Will AI replace security engineers?
This is one of the safest roles in tech because security is an adversarial 'arms race.' As AI makes attacks more sophisticated, human engineers are required to design novel defenses and manage the ethical implications of cyber warfare.
Why AI struggles to replace this job
- Security involves anticipating human malice, which is often irrational and unpredictable.
- AI cannot be legally responsible for security breaches or regulatory compliance failures.
- Effective defense requires 'out-of-the-box' thinking to identify zero-day vulnerabilities.
- Incident response requires high-pressure leadership and crisis management during active breaches.
Tasks AI could automate
- Triaging thousands of low-level firewall alerts to find true threats.
- Running automated penetration tests to find known software vulnerabilities.
- Updating security patches across thousands of networked company devices.
- Generating compliance audit logs for government and industry regulations.
The 10-year outlook
Exceptional growth and high wage potential. As AI-driven cyber-attacks increase, the value of a human Security Engineer who can provide trust and oversight will skyrocket.
Common questions
Will AI replace security engineers?
This is one of the safest roles in tech because security is an adversarial 'arms race.' As AI makes attacks more sophisticated, human engineers are required to design novel defenses and manage the ethical implications of cyber warfare.
What is the AI replacement risk for security engineers?
Security Engineer scores 15/100 — This career is well shielded from AI replacement. Roughly 35% of the tasks in this role could be automated with current and near-future AI.
How much do security engineers earn?
The US median salary for a security engineer is about $119,860 per year, with projected employment growth of +32% over the next decade (much faster than average).