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The differences between personnel security specialists and information assurance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a personnel security specialist and an information assurance engineer. Additionally, an information assurance engineer has an average salary of $89,291, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for a personnel security specialist include SCI, JPAS and E-QIP. The most important skills for an information assurance engineer are RMF, DOD, and IAM.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Information Assurance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,967 | $89,291 |
| Hourly rate | $37.96 | $42.93 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 52,507 | 104,421 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A personnel security specialist is responsible for conducting background checks and collecting requirements for security clearance. Personnel security specialists write background check reports, coordinate with other institutions for further investigations, and determining the eligibility of candidates for clearance. They must have excellent communication and researching skills to identify and gather data suitable for employment purposes. A personnel security specialist verifies and processes information according to security procedures and protocols, providing accurate information and managing data disputes.
Information assurance engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's data. They act as a team of security specialists that use their skill in securely operating and keeping data to protect the organization's most essential asset. Their main role is to guarantee the quality, security, and retrievability of the organization's information. Also, they outline security systems that make certain the integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of data. Additionally, they secure IT infrastructure, maintain hardware and software updated, establish security standards, and monitor threats like breaches.
Personnel security specialists and information assurance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Information Assurance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $78,967 | $89,291 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $124,000 | Between $67,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Palantir | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a personnel security specialist and an information assurance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Information Assurance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Information Technology |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | - |
Here are the differences between personnel security specialists' and information assurance engineers' demographics:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Information Assurance Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4% |
| 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% |