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The differences between cyber security specialists and information technology security managers 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 specialist and an information technology security manager. Additionally, an information technology security manager has an average salary of $124,792, which is higher than the $93,395 average annual salary of a cyber security specialist.
The top three skills for a cyber security specialist include cyber security, incident response and NIST. The most important skills for an information technology security manager are NIST, risk management, and project management.
| Cyber Security Specialist | Information Technology Security Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $93,395 | $124,792 |
| Hourly rate | $44.90 | $60.00 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 65,235 | 120,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Cybersecurity Specialists are information technology (IT) professionals who safeguard and protect the company's networks. They ensure that the network infrastructure is secure at all times. They do routine checks to see whether the infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks. Cybersecurity Specialists monitor and respond to security concerns. They launch programs or software to mitigate any attacks that the company's infrastructure may receive. They also look for ways to minimize the network infrastructure's vulnerability to risks, threats, and attacks.
An information technology security manager is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's network systems to prevent unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of information from the database. Information technology security managers resolve technical issues, configure network updates, and upgrade system infrastructures to enhance optimal performance and navigation. They also install applications, inspect security breaches, and fix faulty servers to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. An information technology security manager must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing reports for system findings and design networks according to business requirements.
Cyber security specialists and information technology security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cyber Security Specialist | Information Technology Security Manager | |
| Average salary | $93,395 | $124,792 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $91,000 And $170,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellevue, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a cyber security specialist and an information technology security manager in terms of educational background:
| Cyber Security Specialist | Information Technology Security Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | North Carolina State University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between cyber security specialists' and information technology security managers' demographics:
| Cyber Security Specialist | Information Technology Security Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% |
| 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% |