Also called: Post-Quantum Cryptography Engineer, Quantum Key Distribution Engineer
Protects data from future quantum computers that could crack today's encryption.
You help a bank or government agency swap its encryption for new 'post-quantum' math, or test systems that send secret keys using single photons. Your days include analyzing algorithms, writing code, and briefing security teams.
Quantum jobs are new and not tracked separately by BLS; figures are estimates from industry salary surveys and related occupations.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's or PhD in mathematics, computer science, or physics.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics.
Growing much faster than average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI helps analyze and code algorithms; migrating banks and agencies to new encryption needs human experts for years.
Classes: AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, Number theory or discrete math.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-1212.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.