Network security analyst vs senior security analyst

The differences between network security analysts and senior security analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a network security analyst and a senior security analyst. Additionally, a senior security analyst has an average salary of $103,571, which is higher than the $81,623 average annual salary of a network security analyst.

The top three skills for a network security analyst include network security, windows and incident response. The most important skills for a senior security analyst are NIST, incident response, and cloud security.

Network security analyst vs senior security analyst overview

	Network Security Analyst	Senior Security Analyst
Yearly salary	$81,623	$103,571
Hourly rate	$39.24	$49.79
Growth rate	32%	32%
Number of jobs	82,954	61,108
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

What does a network security analyst do?

Network security analysts are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for designing and implementing security measures to prevent suspicious or hostile activities on the computer and network systems for an organization. These analysts must install firewalls while working with the IT team to protect their systems against malicious attacks. They are required to perform forensic analysis on those malicious activities so that they can determine the source of the threats. Network security analysts must also communicate the state of information security to the stakeholders as well as suggesting ways to improve system security.

What does a senior security analyst do?

A senior security analyst is a digital professional who creates and implements firewalls and software systems to protect data and prevent attacks on private data. Senior security analysts aim to identify weaknesses in a network's security system and prevent breaches from occurring. Within larger organizations, senior security analysts are required to work with professionals who specialize in networking, information technology (IT), and computer system. They must also design security protocols and systems to better protect their customers and user data.

Network security analyst vs senior security analyst salary

Network security analysts and senior security analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Security Analyst	Senior Security Analyst
Average salary	$81,623	$103,571
Salary range	Between $61,000 And $108,000	Between $79,000 And $135,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Bunge	Coinbase
Best paying industry	Professional	Government

Differences between network security analyst and senior security analyst education

There are a few differences between a network security analyst and a senior security analyst in terms of educational background:

	Network Security Analyst	Senior Security Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Network security analyst vs senior security analyst demographics

Here are the differences between network security analysts' and senior security analysts' demographics:

	Network Security Analyst	Senior Security Analyst
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1%	Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5%
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%

Differences between network security analyst and senior security analyst duties and responsibilities

Network security analyst example responsibilities.

Manage endpoint encryption, antivirus/anti-malware host IPS, process documentation, incident management.
Design and manage information systems security policy, implementation, and management for a globally distribute MPLS infrastructure.
Install and provide upkeep for Linux scanning, storage and group-relate web and network management servers.
Create shell scripts to generate list of all files directories ownership companywide on all UNIX and Linux systems.
Assist with NIST 800-171 compliance initiative.
Utilize ArcSight SIEM to create rules, filters and channels.

Senior security analyst example responsibilities.

Supervise and manage information security assets associate with DISA STIGS and HBSS.
Utilize Unix utilities and management packages to analyze and manage traffic flow in the corporate backbone.
Manage GLBA security awareness and training program and annual information security awareness activities.
Introduce dashboards to identify preemptive attacks on corporate perimeter using intrusion detection and web application firewall technologies.
Evaluate DoD security tools; determine compatibility issues with existing network configuration/infrastructure, and present conclusions to management.
Contribute in defining time tables and SIEM project plans.

Network security analyst vs senior security analyst skills

Common network security analyst skills

Network Security, 11%
Windows, 5%
Incident Response, 4%
Switches, 3%
Linux, 3%
Tcp Ip, 3%

Common senior security analyst skills

NIST, 7%
Incident Response, 5%
Cloud Security, 4%
Encryption, 4%
Firewall, 4%
Switches, 4%

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Network Security Analyst vs Senior Security Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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