your manager can write a stronger letter when your work is fresh in their memory rather than a few weeks or months later when you’re applying for jobs.

One of the most valuable lessons learned during an internship is the importance of communication and seeking guidance. As one intern noted, "The biggest thing I learned is to always reach out to someone if there are any alerts I'm unsure of. So always ask before just dismissing it. There are real consequences even as an intern! The responsibility falls on your lead but your lead will also come down on you. 'Why didn't you reach out?' You'll feel bad because the lead will take the brunt of it, but you should have spoken up about it."

Furthermore, internships provide valuable insight into the corporate world. As another intern shared, "This was my first internship ever, so my biggest takeaway was learning about how the corporate world works… I learned how to address that in a professional manner. Through this, I also gained more confidence in my skills and abilities."

Benefits of a Cybersecurity Internship

The following represent some other benefits you could gain from your internship:

Work experience: One of the most valuable benefits of an internship is gaining experience for your resume. Many cybersecurity jobs require previous work experience. An internship is one way to gain that experience.
Networking opportunities: As an intern, you’ll likely meet and work with cybersecurity practitioners with different roles and backgrounds. You may also get paired with a manager or senior cybersecurity team member. These relationships can sometimes lead to new career opportunities in the future.
Job offer potential: While this is only sometimes the case, some internships can end in an offer for full employment with the company. Even if your internship does not end in a job offer, you can still approach your job search with a letter of recommendation from your internship manager or mentor.
Career path exploration: An internship allows you to experience what working in cybersecurity is like before investing the time and effort into finding a job. Sometimes, an internship will grow your passion for the work. Sometimes, an internship shows you that cybersecurity isn’t what you expected and that your skills and talents might be a better fit in another field. As one intern explained, their experience helped them hone in on the specific concentration of cybersecurity they were interested in, learning about vulnerability management and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) and ultimately discovering that GRC, with its focus on paperwork and meetings, wasn't the right fit for them.

Career Paths After a Cybersecurity Internship

If you studied information security and related subjects in college, you can begin your cybersecurity career by looking for an entry-level role. A few examples include cybersecurity specialists or incident analysts. Entry-level jobs may require certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or Certified Information Systems Auditor.

If you’re changing your career path, consider pursuing relevant cybersecurity certifications and additional credentials like a Professional Certificate or a shareable certificate you can earn after completing an online course. Many options can validate your skills and help you go from beginner to career-ready.

Information security analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree in a computer science field, along with related work experience. The median annual wage for information security analysts was $124,910 in May 2024. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Information security analysts install software, such as firewalls, to protect computer networks. Information security analysts are heavily involved with creating their organization’s disaster recovery plan, a procedure that IT employees follow in case of emergency. These plans allow for the continued operation of an organization’s IT department. The recovery plan includes preventive measures such as regularly copying and transferring data to an offsite location. It also involves plans to restore proper IT functioning after a disaster.

Information security analysts must stay up to date on IT security and on the latest methods attackers are using to infiltrate computer systems. Many analysts work in IT departments and manage the security of their companies computer networks.

Information security analysts held about 182,800 jobs in 2024. Most information security analysts work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. There are a number of information security certifications available, and many employers prefer candidates to have certification.

Qualities of a Successful Information Security Analyst

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties.

Analytical skills
Communication skills
Creative skills
Detail oriented
Problem-solving skills

Job Outlook for Information Security Analysts

High demand is expected for information security analysts. As businesses focus on enhancing cybersecurity, they will need information security analysts to secure new technologies from outside threats or hacks.

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