Laurence, Let me first tell you a little about my background, I currently work for NASA as a network security manager however I have not always had this great of a job. I started working at a call center helpdesk and since then moved from administration, to engineering, to security. I have done just about every type of computing under the sun and am one of the top security experts on the east coast. I do not want to discuss salaries openly on this forum but I will if you PM so you have some insight. If there is one thing I could advise you to do is get certifications; Most Comptia certifications are a joke, however they are a good stepping stone. I would recommend getting a Security + certification to start with and then work on your CCSP or CISSP. You should focus your efforts in security, why you ask. Well security is one of the highest paying field and with all of the advancing technology the intrusion and hacking problems will continue to get worse thus you should not have to worry about job security. Next I would suggest getting some sort of goverment clearance, start off at a lower salary if you have to but it is well worth it. Also be prepared to move go where the money is. Most people do not make big salaries because they get stuck at their current job. If you are not scared, study hard, and dont have limits then your dreams will be fulfilled. Feel free to reach out, Damarius