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The differences between information systems security officers and security administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an information systems security officer, becoming a security administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an information systems security officer has an average salary of $90,730, which is higher than the $79,564 average annual salary of a security administrator.
The top three skills for an information systems security officer include RMF, DOD and ISSO. The most important skills for a security administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and security procedures.
| Information Systems Security Officer | Security Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $90,730 | $79,564 |
| Hourly rate | $43.62 | $38.25 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 202,299 | 99,222 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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 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 security officers and security administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Systems Security Officer | Security Administrator | |
| Average salary | $90,730 | $79,564 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $120,000 | Between $54,000 And $115,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palmdale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Parsons | Gap Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between an information systems security officer and a security administrator in terms of educational background:
| Information Systems Security Officer | Security Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Computer Information Systems | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between information systems security officers' and security administrators' demographics:
| Information Systems Security Officer | Security Administrator | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7% | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% |
| 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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |