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The differences between personnel security specialists and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a personnel security specialist, becoming a specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a personnel security specialist has an average salary of $78,967, which is higher than the $58,013 average annual salary of a specialist.
The top three skills for a personnel security specialist include SCI, JPAS and E-QIP. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $78,967 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $37.96 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 52,507 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
Personnel security specialists and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personnel Security Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $78,967 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $124,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Palantir | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a personnel security specialist and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between personnel security specialists' and specialists' demographics:
| Personnel Security Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 11% |