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What is a security management specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Security management specialists are the guard dogs of organizations. Unlike other security personnel, they are more reliant on technology. They monitor information taken from security cameras, business documentation, and other digital instruments. Once they identify a possible security breach, they lead the case against the suspect, handling legal prosecution and processing the appropriate paperwork.

Security management specialists don't need to have a college education. A high school diploma or GED is enough to get you through the door, although degrees in criminal justice, business, and computer science do tend to give you an edge. Still, prior experience in administration or information technology gives you a more significant advantage in the job market.

A security management specialist in the United States earns an average yearly salary of roughly about $63,000. That's more or less $30 an hour. Suppose you want to cash in a bigger paycheck as a security management specialist. In that case, you might want to look for employers that offer more competitive salaries like COLSA and Union Bank that pay $70,000 or more to their security management specialists on average.

ScoreSecurity Management SpecialistUS Average
Salary
6.6

Avg. Salary $84,361

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.5

Growth rate 32%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 26.73%

male 73.27%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a security management specialist

  1. Explore security management specialist education requirements

    Most common security management specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    44.0 %

    Associate

    22.4 %

    High School Diploma

    14.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific security management specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Infrastructure17.15%
    Azure10.66%
    Linux9.11%
    Database7.65%
    Security Management6.35%
  3. Complete relevant security management specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New security management specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a security management specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real security management specialist resumes.
  4. Research security management specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all reporting and document control, responsible for all communications security (COMSEC) administrative activities and associate security requirements.
    • Experience in JPAS and e-Quip.
    • Install database software, configure and create databases.
    • Brief all clear employees as required by DoD.
  5. Apply for security management specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a security management specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first security management specialist job

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Average security management specialist salary

The average security management specialist salary in the United States is $84,361 per year or $41 per hour. Security management specialist salaries range between $53,000 and $131,000 per year.

Average security management specialist salary
$84,361 Yearly
$40.56 hourly

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How do security management specialists rate their job?

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Security management specialist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

Peace and freedom...I'm well suited for this job.

Cons

This job will take most of my time.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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