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Intelligence research specialist vs geospatial analyst

The differences between intelligence research specialists and geospatial analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an intelligence research specialist and a geospatial analyst. Additionally, an intelligence research specialist has an average salary of $102,643, which is higher than the $62,823 average annual salary of a geospatial analyst.

The top three skills for an intelligence research specialist include artificial intelligence, intelligence community and national security. The most important skills for a geospatial analyst are geospatial data, geospatial analysis, and remote sensing.

Intelligence research specialist vs geospatial analyst overview

Intelligence Research SpecialistGeospatial Analyst
Yearly salary$102,643$62,823
Hourly rate$49.35$30.20
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs58,8511,496
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does an intelligence research specialist do?

Intelligence research specialists are professionals who work in government agencies and large companies to monitor and assess the transfer of inappropriate communication. These specialists must produce high-quality field intelligence reports and distribute information to the appropriate law enforcement, regulatory, and intelligence community. They must disseminate warnings and threat analysis to the organization's executive and senior management on actionable intelligence contingencies. Intelligence research specialists must also maintain a database for research and exploitation as well as perform maintenance on their hardware and software applications.

What does a geospatial analyst do?

A geospatial analyst specializes in analyzing aerial imagery to develop geographic data that provides essential information about a ground or land's condition. They can find employment in different fields and industries such as agriculture, urban planning, mining, and even military intelligence. Although the extent of their duties varies upon their organization of employment, they typically involve creating maps and reports that highlight essential information, identifying geographical elements and structures, and providing recommendations to solve different issues and concerns.

Intelligence research specialist vs geospatial analyst salary

Intelligence research specialists and geospatial analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Intelligence Research SpecialistGeospatial Analyst
Average salary$102,643$62,823
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $153,000Between $48,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAAnnapolis, MD
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyMetaGap Inc.
Best paying industryGovernmentProfessional

Differences between intelligence research specialist and geospatial analyst education

There are a few differences between an intelligence research specialist and a geospatial analyst in terms of educational background:

Intelligence Research SpecialistGeospatial Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeGeography
Most common collegeThe CitadelUniversity of Southern California

Intelligence research specialist vs geospatial analyst demographics

Here are the differences between intelligence research specialists' and geospatial analysts' demographics:

Intelligence Research SpecialistGeospatial Analyst
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 64.2% Female, 35.8%Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 2.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 2.9% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between intelligence research specialist and geospatial analyst duties and responsibilities

Intelligence research specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead Intel support for SOF, Taskforce and OGA sensitive mission operations.
  • Manage accounting, control, handling, storage, and destruction of COMSEC items.
  • Provide peer support for Linux and desktop support as needed.
  • Recognize subject matter expert (SME) regarding use of MWD to counter IED threat.
  • Review and revise DTP's associate with work orders and assist in updating to BKM's.
  • Contribute to the development and targeting of several smuggling networks and personalities within the USCENTCOM area of operations (AOR).
  • Show more

Geospatial analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage and analyze large amounts of LiDAR data for design and construction of transmission lines and substations.
  • Implement and run python scripts and SQL queries to automate complex GIS processes and to extract specific information from data sets.
  • Consider expert level user in ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 and 10.0 and all ESRI desktop extensions.
  • Provide on-going reach back capability to NGA headquarters and the intelligence community (IC) at large.
  • Develop, manipulate, and maintain NGA digital databases over regional areas of interest using ArcGIS and ArcSDE.
  • Maintain data standards to support IC, IA, and SOF.
  • Show more

Intelligence research specialist vs geospatial analyst skills

Common intelligence research specialist skills
  • Artificial Intelligence, 12%
  • Intelligence Community, 7%
  • National Security, 7%
  • DHS, 7%
  • Federal Agencies, 6%
  • Source Intelligence, 6%
Common geospatial analyst skills
  • Geospatial Data, 9%
  • Geospatial Analysis, 9%
  • Remote Sensing, 6%
  • Visualization, 5%
  • Python, 5%
  • Extraction, 5%

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