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The differences between information security officers 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 officer and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, an information security officer has an average salary of $135,040, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for an information security officer include risk management, risk assessments and incident response. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Information Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $135,040 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $64.92 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 145,907 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Information security officers are responsible for planning and implementing policies to safeguard an organization's computer network and data from different types of security breaches. Their duties typically include identifying computer network vulnerabilities, developing and executing a plan to secure and protect the network, and tracking computer network usage to ensure adherence to security policies. In addition, information security officers are also expected to conduct penetration tests to look for flaws and work closely with the IT and management departments to improve security.
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 officers and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $135,040 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $190,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Twilio | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information security officer and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | 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 officers' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Information Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% | 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% |