Government moves to boost cybersecurity pay to attract national talent

The Civil Service Commission has completed the preparation of a new proposal to revise the comprehensive monthly salaries of Kuwaiti employees working in cybersecurity roles across government agencies, which includes doubling the job level allowance, nature of work allowance and incentive bonus.

The proposal is set to be submitted to the Civil Service Council for approval.

Informed sources told Al-Rai that the revised salary structure would see comprehensive monthly pay range from 1,175 dinars as a minimum for newly appointed holders of specialized university degrees at the fourth grade, in the position of Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, to 2,978 dinars as a maximum for senior specialists with 18 years of experience at grade (A), in the position of Senior Cybersecurity Analyst, reports Al-Rai daily.

The proposal establishes seven job levels, covering specialized and support roles, with minimum and maximum salary ceilings for each level based on grade, experience and job title.

According to the sources, the proposed structure is as follows:

First job level (first grade) – Senior Cybersecurity Specialist with no less than 18 years of experience; Comprehensive monthly salary ranging between 2,818 and 2,978 dinars.

Second job level (first grade) – Senior Cybersecurity Specialist with no less than 14 years of experience: 2,528 to 2,688 dinars.

Third job level (first grade) – Cybersecurity Specialist with no less than 10 years of experience: 2,228 to 2,371 dinars.

Fourth job level (second grade) – Cybersecurity Analyst with no less than 7 years of experience: 1,922 to 2,065 dinars.

Fifth job level (third grade) – Cybersecurity Analyst with no less than 5 years of experience: 1,571 to 1,709 dinars.

Sixth job level (fourth grade) – Cybersecurity Analyst with no less than 3 years of experience: 1,275 to 1,413 dinars.

Seventh job level (fourth grade) – Junior Cybersecurity Analyst: 1,175 to 1,313 dinars.

The sources said the proposal reflects a government direction to attract and retain national talents in cybersecurity, ensure the availability of qualified cadres to meet digital transformation requirements, and protect government information infrastructure.

They added that the Civil Service Bureau has circulated the proposal to government entities for review and feedback, in preparation for re-submitting it to the Civil Service Council.

The proposal was developed after reviewing the financial benefits granted to information systems staff in government agencies and the salary structure applied at the National Cybersecurity Center, with a recommendation to double the current allowances for information technology and cybersecurity positions.

Under the proposed framework, cybersecurity positions will be filled according to a clear mechanism, including:
Passing a national cybersecurity employment test, alongside meeting other objective requirements, with specific cases where the test may substitute formal qualifications.

The formation of a committee by decision of the Minister of Higher Education, comprising five members and a specialist from the Civil Service Bureau at the rank of Assistant Undersecretary or above.

The committee will be tasked with introducing a professional test as a core requirement for first-level cybersecurity jobs, with separate eligibility tests for each higher job title and adopting a standardized international professional assessment system from an internationally accredited body in cybersecurity, with administrative supervision by a designated government entity, without interference in setting questions or marking results.