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

APJames
Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:28:53 +0000

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.

Petroleum Engineering:

2012 Median Pay: $130,280 per year, $62.64 per hour
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

Cyber Security/ Security Analyst:

2012 Median Pay: $86,170 per year, $41.43 per hour
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

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?