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The differences between information security directors 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 an information security director and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, an information security director has an average salary of $141,813, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for an information security director include cloud security, risk management and incident response. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Information Security Director | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $141,813 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $68.18 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 109,450 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An information security director is an executive professional who is responsible for implementing, designing, managing, and allocating all the security measures using technology in an organization. Information security directors are required to observe security vulnerabilities and threats as well as develop strategies to handle security incidents. They must participate in the deployment of security technologies and implement security policies and procedures. Information security directors must also implement education programs on user awareness and security compliance.
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.
Information security directors and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Director | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $141,813 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $201,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Chegg | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information security director and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Director | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between information security directors' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Information Security Director | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | 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% |