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The differences between information security analysts and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information security analyst, becoming a software developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an information security analyst has an average salary of $98,144, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for an information security analyst include incident response, risk assessments and windows. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Information Security Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,144 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $47.18 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 112,818 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An information security analyst is an individual who is responsible for carrying out security measures to protect the computer network and systems of an organization. Information security analysts erect firewalls and encrypt data transmissions to protect the organization's data from being inappropriately accessed or used. They must be aware of reports on computer viruses and should share this information with the management or customer. Information security analysts are also required to conduct training for all the organization's employees regarding computer security and information safeguarding.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Information security analysts and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $98,144 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $135,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between an information security analyst and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between information security analysts' and software developers' demographics:
| Information Security Analyst | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| 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, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 8% |