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Opt Student Cybersecurity Jobs in Rutherford, NJ

All JobsOpt Student Cybersecurity JobsOpt Student Cybersecurity Jobs in Rutherford, NJ

Opt Student Cybersecurity information

See Rutherford, NJ salary details

$41.3K

$125.3K

$183.5K

How much do opt student cybersecurity jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for opt student cybersecurity in Rutherford, NJ is $125,278.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $144,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can I make $200 a year in cyber security?

Opt Student Cybersecurity roles typically do not pay $200 annually, as cybersecurity positions generally offer higher wages even at entry levels. Earnings depend on factors such as experience, certifications, and the specific job environment, but most roles pay significantly more than that amount per year.

What are OPT Student Cybersecurity roles?

OPT Student Cybersecurity roles refer to positions in the cybersecurity field that are open to international students in the United States who are on Optional Practical Training (OPT) status. These roles allow students with a background in cybersecurity, computer science, or related fields to gain practical work experience in the industry after completing their studies. Typical responsibilities include monitoring networks for security breaches, assisting with incident response, and helping organizations protect their digital assets. OPT students often work as analysts, interns, or junior security specialists in companies looking to bolster their cybersecurity teams.

What jobs can I work on OPT?

Opt Student Cybersecurity can work in roles such as cybersecurity analyst, security engineer, penetration tester, or security consultant. These positions often require knowledge of security tools, protocols, and certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP, and typically involve working in IT environments with standard business hours or on a flexible schedule. Employment must align with the student's field of study and be related to cybersecurity or information technology.

Is 25 too late for cyber security?

Opt Student Cybersecurity roles and other cybersecurity careers do not have an age limit; individuals can start at 25 or later. Success depends on gaining relevant skills, certifications, and experience, which can be achieved at any age through self-study, training programs, or bootcamps.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an OPT Student in Cybersecurity, and why are they important?

To thrive as an OPT Student in Cybersecurity, you need a solid understanding of network security, risk assessment, and foundational IT knowledge, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or CISSP are highly beneficial. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you excel in identifying threats and collaborating with teams. These competencies are crucial for protecting organizational data, mitigating cyber risks, and ensuring compliance in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

What is the difference between Opt Student Cybersecurity vs Cybersecurity Analyst?

AspectOpt Student CybersecurityCybersecurity Analyst
Required CredentialsOften includes cybersecurity certifications, ongoing OPT authorizationTypically requires certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP, with relevant degree
Work EnvironmentInternship or entry-level roles, often in tech companies or government agenciesFull-time position in IT or security teams across various industries
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by students on OPT seeking cybersecurity roles during their visa periodEmployed by organizations to monitor and protect information systems

Opt Student Cybersecurity roles are often internship or entry-level positions suitable for students on OPT, focusing on gaining practical experience. Cybersecurity Analysts are full-time professionals responsible for safeguarding systems, requiring more experience and certifications. Both roles share similar credentials but differ in scope and employment status.

What types of projects or tasks can an OPT student expect to handle in a cybersecurity role?

As an OPT student in a cybersecurity position, you will likely be involved in projects such as monitoring network activity for potential threats, assisting with vulnerability assessments, and responding to security incidents under supervision. You may help implement security protocols, review logs for suspicious activity, or contribute to security awareness initiatives. Collaboration with IT teams, senior analysts, and sometimes even legal or compliance departments is common, giving you exposure to different aspects of organizational security. These experiences offer valuable hands-on learning and can help you build a strong foundation for a future career in cybersecurity.

Can you make $500,000 a year in cyber security?

Opt Student Cybersecurity roles typically do not pay $500,000 annually, as entry-level or student positions generally have lower salaries. High earnings in cybersecurity usually come with senior roles such as security architects or chief information security officers, which require extensive experience, certifications, and specialized skills. Achieving such a high salary often involves years of experience, advanced certifications, and working in high-demand environments or leadership positions.
What cities near Rutherford, NJ are hiring for Opt Student Cybersecurity jobs? Cities near Rutherford, NJ with the most Opt Student Cybersecurity job openings:
Opt Student Cybersecurity jobs near you
Infographic showing various Opt Student Cybersecurity job openings in Rutherford, NJ as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $125,278 per year, or $60.2 per hour.

Cybersecurity Engineer II

The Whiteside Agency

Edison, NJ

$126K - $208K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

Who Are We?

Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That's the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.

Job Category
TechnologyCompensation Overview

The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.

Salary Range$126,500.00 - $208,700.00
Target Openings
1
What Is the Opportunity?
Travelers is seeking a network and operationally minded security professional with developer capabilities and a passion to help protect a Fortune 500 company through perimeter controls. They will be part of a team that currently supports our firewall rule request approvals and orchestration, intrusion prevention systems, and web proxy/internet content filtering technologies. They will also help support a newly implemented web application firewall both on-premises and in the cloud. This candidate will play an integral role as part of our transition to more forward-thinking and exciting network security models that support cloud-native solutions and zero trust architectures. This person should also be creative and have a vision for how to best leverage these technologies to protect our data and systems, while allowing our development teams to move quickly. This includes but is not limited to someone with coding language experience to assist with modernizing our current processes through automation and data integrations. You should also be able to investigate, identify, and resolve cybersecurity incidents independently and remediate those within acceptable SLAs.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the US. The company does not sponsor/support H-1B petitions, TN, or Forms I-983/STEM OPT, this this role.What Will You Do?
  • Lead and participate in projects through implementation which may include analysis, assessment, and resolution of cybersecurity platforms and/or products.
  • Design, develop, analyze, and configure complex automation tasks.
  • Support complex security controls across multiple tools and processes and manage the configuration and distribution across multiple systems and platforms.
  • Act as an escalation point for incidents or problems that arise involving platform extensions which may include researching the problem, putting policy management in place, document, and remediation.
  • Consult directly with business customers on software, education, performance testing, etc.
  • Facilitate and build out enhancement requests from business leaders.
  • Troubleshoot and diagnose cyber defense infrastructure anomalies and work through resolution.
  • Update policy and/or lead maintenance upgrades.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?
  • Degree or certificate in Cybersecurity.
  • 5 years of experience in Information Technology Security Engineering or Software engineering.
  • Hands on experience with Cloud computing and automation concepts.
  • Experience with system, network, and OS hardening techniques, and host/network access control mechanisms.
  • Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity privacy principles, cyber threats and vulnerabilities, and cyber defense and information security policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Ability to apply cybersecurity and privacy principles to organization requirements such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to consult on projects and present information effectively.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and follow through to ensure timely completion.
What is a Must Have?
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, similar degree, or its equivalent in work experience.
  • 4 years of experience in Information Technology Security Engineering or Software engineering.
What Is in It for You?
  • Health Insurance:Employees and their eligible family members - including spouses, domestic partners, and children - are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
  • Retirement:Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
  • Paid Time Off:Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
  • Wellness Program:The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
  • Volunteer Encouragement:We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.
Employment Practices

Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.

In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.

If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.

Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

To learn more about our comprehensive benefit programs please visit http://careers.travelers.com/life-at-travelers/benefits/.

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