How to hire a securities research analyst

How to hire a securities research analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step securities research analyst hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a securities research analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new securities research analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a securities research analyst do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a securities research analyst, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A securities research analyst's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, securities research analysts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of securities research analysts and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Securities Research Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Securities Research Analyst	Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.	$38-72
   Information Assurance Engineer	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... Show more	$32-56
   Information Systems Security Officer	An information systems security officer's role is to perform preventive measures to protect a company's data and systems from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the existing security measures to identify any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies, recommending and implementing changes to improve security systems, and developing new strategies and programs for data protection... Show more	$32-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Windows
   • Security Research
   • Java
   • Linux
   • National Security
   • IP
   • Security Issues
   • Security Threats
   • Application Security
   • Cryptography
   • Security Industry
   • Data Analysis
   • Government Agencies

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage multiple firewalls; including development of access control lists, firewall monitoring, configuration and maintenance.
   • Host panel discussions involving DOD officials and defense industry experts.
   • Administer and monitor all backend systems, SQL databases and tools.
   • Integrate encryption technologies into J2EE development environment.
   • Design a security administration solution for processing user ids for HPUX platforms.
   • Assist senior engineers with firewall configurations, conducting vulnerability assessments, and assisting customers with troubleshooting efforts.

   More securities research analyst duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the securities research analyst job description is a good way to get more applicants. A securities research analyst salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a securities research analyst in Missouri may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level securities research analyst. Additionally, a securities research analyst with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average securities research analyst salary

   $110,797yearly

   $53.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level securities research analyst salary

   $80,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average securities research analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$136,819	$66
   2	Washington	$134,493	$65
   3	Utah	$121,908	$59
   4	Maryland	$120,596	$58
   5	Oregon	$112,365	$54
   6	New York	$111,028	$53
   7	North Carolina	$108,714	$52
   8	Florida	$108,479	$52
   9	Ohio	$104,714	$50
   10	Arizona	$104,227	$50
   11	Idaho	$101,339	$49
   12	Texas	$99,731	$48
   13	Massachusetts	$99,660	$48
   14	Pennsylvania	$99,153	$48
   15	District of Columbia	$98,418	$47
   16	Virginia	$97,227	$47
   17	Indiana	$96,830	$47
   18	Georgia	$96,772	$47
   19	Illinois	$90,928	$44
   20	Colorado	$89,454	$43

   Average securities research analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$149,551	$71.90	107
   2	Didi Chuxing	$139,692	$67.16
   3	NVIDIA	$138,010	$66.35	42
   4	Amazon	$134,115	$64.48	143
   5	Palo Alto Networks	$133,391	$64.13	17
   6	New Relic	$133,387	$64.13
   7	Microsoft	$132,268	$63.59	231
   8	Zscaler	$128,289	$61.68	4
   9	Cisco	$128,031	$61.55	10
   10	Salesforce	$126,142	$60.65	43
   11	ServiceNow	$125,282	$60.23	7
   12	Splunk	$123,710	$59.48
   13	Adobe	$123,575	$59.41	26
   14	F5	$122,268	$58.78	8
   15	Proofpoint	$120,963	$58.16	83
   16	M.I.T. International, Inc.	$119,965	$57.68	6
   17	Sandia National Labs	$116,141	$55.84	85
   18	Software.com	$114,810	$55.20	25
   19	Activision Blizzard	$114,443	$55.02	2
   20	Qualys	$114,433	$55.02

4. Writing a securities research analyst job description

   A good securities research analyst job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a securities research analyst job description:

   Securities research analyst job description example

   STR is hiring a Cyber Security Researcher to be part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and engineers dedicated to developing cutting-edge technology with significant and immediate impact on our national security. This role offers an excellent opportunity to work at the nexus of software and real-world physical systems.
   
   The ideal Cyber Security Researcher will be motivated to work with a team developing technical solutions in a rapid-prototyping and results-driven environment while also looking to perform their own research and discover novel methods of accomplishing and automating cyber-related analysis tasks. Possible activities include emulating complex software in virtual environments, automating the discovery and extraction of code paths through firmware, and finding ways to automate the reverse engineering of systems. Researchers will be encouraged to identify reverse-engineering bottlenecks and develop their own solution to overcome them. The tools and techniques we develop and deliver are expected to meet high standards of craftsmanship, maintainability, and reuse. Therefore, experience with sound software engineering principles is valuable.
   Duties will include:
   
   Proposing new and novel methods for performing rapid binary analysis and emulation for unique cyber-physical software
   
   Developing and own a set of reverse engineering and vulnerability research tools from ideation to deployment
   
   Collaborating with reverse engineers and vulnerability researchers to incorporate feedback into developed tools
   
   Participating in laboratory tests to collect and analyze real-world data for model verification and validation
   
   Communicating the novelty and technical foundations of capabilities through reports and presentations to other employees and our customers
   
   Required Skills:
   
   Ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance
   
   BS, MS, or PhD in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
   
   Proficient in one or more high-level languages (C/C++ and/or Python), as well as their standard libraries
   
   Experience with one or more software build and debug tools (GCC, Clang, GDB, CMake, Make, Visual Studio)
   
   Have a general understanding of one of more low-level assembly languages (x86, ARM, MIPS)
   
   Desired Skills:
   
   Familiarity with the concepts of reverse engineering, binary emulation, and vulnerability research, including tools such as Ghidra, QEMU, and AFL++.
   
   All STR employees may be subject to COVID-19 vaccination requirement in response to Executive Order 14042 and accompanying Task Force Guidance, unless a medical or religious accommodation is formally approved by STR.
   
   STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.
   
   STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.
   
   STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at for more info.
   
   STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   
   If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at and provide your contact info.
   
   Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right securities research analyst for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your securities research analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit securities research analyst candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with securities research analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview securities research analyst candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new securities research analyst

   Once you've found the securities research analyst candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new securities research analyst. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a securities research analyst?