Information security engineer vs information technology security manager

The differences between information security engineers and information technology security managers 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 engineer and an information technology security manager. Additionally, an information technology security manager has an average salary of $124,792, which is higher than the $97,288 average annual salary of an information security engineer.

The top three skills for an information security engineer include infrastructure, incident response and security tools. The most important skills for an information technology security manager are NIST, risk management, and project management.

Information security engineer vs information technology security manager overview

	Information Security Engineer	Information Technology Security Manager
Yearly salary	$97,288	$124,792
Hourly rate	$46.77	$60.00
Growth rate	32%	32%
Number of jobs	120,257	120,463
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

What does an information security engineer do?

An information security engineer specializes in designing and developing systems to protect company and customer data from hackers or any cyber attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to identify their needs, assess existing programs to identify any areas needing improvement, monitor network and system for any problems, and implement preventive measures for protection. Should there be any breaches, it is essential to resolve them right away and conduct an investigation to prevent it from happening again. Furthermore, it is necessary to assist employees in utilizing security systems to ensure smooth workflow.

What does an information technology security manager do?

An information technology security manager is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's network systems to prevent unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of information from the database. Information technology security managers resolve technical issues, configure network updates, and upgrade system infrastructures to enhance optimal performance and navigation. They also install applications, inspect security breaches, and fix faulty servers to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. An information technology security manager must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing reports for system findings and design networks according to business requirements.

Information security engineer vs information technology security manager salary

Information security engineers and information technology security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Information Security Engineer	Information Technology Security Manager
Average salary	$97,288	$124,792
Salary range	Between $73,000 And $129,000	Between $91,000 And $170,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	The Citadel	PayPal
Best paying industry	Technology	Hospitality

Differences between information security engineer and information technology security manager education

There are a few differences between an information security engineer and an information technology security manager in terms of educational background:

	Information Security Engineer	Information Technology Security Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Stanford University

Information security engineer vs information technology security manager demographics

Here are the differences between information security engineers' and information technology security managers' demographics:

	Information Security Engineer	Information Technology Security Manager
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 88.3% Female, 11.7%	Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6%
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 information security engineer and information technology security manager duties and responsibilities

Information security engineer example responsibilities.

Lead the certification and accreditation efforts by implementing NIST 800-53 security controls in order to obtain FISMA compliance.
Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
Ensure that security policies are properly implement using NIST guidelines and perform auditing of logs.
Conduct Java algorithm design reviews and resolve any design issues.
Automate manual queries and integration using WhiteHat API's with PERL and Java.
Update ACAS plugins weekly or when updates become available on the DISA provide website.

Information technology security manager example responsibilities.

Manage and represent RMFMC when dealing with patients and employees regarding matters of breach of privacy and / or HIPAA violations.
Manage CoBIT compliance and control self-assessment program to identify control deficiencies.
Manage the conversion to a hybrid NAS/disk/tape CommVault base backup environment resulting in decreasing backup windows and improving recovery objectives.
Create and implement security controls (encryption, inventory management), policies and procedures to ensure HIPAA compliance.
Maintain the operation in conformity with ITIL standards and practices.
Assist NASA in its compliance with relevant security standards, including NIST and FISMA.

Information security engineer vs information technology security manager skills

Common information security engineer skills

Infrastructure, 7%
Incident Response, 6%
Security Tools, 5%
Network Security, 4%
SIEM, 4%
NIST, 4%

Common information technology security manager skills

NIST, 7%
Risk Management, 6%
Project Management, 6%
Risk Assessments, 4%
Incident Response, 4%
ISO, 4%

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Information Security Engineer vs Information Technology Security Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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