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The differences between operational security specialists and officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an officer has an average salary of $52,506, 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 an officer are patrol, customer service, and public safety.
| Operational Security Specialist | Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $42,159 | $52,506 |
| Hourly rate | $20.27 | $25.24 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 87,810 | 114,267 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| 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.
An officer is responsible for managing the daily operations of the assigned area, ensuring its peace and security by monitoring and reporting unusual and suspicious activities. Officers are the ones enforcing strict safety protocols and procedures to maintain the order within the premises. They also coordinate with law enforcement agencies in conducting appropriate investigations for any violating cases. An officer must be highly-knowledgeable of the law policies, as well as possessing excellent leadership skills to manage the members under the officer's patrol.
Operational security specialists and officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operational Security Specialist | Officer | |
| Average salary | $42,159 | $52,506 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $65,000 | Between $26,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | U.S. Bank | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an operational security specialist and an officer in terms of educational background:
| Operational Security Specialist | Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between operational security specialists' and officers' demographics:
| Operational Security Specialist | Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% |
| 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, 15.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |