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The differences between network security specialists and information 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 specialist and an information security analyst. Additionally, an information security analyst has an average salary of $98,144, which is higher than the $82,206 average annual salary of a network security specialist.
The top three skills for a network security specialist include network security, incident response and IDS. The most important skills for an information security analyst are incident response, risk assessments, and windows.
| Network Security Specialist | Information Security Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $82,206 | $98,144 |
| Hourly rate | $39.52 | $47.18 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 82,646 | 112,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Network Security Specialist is a person who oversees computer networks to find security threats or unauthorized users. Their responsibilities include: identifying compromised machines, creating briefs of security measures taken, identifying possible security risks, determining the proper procedure to address the risks, assessing software that security aid, and researching security devices to get proper information on installation, audit-related information, and disaster recovery plans.
An information security analyst is an individual who is responsible for carrying out security measures to protect the computer network and systems of an organization. Information security analysts erect firewalls and encrypt data transmissions to protect the organization's data from being inappropriately accessed or used. They must be aware of reports on computer viruses and should share this information with the management or customer. Information security analysts are also required to conduct training for all the organization's employees regarding computer security and information safeguarding.
Network security specialists and information security analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Network Security Specialist | Information Security Analyst | |
| Average salary | $82,206 | $98,144 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $112,000 | Between $71,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | The Walt Disney Company |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a network security specialist and an information security analyst in terms of educational background:
| Network Security Specialist | Information Security Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between network security specialists' and information security analysts' demographics:
| Network Security Specialist | Information Security Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% |
| 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% |