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The differences between defense 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 defense analyst and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, a defense analyst has an average salary of $86,453, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for a defense analyst include incident response, DOD and windows. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Defense Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $86,453 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $41.56 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 24,879 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A defense analyst specializes in developing programs and policies about national security and safety. They usually work for the military, government agencies, private firms, and even the Department of Defense. Their responsibilities focus on conducting extensive research, analyzing military procedures and operations, assessing threats, identifying potential risks, and studying the current laws and policies, recommending solutions to optimize processes, solve issues, or prevent problems. Moreover, through their research, a defense analyst develops conclusions that will help offices in making decisions.
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.
Defense analysts and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Defense Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $86,453 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $114,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a defense analyst and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Defense Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between defense analysts' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Defense Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8% | 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% |