Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Operational security specialist salary
Average operational security specialist salary
$42,159
Understanding the Operational Security Specialist Salary
As an Operational Security Specialist, your expertise plays a critical role in protecting organizational assets. The average salary stands at $42,159 per year, translating to approximately $20 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry demands. For instance, specialists in urban areas may see higher compensation due to the cost of living.
Salary Breakdown by State
Exploring salaries by state reveals significant variations. For example, states with a high demand for security professionals, such as California and New York, typically offer higher wages. Additionally, specialists with advanced certifications or extensive experience can command higher salaries, further increasing their earning potential.
Job Growth and Opportunities
Job prospects for Operational Security Specialists are robust, driven by the increasing emphasis on cybersecurity and risk management. As organizations prioritize security, the demand for skilled professionals continues to rise. Therefore, pursuing a career in this field presents promising opportunities for growth and advancement.
Let Zippi find your next operational security specialist job
Let Zippi find your next operational security specialist job
Where can an Operational Security Specialist earn more?
Operational security specialist salaries by experience level
Average operational security specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for operational security specialists are Alaska, Massachusetts, and North Dakota. The lowest average operational security specialist salary states are Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for operational security specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $53,799 | $25.86 |
| 2 | Nevada | $41,438 | $19.92 |
| 3 | New York | $45,155 | $21.71 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $53,340 | $25.64 |
| 6 | Washington | $44,971 | $21.62 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $56,526 | $27.18 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $40,582 | $19.51 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $39,621 | $19.05 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $41,199 | $19.81 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $40,997 | $19.71 |
| 12 | California | $45,669 | $21.96 |
| 13 | Oregon | $42,939 | $20.64 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $44,334 | $21.31 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $44,655 | $21.47 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $38,949 | $18.73 |
| 17 | Utah | $40,203 | $19.33 |
| 18 | Missouri | $39,408 | $18.95 |
| 19 | Arizona | $38,053 | $18.29 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $40,534 | $19.49 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $37,965 | $18.25 |
| 22 | Vermont | $40,283 | $19.37 |
| 23 | Maine | $41,376 | $19.89 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $42,663 | $20.51 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $38,646 | $18.58 |
| 26 | Delaware | $37,916 | $18.23 |
| 27 | Texas | $36,528 | $17.56 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $35,386 | $17.01 |
| 29 | Illinois | $35,765 | $17.19 |
| 30 | Maryland | $42,605 | $20.48 |
| 31 | Kansas | $36,837 | $17.71 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $37,035 | $17.81 |
| 33 | Virginia | $38,672 | $18.59 |
| 34 | Indiana | $35,057 | $16.85 |
| 35 | Ohio | $34,327 | $16.50 |
| 36 | Michigan | $35,952 | $17.28 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $35,044 | $16.85 |
| 38 | Iowa | $33,095 | $15.91 |
| 39 | Colorado | $37,584 | $18.07 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $33,928 | $16.31 |
| 41 | Alabama | $31,874 | $15.32 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $31,945 | $15.36 |
| 43 | Montana | $33,245 | $15.98 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,021 | $15.88 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $29,229 | $14.05 |
| 46 | Florida | $31,466 | $15.13 |
| 47 | Idaho | $33,858 | $16.28 |
| 48 | Georgia | $31,382 | $15.09 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $32,739 | $15.74 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $33,413 | $16.06 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $30,427 | $14.63 |
Highest paying cities for operational security specialists
The highest-paying cities for operational security specialists are Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $53,227 | $25.59 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $45,272 | $21.77 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $45,143 | $21.70 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $41,182 | $19.80 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $40,814 | $19.62 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $40,465 | $19.45 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,363 | $18.92 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,125 | $18.33 |
| 12 | Boulder, CO | $37,602 | $18.08 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $37,201 | $17.89 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $35,101 | $16.88 |
| 15 | Grove City, OH | $33,642 | $16.17 |
| 16 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $33,193 | $15.96 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $31,747 | $15.26 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $31,417 | $15.10 |
Operational security specialist salary details
An operational security specialist's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an operational security specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| Average | $42,159 | $3,513 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying operational security specialist jobs
The highest paying types of operational security specialists are non-commissioned officer, protection specialist, and specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officer | $52,506 | $4,376 | $25.24 | 114,267 |
| Non-Commissioned Officer | $104,839 | $8,737 | $50.40 | 69,414 |
| Petty Officer | $39,336 | $3,278 | $18.91 | 69,776 |
| Security | $31,836 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 150,586 |
| Security Officer | $31,101 | $2,592 | $14.95 | 125,879 |
| Security/Customer Service | $32,115 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 224,564 |
Top companies hiring operational security specialists now:
Which companies pay operational security specialists the most?
Operational security specialist salaries at U.S. Bank and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average operational security specialist salary at companies like Novartis and Westinghouse Appliances Australia are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank | $96,812 | $46.54 |
| 2 | $95,559 | $45.94 | |
| 3 | Novartis | $94,978 | $45.66 |
| 4 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $93,352 | $44.88 |
| 5 | City National Bank | $93,190 | $44.80 |
| 6 | Goldman Sachs | $91,486 | $43.98 |
| 7 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $89,974 | $43.26 |
| 8 | Bank of America | $89,736 | $43.14 |
| 9 | Control Risks | $78,503 | $37.74 |
| 10 | Ensono | $78,413 | $37.70 |
| 11 | MITRE | $78,194 | $37.59 |
| 12 | Xcel Energy | $72,285 | $34.75 |
| 13 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $72,165 | $34.69 |
| 14 | The PNC Financial Services Group | $67,015 | $32.22 |
| 15 | Zensar Technologies | $66,353 | $31.90 |
| 16 | CACI International | $66,022 | $31.74 |
| 17 | Johnson Controls | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| 18 | Credit Suisse | $58,151 | $27.96 |
| 19 | Prudential Bank | $57,196 | $27.50 |
| 20 | Charles Schwab | $55,719 | $26.79 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Operational security specialist salary trends
The average operational security specialist salary has risen by $9,708 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average operational security specialist earned $32,451 annually, but today, they earn $42,159 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for operational security specialists over the last decade.
Compare operational security specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average operational security specialist salary over time
Compare operational security specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Operational security specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,200 | $20.27 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $40,300 | $19.37 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $38,700 | $18.60 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | $36,500 | $17.56 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $35,000 | $16.82 | +4.4% |
Recently added operational security specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface Security Systems | Security Operations Operator (5Pm-9Pm) | Plano, TX | 06/29/2025 | $36,523 |
| Baptisthlth | Gsoc Operator, Security-Monitoring, 6A-6P | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $35,521 |
| Security Director In San Diego, California | Armed Security Operative | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Allied Universal | Security Professional-SOC Operator | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $48,001 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Gsoc Operator | Rapid City, SD | 06/27/2025 | $39,695 |
| Allied Universal | Security Operations Center Operator | Graniteville, SC | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Allied Universal Security | Armed Security Operative | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $83,480 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Cleared Gsoc Operator | Cambridge, MA | 06/25/2025 | $52,488 |
| Allied Universal Security | Security Operations Operator | Clarksville, TN | 06/25/2025 | $49,045 |
| City National Corporation | Invst Operations Securities Specialist | Newark, DE | 06/25/2025 | $50,088 |
Operational security specialist salary FAQs
Search for operational security specialist jobs