Information systems administrator vs information security administrator

The differences between information systems administrators and information security administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an information systems administrator, becoming an information security administrator takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an information security administrator has an average salary of $81,604, which is higher than the $79,194 average annual salary of an information systems administrator.

The top three skills for an information systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and OS. The most important skills for an information security administrator are incident response, security systems, and data loss prevention.

Information systems administrator vs information security administrator overview

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Security Administrator
Yearly salary	$79,194	$81,604
Hourly rate	$38.07	$39.23
Growth rate	5%	32%
Number of jobs	176,724	157,160
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	43	42
Years of experience	2	6

What does an information systems administrator do?

Businesses today are mostly dependent heavily on the internet and computer systems for their daily transactions. The information systems administrator is a person that monitors, configures, and upgrades these systems to adapt to the constant advancement in technology. The information systems administrator maintains networks used inside the company, making access to information efficient and fast. A company with a fast and reliable information system will have an edge against competitive companies.

What does an information security administrator do?

An Information Security Administrator focuses on the proper installation of surveillance systems in a building or residence. This person is responsible for ensuring the appropriate installment of CCTV cameras and other equipment necessary to protect a perimeter adequately. Their responsibilities include ensuring the protection of all surveillance equipment from tampering, theft, and damage and providing support for the owner to resolve problems with the system and provide troubleshooting.

Information systems administrator vs information security administrator salary

Information systems administrators and information security administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Security Administrator
Average salary	$79,194	$81,604
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $104,000	Between $57,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City	Pleasanton, CA	Roseville, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Cadence Design Systems	Nasdaq
Best paying industry	Finance	Retail

Differences between information systems administrator and information security administrator education

There are a few differences between an information systems administrator and an information security administrator in terms of educational background:

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Security Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Information systems administrator vs information security administrator demographics

Here are the differences between information systems administrators' and information security administrators' demographics:

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Security Administrator
Average age	43	42
Gender ratio	Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7%	Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3%
Race ratio	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%	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 systems administrator and information security administrator duties and responsibilities

Information systems administrator example responsibilities.

Manage mission critical Linux systems which track all data relating to rotary wing aircraft.
Institute, manage, and document procedures for UNIX systems security, maintenance, and backup.
Install/Configure managed switches to increase network speed
Manage the company Novell network including relate equipment.
Manage network infrastructure spanning multiple geographically-distribute sites, including VPN / remote access systems and firewalls.
Ensure adequate security protections for proprietary data and intellectual property; manage and configure firewalls and security posture.

Information security administrator example responsibilities.

Lead enterprise-wide virtualization effort, overseeing and completing vendor/hardware qualifications, architecture/design, installation, configuration, migration and documentation.
Work with auditors to gather the proper information for PCI and SOX audits and submit the information in timely require manner.
Create and conduct HIPAA training program for executive management and general staff.
Establish HIPAA policies and procedures and implement system measures to ensure compliance.
Interface with business managers, end-users and technical staff for provisioning of access.
Deploy new systems and network devices to include provisioning of access controls and monitoring.

Information systems administrator vs information security administrator skills

Common information systems administrator skills

Linux, 13%
Troubleshoot, 10%
OS, 8%
Unix, 7%
Virtualization, 6%
Java, 4%

Common information security administrator skills

Incident Response, 6%
Security Systems, 6%
Data Loss Prevention, 5%
Security Policies, 5%
Security Procedures, 4%
IDS, 4%

Information Systems Administrator vs. similar jobs

Information Systems Administrator related careers

Information Systems Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Computer and Mathematical Industry
Information Systems Administrator
Information Systems Administrator vs Information Security Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs