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The differences between security management specialists and security directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a security management specialist, becoming a security director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a security director has an average salary of $114,844, which is higher than the $84,361 average annual salary of a security management specialist.
The top three skills for a security management specialist include infrastructure, azure and linux. The most important skills for a security director are oversight, security operations, and customer service.
| Security Management Specialist | Security Director | |
| Yearly salary | $84,361 | $114,844 |
| Hourly rate | $40.56 | $55.21 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 116,343 | 51,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Security management specialists perform security assessments for organizations. These specialists may work in fields like banking, security engineering, and health care. Their tasks are to monitor tapes to identify the sources of losses, prepare documentation for case reports, and schedule security design work. They may interview witnesses to identify the person responsible for security breaches and pursue prosecutions. Also, they are tasked to train personnel in security procedures, respond to emergencies, and recommend an improvement for security procedures.
A security director is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's assets, as well as the welfare of employees within the company's premises. Security directors enforce security protocols and policies and conducting training and programs to employees for safety and emergency drills. They also investigate suspicious activities in the organization by checking surveillance equipment and coordinating with law enforcement personnel. They review incident reports, develop security process improvements, and handle budgets and allocate resources for security operations.
Security management specialists and security directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Management Specialist | Security Director | |
| Average salary | $84,361 | $114,844 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $131,000 | Between $73,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Booz Allen Hamilton | Conning |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a security management specialist and a security director in terms of educational background:
| Security Management Specialist | Security Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between security management specialists' and security directors' demographics:
| Security Management Specialist | Security Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 7.9% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |