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The differences between security specialists and facility security 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 $38,701 average annual salary of a facility security officer.
The top three skills for a security specialist include ladders, security incidents and physical security. The most important skills for a facility security officer are security program, JPAS, and patrol.
| Security Specialist | Facility Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $49,892 | $38,701 |
| Hourly rate | $23.99 | $18.61 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 96,226 | 124,890 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Facility security officers supervise daily security activities, enforce control, and ensure company security policies are strictly followed. They are responsible for creating a secure working environment for employees, vendors, and company visitors. They manage and monitor daily activities concerning entry and exit, video security, and other devices related to security. They also manage employee access to restricted and protected areas, review closed-circuit recordings, coordinate with management on certain security protocols and legal requirements.
Security specialists and facility security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Specialist | Facility Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $49,892 | $38,701 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $98,000 | Between $28,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Okta | SMTC |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a security specialist and a facility security officer in terms of educational background:
| Security Specialist | Facility Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security specialists' and facility security officers' demographics:
| Security Specialist | Facility Security Officer | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.0% Female, 26.0% | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 16.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |