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The differences between operational security specialists and lead security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lead security officer has an average salary of $43,560, which is higher than the $42,159 average annual salary of an operational security specialist.
The top three skills for an operational security specialist include customer service, security operations and patrol. The most important skills for a lead security officer are patrol, security procedures, and emergency situations.
| Operational Security Specialist | Lead Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $42,159 | $43,560 |
| Hourly rate | $20.27 | $20.94 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 87,810 | 114,945 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An operational security specialist performs administrative and clerical duties. You will be responsible for creating, implementing, and managing a security awareness program to address security issues. Other duties include providing support on security clearance and management, ensuring that test participants and visitors have security clearance integrity, and providing recommendations on critical security policy decisions. In addition, an operational security specialist is responsible for analyzing vulnerabilities and threats to the system and operational environments and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and security procedures.
A lead security officer manages the members of a security team assigned to a certain shift. Lead security officers plan, organize, direct, and schedule work. They train personnel and recommend applicants for corrective action and training opportunities. It is their job to verify identification upon entry to a facility. They see to it that a secure environment for events is well-maintained. Also, they develop an execution plan and cloud strategy for the technology advisory board.
Operational security specialists and lead security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operational Security Specialist | Lead Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $42,159 | $43,560 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $65,000 | Between $24,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Virginia |
| Best paying company | U.S. Bank | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an operational security specialist and a lead security officer in terms of educational background:
| Operational Security Specialist | Lead Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between operational security specialists' and lead security officers' demographics:
| Operational Security Specialist | Lead Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 76.2% Female, 23.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 5.5% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |