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The differences between cyber security engineers and personnel security specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a cyber security engineer and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, a cyber security engineer has an average salary of $99,492, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for a cyber security engineer include cyber security, python and linux. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Cyber Security Engineer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $99,492 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $47.83 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 73,419 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A cyber security engineer specializes in designing and establishing security measures to protect a company's network and data from hackers or cyber attacks. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around planning and implementing cyber security systems, responding to any problems or concerns, handling security breaches and emergencies, and troubleshooting to identify any issues or vulnerabilities. Moreover, a cyber security engineer may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and documentation, creating instructional materials for systems, managing schedules, and coordinating with department managers, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
A personnel security specialist is responsible for conducting background checks and collecting requirements for security clearance. Personnel security specialists write background check reports, coordinate with other institutions for further investigations, and determining the eligibility of candidates for clearance. They must have excellent communication and researching skills to identify and gather data suitable for employment purposes. A personnel security specialist verifies and processes information according to security procedures and protocols, providing accurate information and managing data disputes.
Cyber security engineers and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cyber Security Engineer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $99,492 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $131,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Dotdash | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cyber security engineer and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Cyber Security Engineer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between cyber security engineers' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Cyber Security Engineer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 9% | 9% |