Information systems administrator vs security administrator

The differences between information systems administrators and security administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an information systems administrator and a security administrator. Additionally, a security administrator has an average salary of $79,564, 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 a security administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and security procedures.

Information systems administrator vs security administrator overview

	Information Systems Administrator	Security Administrator
Yearly salary	$79,194	$79,564
Hourly rate	$38.07	$38.25
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	176,724	99,222
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

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 a security administrator do?

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 systems administrator vs security administrator salary

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

	Information Systems Administrator	Security Administrator
Average salary	$79,194	$79,564
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $104,000	Between $54,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	Pleasanton, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Cadence Design Systems	Gap Inc.
Best paying industry	Finance	Government

Differences between information systems administrator and security administrator education

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

	Information Systems Administrator	Security Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	California State University - Bakersfield

Information systems administrator vs security administrator demographics

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

	Information Systems Administrator	Security Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7%	Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between information systems administrator and 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.

Security administrator example responsibilities.

Manage updates and creation of intranet file.
Create, manage, and maintain corporate LAN.
Manage and monitor various tools and reporting tools relating to security and encryption.
Manage all network objects: computers, users, TCP/IP resources, printers, copier.
Manage staff to implement JCL procedure modifications.
Utilize PowerShell scripts to automate system administrative tasks.

Information systems administrator vs security administrator skills

Common information systems administrator skills

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

Common security administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Security Procedures, 6%
Data Entry, 5%
Security Policies, 5%
SCI, 5%

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Information Systems Administrator vs Security Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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