2135 Cyber security professionals

In short

• ONS unit group 2135, in minor group 213 (Information technology professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £48,500 (£24.87 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £35,300 (£18.10 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Cyber security professionals design, implement, test and maintain cyber security systems and track, investigate and analyse data linked to cybercrime.

Typical entry routes

Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification, although entry with other academic qualifications and/or significant relevant experience is possible. There is a variety of relevant vocational, professional and postgraduate qualifications available.

Tasks

• examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up response plans for situations where security is compromised
• develops test plans for security systems and undertakes and documents the testing of security systems weaknesses and errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions
• develops quality standards and validation techniques
• makes recommendations concerning software/system quality
• deals with and reports on breaches in security
• uses specialist software to gather and analyse information and evidence relating to cybercrime and presents findings to law enforcement officials or private clients

Related job titles

• Data security manager
• Ethical hacker
• Forensic computer investigator
• IT security analyst
• Technical security consultant

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2135 Cyber security professionals

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Cyber operational defence specialists
• Cyber security management and governance specialists
• Forensic computer specialists
• Secure system development specialists
• Cyber security professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£48,500 (£24.87 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

£43,700 (£22.41 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

£38,800 (£19.90 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£34,000 (£17.44 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2135 Cyber security professionals

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2139, 2426

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Cyber operational defence specialists
• Cyber security management and governance specialists
• Forensic computer specialists
• Secure system development specialists
• Cyber security professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£35,300 (£18.10 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

£31,800 (£16.31 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

£28,200 (£14.46 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Other unit groups in minor group 213

• 2131 IT project managers
• 2132 IT managers
• 2133 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
• 2134 Programmers and software development professionals
• 2136 IT quality and testing professionals
• 2137 IT network professionals
• 2139 Information technology professionals n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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