Data security analyst vs personnel security specialist

The differences between data security analysts 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 data security analyst and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, a data security analyst has an average salary of $87,446, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.

The top three skills for a data security analyst include data security, incident response and access management. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.

Data security analyst vs personnel security specialist overview

	Data Security Analyst	Personnel Security Specialist
Yearly salary	$87,446	$78,967
Hourly rate	$42.04	$37.96
Growth rate	32%	32%
Number of jobs	145,078	52,507
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

What does a data security analyst do?

A data security analyst's job is to protect computer systems and networks in a company. They are often the solitary individuals standing between a company's networks and potential hackers, and their abilities are highly in demand at this moment. The job role includes installing and uninstalling various security network programs, and these programs safeguard sensitive data by using firewalls with the use of data-encryption technology. In addition, they also help to implement security protocols depending on the need of the company, and they must be updated regularly to remove bugs and add new features.

What does a personnel security specialist do?

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.

Data security analyst vs personnel security specialist salary

Data security analysts and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Data Security Analyst	Personnel Security Specialist
Average salary	$87,446	$78,967
Salary range	Between $63,000 And $120,000	Between $49,000 And $124,000
Highest paying City	Fairfield, CA	Palo Alto, CA
Highest paying state	California	Connecticut
Best paying company	Meta	Palantir
Best paying industry	Start-up	Technology

Differences between data security analyst and personnel security specialist education

There are a few differences between a data security analyst and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:

	Data Security Analyst	Personnel Security Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 56%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	Stanford University	California State University - Bakersfield

Data security analyst vs personnel security specialist demographics

Here are the differences between data security analysts' and personnel security specialists' demographics:

	Data Security Analyst	Personnel Security Specialist
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 61.0% Female, 39.0%	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%

Differences between data security analyst and personnel security specialist duties and responsibilities

Data security analyst example responsibilities.

Provide support for manage IP security services customers in a 24x7 UNIX operations center.
Manage quality control team of senior auditors, budgets, HIPAA compliance reports to CMS, monthly audit tracking/reporting.
Provide architecture and design guidance in network segmentation and isolation of PCI data and equipment in order to achieve PCI compliance.
Manage centralized and decentralize correlation servers for intrusion detection and log monitoring.
Log analysis & managing the accuracy of DLP identification to lowering/avoiding false positives and negatives.
Conduct system testing and implementation of the mainframe encryption.

Personnel security specialist example responsibilities.

Implement group policies to manage domain / PC / user security.
Manage servers to include Cisco ACS (access control server), and external DNS server.
Manage multiple security programs and systems in accordance with NISPOM, DCID, M1 and JAFAN guidance.
Support all the applications deploy through the F5 LTM along with the configuration and the managing role.
Develop and manage covert CCTV program to support corporate investigations.
Develop expert working knowledge of personnel security administration activities using JPAS and E-QIP.

Data security analyst vs personnel security specialist skills

Common data security analyst skills

Data Security, 10%
Incident Response, 8%
Access Management, 6%
Encryption, 5%
SQL, 5%
Security Procedures, 4%

Common personnel security specialist skills

SCI, 7%
JPAS, 7%
E-QIP, 5%
DOD, 5%
Personnel Security, 5%
Government Agencies, 4%

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Data Security Analyst vs Personnel Security Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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