Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between intelligence specialists and imagery 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 specialist and an imagery analyst. Additionally, an intelligence specialist has an average salary of $78,453, which is higher than the $60,703 average annual salary of an imagery analyst.
The top three skills for an intelligence specialist include DOD, security clearance and TS/SCI. The most important skills for an imagery analyst are geospatial data, geospatial intelligence, and imagery exploitation.
| Intelligence Specialist | Imagery Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $78,453 | $60,703 |
| Hourly rate | $37.72 | $29.18 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 10,759 | 4,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An intelligence specialist is responsible for collecting and validating information for different operational functions to ensure its authenticity and accuracy before dissemination to the public and officials. Intelligence specialists analyze intelligence information and provide strategic recommendations to improve data gathering processes and distribution. They also maintain the security of reports on the database, working with technology professionals to develop security solutions to prevent unauthorized access and detail leaks until further notice of publicizing the information.
An imagery analyst is responsible for interpreting information by analyzing photographs and images to provide solutions for industrial and community issues. Imagery analysts must have excellent technical skills and the knowledge of computer navigation to utilize various software tools and applications to generate clear results and analysis. They help environmental organizations to identify potential concerns needing immediate resolution by analyzing satellites and other technological equipment. An imagery analyst must have excellent organizational and critical-thinking skills to access images and provide comprehensive evidence and research to support claims.
Intelligence specialists and imagery analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Intelligence Specialist | Imagery Analyst | |
| Average salary | $78,453 | $60,703 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $111,000 | Between $42,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Apple | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between an intelligence specialist and an imagery analyst in terms of educational background:
| Intelligence Specialist | Imagery Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Intelligence Operations |
| Most common college | York College of Pennsylvania | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between intelligence specialists' and imagery analysts' demographics:
| Intelligence Specialist | Imagery Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 73.4% Female, 26.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 2.9% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |