PHS Cyber & AI Careers | Portales High School

Career Domains

Cyber Career Domains

Break down cybersecurity into clear, understandable domains. Each one offers different roles, different challenges, and different paths to success.

Security Operations (SOC / Blue Team)

College Optional

You're the first line of defense. Monitor networks 24/7, spot threats before they become problems, and keep systems safe. Think of it like being a security guard, but for digital spaces.

You notice small details others missYou stay calm under pressureYou're naturally curious about how things work

$60k→$80k+

A Day in the Life:

Check security alerts from overnight
Investigate suspicious network activity
Document incidents and write reports

1 role in this domain

Threat Hunting

College Optional

You don't wait for alerts—you go looking for trouble. Hunt down hidden threats, analyze attacker behavior, and think like a detective tracking down digital criminals.

You're naturally suspicious (in a good way)You love deep-diving into problemsYou connect dots others don't see

$85k→$130k+

A Day in the Life:

Review threat intelligence reports
Search for indicators of compromise
Analyze network traffic patterns

1 role in this domain

Incident Response

College Optional

When something bad happens, you're the one who fixes it. Respond to cyberattacks, contain breaches, and help organizations recover. It's like being a digital first responder.

You thrive in high-pressure situationsYou make quick decisionsYou're organized and systematic

$90k→$130k+

A Day in the Life:

Respond to security incident alerts
Contain and isolate affected systems
Collect evidence for investigation

1 role in this domain

Digital Forensics

College Optional

You're a digital detective. Investigate cybercrimes, recover deleted data, and piece together what happened. Your work helps catch criminals and prevent future attacks.

You're detail-orientedYou follow procedures carefullyYou're patient with long investigations

$75k→$120k+

A Day in the Life:

Examine digital evidence from cases
Recover deleted files and data
Create forensic images of devices

1 role in this domain

Penetration Testing & Red Team

College Optional

You're the good guy who breaks into systems (with permission). Find vulnerabilities before bad actors do. Think of it as being a locksmith who tests security systems.

You think like an attackerYou're creative with problem-solvingYou enjoy breaking things to fix them

$80k→$130k+

A Day in the Life:

Plan penetration test scope
Scan networks for vulnerabilities
Attempt to exploit weaknesses

1 role in this domain

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)

You make sure organizations follow the rules and manage risk properly. Less technical, more strategic. Perfect if you like structure, policies, and helping companies stay compliant.

You're organized and systematicYou understand regulations and policiesYou're good at explaining complex rules

$70k→$120k+

A Day in the Life:

Review compliance requirements
Assess organizational risks
Update security policies

1 role in this domain

Cloud Security

College Optional

You secure everything in the cloud—AWS, Azure, Google Cloud. As more companies move to the cloud, this field is exploding. High demand, great pay, remote-friendly.

You're comfortable with cloud platformsYou understand infrastructureYou're adaptable to new technologies

$100k→$160k+

A Day in the Life:

Review cloud security configurations
Set up security monitoring
Implement access controls

1 role in this domain

Application Security (AppSec)

College Optional

You find and fix security bugs in software before it ships. Code reviews, security testing, and working with developers to build secure applications from the start.

You understand how code worksYou spot security flaws in logicYou communicate well with developers

$90k→$150k+

A Day in the Life:

Review code for security issues
Run automated security scans
Test applications for vulnerabilities

1 role in this domain