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The differences between information systems 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 systems security officer and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, an information systems security officer has an average salary of $90,730, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for an information systems security officer include RMF, DOD and ISSO. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Information Systems Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $90,730 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $43.62 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 202,299 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An information systems security officer's role is to perform preventive measures to protect a company's data and systems from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the existing security measures to identify any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies, recommending and implementing changes to improve security systems, and developing new strategies and programs for data protection. There are also instances when an information systems security officer must manage and maintain information in databases, train new employees, and create new security policies, all while adhering to the company's vision and mission.
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 systems security officers and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Systems Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $90,730 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $120,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palmdale, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between an information systems security officer and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Information Systems Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Computer Information Systems | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between information systems security officers' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Information Systems Security Officer | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7% | 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% |