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Security specialist vs community services officer

The differences between security specialists and community services officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a security specialist has an average salary of $49,892, which is higher than the $38,039 average annual salary of a community services officer.

The top three skills for a security specialist include ladders, security incidents and physical security. The most important skills for a community services officer are patrol, public safety, and traffic control.

Security specialist vs community services officer overview

Security SpecialistCommunity Services Officer
Yearly salary$49,892$38,039
Hourly rate$23.99$18.29
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs96,226181,257
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4340
Years of experience--

What does a security specialist do?

A security specialist is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's database, ensuring that it's free from cyber threats and unusual activities. Security specialists' duties include upgrading hardware and software applications, configuring networks to improve optimization, addressing any unauthorized access on the database, troubleshooting system discrepancies, conducting security audits on the system, and improving automated processes. A security specialist must have a strong command of programming languages and system codes, as well as broad experience with technical expertise.

What does a community services officer do?

Community service offers or CSO support in crime response, investigation, and prevention where police powers are not necessary. The community service officers assist the police officers in terms of upholding order and law in the community. They provide citizens with customer service, community outreach, and patrol. It is their job to implement city codes and other non-criminal police associated duties. They provide non-EMS in-home and on-site assistance to the citizens. Also, they respond to non-criminal complaints, building checks, and more.

Security specialist vs community services officer salary

Security specialists and community services officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Security SpecialistCommunity Services Officer
Average salary$49,892$38,039
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $98,000Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkWashington
Best paying companyOktaCity of Los Angeles
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between security specialist and community services officer education

There are a few differences between a security specialist and a community services officer in terms of educational background:

Security SpecialistCommunity Services Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Most common college-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Security specialist vs community services officer demographics

Here are the differences between security specialists' and community services officers' demographics:

Security SpecialistCommunity Services Officer
Average age4340
Gender ratioMale, 74.0% Female, 26.0%Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 5.8% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 2.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between security specialist and community services officer duties and responsibilities

Security specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage firewalls in multiple locations and enclaves.
  • Manage the application for the FCL, maintain e-FCL and track clearance progress; provide CEO reports for require clearance actions.
  • Formulate security strategies in compliance with corporate and government regulations including NISPOM, DCID and ICD.
  • Provide guidance and direction to unclear personnel base on NSA security regulations.
  • Process personnel and vehicles utilizing x-ray machines, magnetometers, and administrative search techniques when necessary.
  • Follow regulations set by the NISPOM, JAFAN and ICD's.
  • Show more

Community services officer example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage firearms training programs, including weapons selection and qualification standards.
  • Monitor alarms & CCTV, patrol campus, secure buildings, dorms and offer safety escorts to students & faculty.
  • Apply first aid and CPR.
  • Monitor and control CCTV's.
  • Assist law enforcement officers in looking up information on the NCIC.
  • Train in first aid and defensive driving, certify in CPR and EAD.
  • Show more

Security specialist vs community services officer skills

Common security specialist skills
  • Ladders, 15%
  • Security Incidents, 12%
  • Physical Security, 8%
  • Patrol, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Security Clearance, 4%
Common community services officer skills
  • Patrol, 18%
  • Public Safety, 14%
  • Traffic Control, 10%
  • Parking Enforcement, 4%
  • Criminal Justice, 4%
  • Animal Control, 4%

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