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As computers become an increasingly integral part of the business world, demand for skilled information security professionals grows. Working at the highest level of IT management, computer security managers ensure an organization's networks and data are secure. They review and implement security-related technology and software, establish information security policies, and manage lower-level IT professionals. These tasks require expert security knowledge and a healthy dose of business know-how.

Average computer security managers' salaries

Technology management can be a financially rewarding career, and computer security management is no exception. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median computer systems manager, including computer security manager, salary in 2010 was $115,780 with the top 25 percent earning in excess of $146,080. Computer security managers specifically can earn more, though salaries vary significantly by specialty and employer. Salary.com notes that in 2011, network security systems managers earned an average of $79,695 while data information security managers earned a much more robust $116,039. Meanwhile, GlassDoor.com lists high-end computer systems manager salaries up to $152,754 for large, well-known organizations. Employers providing information, financial or commodities services tended to pay the most.

Where you live can also significantly impact your earnings. According to the BLS, the following states boasted the highest typical computer security manager salary in 2010:

• New York
• New Jersey
• California

Future computer security managers should also factor in cost-of-living when choosing an ideal work location: New York and California may pay well, but those earnings can quickly be offset by off-the-chart housing and food costs. The following metro areas offered the highest computer security manager salaries in 2010 relative to cost-of living, according to information provided by both the BLS and the Council for Community and Economic Research:

• San Jose - Sunnyvale, Calif.: $161,150
• Chelmsford, N.H.: $135,870
• Durham, N.C.: $130,000

How to become a computer security manager

Though many IT security professionals are at least partially self-taught, those who want to advance to managerial positions often need formal training, ideally through quality computer security manager schools. According to the BLS, most of these professionals earn at least a master's degree in information or computer science, but those who also pursue business training, especially an MBA with a technical focus, advance their careers faster. Fortunately, returning to school is easier than it used to be: many of today's students pursue computer security manager training online while they work, especially IT professionals already managing full-time careers.

Career outlook: Computer security managers are in demand

Even in the toughest economies, organizations are unwilling to compromise the security of their networks, a trend that keeps computer security managers profitably employed. According to the BLS, positions among computer and information systems managers are expected to grow by 17 percent in the decade preceding 2018, and security specialists are expected to fare even better. Those with both technical and business credentials earned through computer security manager schools will have a competitive edge over their lesser-trained peers.