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The differences between chief security officers and 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 a security manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a chief security officer has an average salary of $144,017, which is higher than the $111,171 average annual salary of a security manager.
The top three skills for a chief security officer include oversight, risk management and security program. The most important skills for a security manager are cloud security, security operations, and security management.
| Chief Security Officer | Security Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $144,017 | $111,171 |
| Hourly rate | $69.24 | $53.45 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 107,163 | 51,717 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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.
Security managers are responsible for creating a safe environment for everyone and implementing policies to prevent emergencies. They ensure the safety of employees and assets of the company as well as its facilities. Additionally, they evaluate and manage risks by implementing safety policies and training security staff in responding efficiently to emergencies. A security manager must exhibit excellent leadership, surveillance, and emergency response skills. A good security manager should also have a strong commitment to security rules and understand all hazards and threats to safety.
Chief security officers and security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Security Officer | Security Manager | |
| Average salary | $144,017 | $111,171 |
| Salary range | Between $101,000 And $204,000 | Between $74,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a chief security officer and a security manager in terms of educational background:
| Chief Security Officer | Security Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between chief security officers' and security managers' demographics:
| Chief Security Officer | Security Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% |
| 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 8.1% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |