SOC Analyst
Also advertised as: assistant call centre analyst, assistant data analyst, call center agent, call centre operations analyst, CRM data analyst, Cyber Security Analyst
Monitors systems around the clock to detect and respond to cyber threats.
What the job involves
Security operations centre analysts watch over an organisation's networks and systems, spotting suspicious activity and responding to alerts before they become breaches. You investigate incidents, escalate serious threats and follow playbooks to contain attacks. It is one of the most common entry points into a cyber security career.
Typical responsibilities
- Monitor security alerts and dashboards
- Investigate and triage potential incidents
- Escalate confirmed threats to senior analysts
- Follow incident response playbooks
- Maintain logs and incident documentation
Common employers
- Managed security service providers
- Banks
- Government agencies
- Telecoms providers
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£24,000 – £30,000 a year
With experience
£35,000 – £48,000 a year
Typical hours
Often shift based, including nights and weekends on a rota
Working environment
Office based, sometimes hybrid
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- SIEM tools
- Threat detection
- Log analysis
- Networking fundamentals
- Incident response
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- IT support or helpdesk experience
- Methodical monitoring
- Working calmly under pressure
Requirements employers ask for
- SIEM tools
- Threat detection
- Log analysis
- Networking fundamentals
- Incident response
- Attention to detail
- No formal qualification required
- call routing
- run simulations
- comply with legal regulations
- write work-related reports
- call quality assurance management
- apply statistical analysis techniques
- train staff on call quality assurance
- carry out statistical forecasts
- gather data
- report call errors
- analyse call performance trends
- perform data analysis
Useful but not essential
- IT support or helpdesk experience
- Methodical monitoring
- Working calmly under pressure
- CompTIA Security+
- Cyber Security Technologist (Level 4) apprenticeship
- SC-200 Microsoft certification
- speak different languages
- teamwork principles
- report accounts of the professional activity
- deliver visual presentation of data
- ensure compliance with company regulations
- apply information security policies
- information confidentiality
Helpful qualifications
- CompTIA Security+
- Cyber Security Technologist (Level 4) apprenticeship
- SC-200 Microsoft certification
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Cyber Security Technologist (Level 4)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Cyber security
- Related subject: Computing
- Related subject: IT
Where this career can lead
next
Senior SOC Analyst
next
Incident Responder
next
Threat Intelligence Analyst
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Well-recognised entry route into cyber security
- High demand for staff
- Fast-moving, varied daily work
What people find hard
- Shift patterns can include nights and weekends
- Alert fatigue from high volumes of low-priority warnings
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a soc analyst?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a soc analyst earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £24,000 to £30,000 a year, rising towards £48,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include IT support or helpdesk experience, Methodical monitoring, Working calmly under pressure.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
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