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The differences between chief security officers and information security managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a chief security officer, becoming an information security manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a chief security officer has an average salary of $144,017, which is higher than the $126,447 average annual salary of an information security manager.
The top three skills for a chief security officer include oversight, risk management and security program. The most important skills for an information security manager are risk management, NIST, and infrastructure.
| Chief Security Officer | Information Security Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $144,017 | $126,447 |
| Hourly rate | $69.24 | $60.79 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 107,163 | 115,414 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
Chief security officers are a part of a company's executives assigned to secure all company assets, personnel, and premises. The importance of this position increases with the continuous innovation of technology. These officers need to have advanced computer skills and critical thinking skills and be meticulous about details. Having chief security officers in a company can help add value to the company and gain a competitive advantage over competitors. They also manage a network of managers, staff, and security directors and coordinate with law enforcement or other security agencies.
An information security manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the security systems established to protect a company's data from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring networks for any security breaches, designing and developing new security systems, and improving existing ones when necessary. They may also perform research and analysis to determine company needs, provide instructional materials, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, as an information security manager, it is essential to provide technical support to employees, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Chief security officers and information security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Security Officer | Information Security Manager | |
| Average salary | $144,017 | $126,447 |
| Salary range | Between $101,000 And $204,000 | Between $91,000 And $175,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | eBay |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Media |
There are a few differences between a chief security officer and an information security manager in terms of educational background:
| Chief Security Officer | Information Security Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chief security officers' and information security managers' demographics:
| Chief Security Officer | Information Security Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |