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The differences between personnel security specialists and senior security 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 a senior security engineer. Additionally, a senior security engineer has an average salary of $122,480, 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 a senior security engineer are cloud security, java, and linux.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Senior Security Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,967 | $122,480 |
| Hourly rate | $37.96 | $58.88 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 52,507 | 69,850 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
A senior security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's systems and network database to prevent unauthorized access and avoid data breaches. Senior security engineers inspect the efficiency of networks, perform system configuration, and increase the optimal performance of complex systems. They also implement policies and procedures for compliance with the proper utilization of information directories. They also conduct regular maintenance of networks, create update reports, and resolve glitches and security threats.
Personnel security specialists and senior security engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Senior Security Engineer | |
| Average salary | $78,967 | $122,480 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $124,000 | Between $90,000 And $164,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Palantir | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a personnel security specialist and a senior security engineer in terms of educational background:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Senior Security Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Computer Science |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between personnel security specialists' and senior security engineers' demographics:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Senior Security Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| 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% |