Cybersecurity apprenticeship guide: Paid programs and how to apply

In this guide

• What is a cybersecurity apprenticeship
• Where to find apprenticeships
• Find an apprenticeship near you
• Remote opportunities
• Apprenticeship qualifications
• Apprenticeship pay
• How to apply
• FAQs

A cybersecurity apprenticeship can help you build experience while earning a paycheck. The challenge is finding an opportunity that fits your background, location, and schedule—and understanding when training becomes paid employment.

In a U.S. Registered Apprenticeship, you combine paid work, instruction, and mentorship, earn wage increases as you develop skills, and receive a recognized credential when you complete the program. The U.S. Department of Labor’s guide for career seekers explains this model.

This guide focuses on finding and comparing U.S. cybersecurity apprenticeships. Start with the program resources below, then use the application and comparison checklists to decide where to apply.

What is a cybersecurity apprenticeship?

A cybersecurity apprenticeship connects learning with work for an employer. When evaluating a program, look for a clear explanation of the job, who supervises your development, what instruction you receive, and how progress is assessed.

For a Registered Apprenticeship, paid employment, structured learning, mentorship, wage progression, and a portable credential are core features. You apply through the employer or program sponsor. Department of Labor

Before applying, find out which stage an opportunity covers:

• Apprenticeship employment: Ask who employs you, when you start getting paid, and what work you will learn.
• Pre-apprenticeship: This prepares participants to enter a Registered Apprenticeship. Ask which employers or sponsors the training connects to and what happens after completion. Department of Labor’s pre-apprenticeship overview
• Standalone training: Ask whether an advertised course includes employment, an employer interview, placement support, or only instruction. Have the provider explain the commitment in writing.

If you are considering a shorter work experience alongside school, compare these options with our guide to cybersecurity internships.

Where to find cybersecurity apprenticeship programs

Use these resources to build a shortlist. A provider’s program description is a starting point; confirm the application window, location, and hiring requirements for the specific opportunity.

Apprenticeship.gov: Search for jobs and sponsors

The Apprenticeship Job Finder lets you search by occupation and location and apply through employers. Its results distinguish between registered occupations and registered partners, so read the labels and the individual posting. The site also points applicants to its Partner Finder when they cannot find a suitable opening.

Start with “cybersecurity,” then try “cyber security,” “security analyst,” and “information security.” Repeat the search for locations you could realistically commute to or move to.

If you find a promising sponsor without a current opening, record its contact information and ask when it expects to recruit again. Keep that lead separate from jobs accepting applications today.

Apprenti: A pathway that does not require a degree

Apprenti’s career seeker page says applicants do not need a degree or prior technical experience. Its process includes an application and an assessment of math, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. Opportunities depend on hiring partner demand and become available on a rolling basis.

Apprenti describes two to five months of full-time technical instruction, depending on the occupation, followed by one year of paid on-the-job training. Training is currently offered at no cost to apprentices. Cybersecurity analyst coursework includes networking, security, risk management, and intrusion detection.

Before applying, check for a cybersecurity opportunity that matches your location. Ask when wages begin and how you would cover living expenses during the initial instruction period.

CyberUp: Training and employer-connected apprenticeships

CyberUp offers cybersecurity career training and apprenticeships. Its LevelUp training and apprenticeship offerings serve different stages of preparation. CyberUp describes its employer apprenticeship model as a 12-month experience with training and mentorship. CyberUp’s apprenticeship overview

When contacting CyberUp, explain your current skills and ask whether your next step is preparatory training or consideration for an employer opportunity. Confirm location requirements, selection steps, pay, and the expected time between training and employment.

IBM: Check the official apprenticeship and careers pages

IBM lists an apprenticeship program among its entry-level career opportunities. The company describes a full-time route for applicants without a degree who have relevant experience.

To investigate an IBM cybersecurity apprenticeship, search the official careers site for “apprentice” and “cybersecurity,” and filter for the United States. Read the requirements of each listing. A general apprenticeship page does not establish that a cybersecurity role is accepting applications in your location.

What happened to the NICE Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program Finder?

NIST says it no longer maintains the NICE Apprenticeship Program Finder and directs visitors to ApprenticeshipUSA for current listings. Its notice was updated June 25, 2026. If an older article sends you to the NICE finder, use the Apprenticeship Job Finder instead. NIST’s current notice

How to find a cybersecurity apprenticeship near you

Build your search around both the work and the location. Create a simple shortlist with the employer, program sponsor, job title, city, application deadline, and link to the original listing.

Try searches such as:

• Cybersecurity apprenticeship plus your city or state.
• Security analyst apprentice plus your state.
• Cyber security apprenticeship plus a nearby metropolitan area.
• Cybersecurity apprenticeship plus the name of an employer you want to investigate.

Check local college and workforce organization websites for leads, then follow those leads to the employer or sponsor. Our interview with Coastline College’s Tobi West offers an example of how college study and apprenticeship experience can connect. 

For each lead, identify its status: accepting applications, recruiting for a future cohort, or offering general information. That distinction will help you spend time on opportunities you can act on.

How to evaluate remote cybersecurity apprenticeships

Check the location of both classroom instruction and employer work. Online classes alone do not establish that the job is remote. For example, Apprenti says technical instruction is usually delivered live online, while its program also includes a separate employer training phase.

Ask these questions before treating an opportunity as fully remote:

• Can I perform the employer work from my home, or only attend classes online?
• Must I live in a particular state or within commuting distance of an office?
• Are orientation, exams, or occasional meetings in person?
• What working hours and time zone must I follow?
• Who provides the computer and required equipment?

Record the answers alongside the listing. If remote work is essential, resolve these questions before investing substantial time in assessments and interviews.

What qualifications should you prepare?

Use each program’s published requirements to build your preparation plan. Separate required qualifications from preferred ones, and ask the sponsor to clarify anything that is unclear.

For each opportunity, check education requirements, assessments, prior experience, work authorization, location, and schedule. Do not assume that one program’s eligibility rules apply to another.

Your application can also include evidence of how you learn and solve problems. Consider preparing:

• A small technical project: Document a home lab, a networking exercise, or an analysis of sample security logs. Explain the goal, your process, and what you learned.
• A troubleshooting example: Describe a problem you investigated, the steps you tried, and how you determined whether the fix worked.
• A communication example: Show how you explained an unfamiliar process or recorded instructions someone else could follow.
• A learning plan: Identify a skill you are developing and the practice you are using to improve it.

These are ways to present your preparation, not universal admission requirements. Choose examples that match the role and that you can discuss comfortably in an interview.

How much does a cybersecurity apprenticeship pay?

Published starting wages for specific cybersecurity apprenticeships provide a useful baseline. Three programs in California’s official apprenticeship directory list starting rates from $20.50 to $30.11 per hour. These are examples from specific program records, rather than a national estimate of apprentice pay.

Published starting-pay examples

The following listings were checked September 16, 2026:

• Coastline College’s California Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program: The Information Security Analyst apprenticeship lists $20.50 per hour, equivalent to $42,640 a year at 2,080 paid hours. The directory lists a 12-month program. 
• RapidAscent: Its Cybersecurity Analyst apprenticeship lists $20.85 per hour, equivalent to $43,368 a year at 2,080 paid hours. The directory lists a 12-month program. 
• Franklin Apprenticeships: Its Cybersecurity Apprentice program lists $30.11 per hour, equivalent to approximately $62,629 a year at 2,080 paid hours. The directory lists an 18-month program. The annual figures above are calculations: hourly wage × 40 hours × 52 paid weeks. They show gross base pay before taxes and exclude overtime, bonuses, and benefits. Actual earnings depend on paid hours, wage increases, and when employment starts; an annual equivalent is not the total pay for an entire apprenticeship.

California’s directory cautions that its wage records may be outdated and recommends contacting the program for the most accurate amount. Use these figures to begin a comparison, then confirm the current offer and available positions directly. 

How pay grows during an apprenticeship

Registered Apprenticeship includes wage increases as skills develop. Ask for the program’s starting rate and progression schedule so you can understand both your initial income and how pay can change. 

Compare the whole offer

Before accepting, confirm:

• The starting wage, scheduled paid hours, and first payday.
• Whether classroom instruction is paid and when employer wages begin.
• The timing and requirements for raises.
• Health coverage and other benefits, including when eligibility starts.
• Who pays for certification exams, equipment, and required travel.

Build your budget around the confirmed starting wage and any period before employment begins. Tuition-free training can reduce education costs, but you still need to know how living expenses will be covered during that stage.

How to apply for a cybersecurity apprenticeship

Build a focused shortlist

Choose opportunities that fit your location, schedule, and eligibility. Save the original posting so you can refer to its requirements while preparing your application. Include the deadline and any assessment dates in your calendar.

Match your resume to the opportunity

Use the posting to decide which experience to emphasize. Describe what you actually did in a project, class, volunteer role, or previous job. Explain transferable experience in concrete terms—for example, investigating customer problems, documenting procedures, or coordinating an incident response within your previous field.

Prepare for the selection process

Read the program’s assessment instructions and use any official preparation materials. Practice explaining a problem you solved, a mistake you learned from, and why the particular apprenticeship interests you. Be ready to discuss how you will manage the learning and work schedule.

Compare the full commitment

Before accepting, review pay, location, hours, instruction, mentorship, and completion requirements together. Ask what credential you will earn, how progress is measured, and what options are available after completion. Keep copies of the answers and your offer documents.

Frequently asked questions