Security administrator vs information technology administrator

The differences between security administrators and information technology administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a security administrator and an information technology administrator. Additionally, a security administrator has an average salary of $79,564, which is higher than the $73,195 average annual salary of an information technology administrator.

The top three skills for a security administrator include customer service, troubleshoot and security procedures. The most important skills for an information technology administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and linux.

Security administrator vs information technology administrator overview

	Security Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Yearly salary	$79,564	$73,195
Hourly rate	$38.25	$35.19
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	99,222	159,499
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a security administrator do?

A security administrator is in charge of establishing and enforcing security measures over a company's information systems and networks. Their duties typically revolve around installing and maintaining security networks, analyzing existing systems to identify areas needing improvement, conducting regular maintenance checks and upgrades to optimize services and functions, and monitoring overall systems for any suspicious activities or breaches. Furthermore, as a security administrator, it is essential to develop information technology solutions in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

What does an information technology administrator do?

An Information Technology (IT) administrator is an individual responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed. They are required to assess the organization's security programs and run the system for viruses and spyware. IT administrators also extend support to the organization's end-users and train them on desktop applications.

Security administrator vs information technology administrator salary

Security administrators and information technology administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Security Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Average salary	$79,564	$73,195
Salary range	Between $54,000 And $115,000	Between $50,000 And $105,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Gap Inc.	Databricks
Best paying industry	Government	Finance

Differences between security administrator and information technology administrator education

There are a few differences between a security administrator and an information technology administrator in terms of educational background:

	Security Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	Stanford University

Security administrator vs information technology administrator demographics

Here are the differences between security administrators' and information technology administrators' demographics:

	Security Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%	Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between security administrator and information technology administrator duties and responsibilities

Security administrator example responsibilities.

Manage updates and creation of intranet file.
Create, manage, and maintain corporate LAN.
Manage and monitor various tools and reporting tools relating to security and encryption.
Manage all network objects: computers, users, TCP/IP resources, printers, copier.
Manage staff to implement JCL procedure modifications.
Utilize PowerShell scripts to automate system administrative tasks.

Information technology administrator example responsibilities.

Define, document and project manage the implementation and configuration changes to HRIS applications.
Manage the migration from ADP to Lawson software; adapt HRIS to fit organizational needs.
Manage PC trainers and develop high quality internal instructor-le courses.
Manage host peripheral hardware including disk files and space utilization.
Manage and maintain corporate telecommunications and LAN; recommend repairs as needed.
Manage administration for SharePoint websites including account creation or modifying existing user accounts and site settings.

Security administrator vs information technology administrator skills

Common security administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Security Procedures, 6%
Data Entry, 5%
Security Policies, 5%
SCI, 5%

Common information technology administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Linux, 5%
Database, 4%
VMware, 4%
Windows Server, 4%

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Security Administrator vs Information Technology Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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