- A CompSci related degree is great for getting in the door, not necessary if you have self-study experience since demand is so high
- Scholarship for Service is a free ride plus 25K/year plus easy access to gov't and research lab jobs
- two-year "cyber" programs are not worth it - instead practice in CTFs and engage with community
- Operations - "FireFighter" = high demand, high burnout - good way to get in the door and build experience
- Engineering - "Builder" = great as a mid-career when you have learned valuable use cases and real-world needs
- Research - "Thinker" = good for late-career, less stressful but may be lower paid and less impact on daily basis
- gov't and classified work can be interesting and well paid but the culture may be a bit stifling
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DC has all tracks, primarily for internet infrastructure / gov't / military contractors, with a welcoming B-list startup scene
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NYC has Ops and Eng, primarily for banks and mid-size tech companies, with a business-focused A-list startup scene
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Bay Area has all tracks, primarily for large tech companies, with a tech-focused A-list startup scene
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Also consider
Bostonfor research labs / biotech, Austin for startups
East coast tends to be more conservative with more traditional "resume numbers" requirements compared to West coast