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The differences between operational security specialists and security guards can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operational security specialist has an average salary of $42,159, which is higher than the $31,983 average annual salary of a security guard.
The top three skills for an operational security specialist include customer service, security operations and patrol. The most important skills for a security guard are customer service, patrol, and ladders.
| Operational Security Specialist | Security Guard | |
| Yearly salary | $42,159 | $31,983 |
| Hourly rate | $20.27 | $15.38 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 87,810 | 101,728 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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.
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Operational security specialists and security guards have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operational Security Specialist | Security Guard | |
| Average salary | $42,159 | $31,983 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $65,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | U.S. Bank | Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
| Best paying industry | - | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an operational security specialist and a security guard in terms of educational background:
| Operational Security Specialist | Security Guard | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between operational security specialists' and security guards' demographics:
| Operational Security Specialist | Security Guard | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 72.0% Female, 28.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |