Seven Careers That Will Benefit from Obama's Cybersecurity Plan

After working on plans for more than two years, the White House delivered new cyber-security proposal to Congress early this month aimed at strengthening security and preserving privacy. Here are occupations that might see more job openings thanks to the pending legislation. (Reuters)

1. Compliance Consultants: The government has laid a plethora of IT and privacy regulations on companies over the years (HIPAA, PCI, FIPS, Sarbanes-Oxley) and the list will only grow. Compliance consultants work directly with companies to create an IT infrastructure that adheres to these regulations. Estimated salary range: $80,000-100,000. (Reuters)

2. Penetration Testers: A growing number of companies of all sizes are hiring penetration testers, also known as “ethical hackers,” to test their security settings and identify vulnerabilities. This is a growth industry as the risk of hacking escalates and so do the costs. Estimated salary range: $57,000 - $93,000.

3. Cyber Insurance: Insurance for when businesses get hacked is becoming critical creating job openings in this new field of insurance. Average estimated salary: $95,000.

4. Data Breach Attorneys:  For every Sony PlayStation and T.J.Maxx hack, there is a team of lawyers who are called in to assess the damage--and stop the bleeding. Data security and data breach law are relatively new fields in the legal profession, but they’re growing fast. Average estimated salary: $89,000 - $122,000. 

5. Network Security Administrators: Companies with medium to large computer networks need staff on hand to handle any security incidents. Job seekers can expect more businesses to expand their IT security staffs in the near future. Average estimated salary: $79,000.

6. Information Assurance Software Developers: For every type of software that’s developed, there are a whole range of vulnerabilities that come with it. Information assurance is a special niche that involves finding and plugging these security holes before the product hits the market. Average estimated salary: $81,000.

7. Executive Recruiters: As more companies seek to hire experienced, executive-level security experts and mid-level IT security staff, executive recruiters and hiring companies will benefit. Average estimated salary: $81,000.