Cyber security/Security Anaylst vs. Petroleum Engineering Job? Help

<p>I am currently a Junior in High School and am kind of undecided on what to major in. For a while, I was dead-set on going into cyber security and maybe getting a job for the NSA. Recently, my dad mentioned Petroleum Engineering and it got me curious so I’ve been doing some research. I do like computers and have always enjoyed messing around with them so I think that cyber security might be a decent job. Although, the salary of a petroleum engineer looks good, plus it doesn’t seem like a bad job. Designing extraction methods would be a nice test for my creativity and the experience of international travelling and meeting new people might be cool. Although, the travelling has a downside because it would be hard to maintain a relationship with family, friends and girlfriends. </p>

<p>Petroleum Engineering:</p>

<p>2012 Median Pay: $130,280 per year, $62.64 per hour<br>
Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2012: 38,500
Job Outlook, 2012-22: 26% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2012-22: 9,800 </p>

<p>Cyber Security/ Security Analyst:</p>

<p>2012 Median Pay: $86,170 per year, $41.43 per hour<br>
Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: Less than 5 years
On-the-job Training: None
Number of Jobs, 2012: 75,100
Job Outlook, 2012-22: 37% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2012-22: 27,400 </p>

<p>Can you guys give me some tips on how to decide which to major in? Maybe how to get experience in these fields before I graduate/go to college? Some advice from people in these fields?</p>

<p>To me it sounds like the cyber security is closer to your passion. Honestly, right now petroleum is a “hot job” because of the starting salary. Unfortunately, that means a TON of people flock to it and oversaturate it. :frowning: My brother is in the petro eng program at Texas A&M and can’t find an internship anywhere, despite the networking he does and how good his marks are. There’s just so many people going into it!</p>

<p>Follow your passion, because how many jobs will there still be in petroleum in 2018/2019 when you are done in school? Now if petroleum is your passion, and you are willing to stand by the field even when it’s hard to find a job, then go for it. At the end of the day, it’s what makes us happy that’s important :)</p>