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The differences between information security consultants and security administrators 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 consultant, becoming a security administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information security consultant has an average salary of $103,316, which is higher than the $79,564 average annual salary of a security administrator.
The top three skills for an information security consultant include risk assessments, risk management and SQL. The most important skills for a security administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and security procedures.
| Information Security Consultant | Security Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $103,316 | $79,564 |
| Hourly rate | $49.67 | $38.25 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 113,409 | 99,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Information Security Consultants are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for assessing computer and network systems to implement security solutions for the IT needs of an organization. These consultants must prevent unauthorized access to financial and personal information of the organization by assessing its existing infrastructures and systems for weaknesses. They must provide advice and recommendations on the best method to ensure security for their IT system. Information Security Consultants must also perform penetration testing and malware analysis to identify any network weaknesses.
A security administrator is in charge of establishing and enforcing security measures over a company's information systems and networks. Their duties typically revolve around installing and maintaining security networks, analyzing existing systems to identify areas needing improvement, conducting regular maintenance checks and upgrades to optimize services and functions, and monitoring overall systems for any suspicious activities or breaches. Furthermore, as a security administrator, it is essential to develop information technology solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Information security consultants and security administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Consultant | Security Administrator | |
| Average salary | $103,316 | $79,564 |
| Salary range | Between $76,000 And $138,000 | Between $54,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Carson City, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | California |
| Best paying company | eBay | Gap Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between an information security consultant and a security administrator in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Consultant | Security Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between information security consultants' and security administrators' demographics:
| Information Security Consultant | Security Administrator | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% |
| 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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |