How to hire a security systems specialist

How to hire a security systems specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step security systems specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a security systems specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new security systems specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a security systems specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a security systems specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A security systems specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, security systems specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents security systems specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Security Systems Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Security Systems Specialist	Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.	$26-57
   Information Assurance Engineer	Information assurance engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's data. They act as a team of security specialists that use their skill in securely operating and keeping data to protect the organization's most essential asset... Show more	$32-56
   Information Security Officer	Information security officers are responsible for planning and implementing policies to safeguard an organization's computer network and data from different types of security breaches. Their duties typically include identifying computer network vulnerabilities, developing and executing a plan to secure and protect the network, and tracking computer network usage to ensure adherence to security policies... Show more	$45-91

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOD
   • Technical Support
   • Project Management
   • Incident Response
   • Security Clearance
   • IDS
   • VPN
   • NIST
   • Troubleshoot
   • National Security
   • Network Security
   • CCTV
   • Control Systems
   • Physical Security

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and maintain SIEM technology/services to automate security monitoring.
   • Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
   • Conduct monthly analysis of vulnerability and threat data from SIEM tool to maintain and enhance the defenses for AFS information systems.
   • Analyze and document findings in accordance with NIST 800-53A vulnerability management guidance.
   • Provide system administration in specialize areas such as software, critical network servers, data access/analysis, and academic research.
   • Provide network LAN/WAN design, implementation, consulting and leadership for data and converge communications infrastructure base largely on Cisco equipment.

   More security systems specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your security systems specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A security systems specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, security systems specialists' average salary in florida is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level security systems specialists 54% less than senior-level security systems specialists.
   • Certifications. A security systems specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a security systems specialist's salary.

   Average security systems specialist salary

   $81,852yearly

   $39.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level security systems specialist salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average security systems specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$118,756	$57
   2	Washington	$101,341	$49
   3	Oregon	$91,862	$44
   4	New York	$91,533	$44
   5	Pennsylvania	$89,148	$43
   6	Illinois	$88,871	$43
   7	District of Columbia	$88,747	$43
   8	Massachusetts	$85,293	$41
   9	Wisconsin	$82,183	$40
   10	Michigan	$78,736	$38
   11	Ohio	$76,302	$37
   12	Arizona	$76,202	$37
   13	Texas	$73,738	$35
   14	Virginia	$73,681	$35
   15	North Carolina	$73,491	$35
   16	Colorado	$73,402	$35
   17	Iowa	$73,308	$35
   18	Maryland	$71,856	$35
   19	Tennessee	$67,981	$33
   20	Arkansas	$67,447	$32

   Average security systems specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$119,765	$57.58	2
   2	Stanford University	$103,488	$49.75	4
   3	Automation & Electronics	$94,697	$45.53
   4	Federal Reserve Bank	$92,185	$44.32	7
   5	Gusto	$91,768	$44.12
   6	Proteus International	$91,456	$43.97
   7	Advanced Electronic Solutions	$91,227	$43.86
   8	B T North America Inc	$91,051	$43.77
   9	LSINC	$90,991	$43.75
   10	Team One Communications	$89,522	$43.04	12
   11	Siemens	$89,162	$42.87	106
   12	United Security	$88,181	$42.39	29
   13	Salient CRGT	$87,307	$41.97
   14	Peraton	$86,354	$41.52	88
   15	n-Link	$86,114	$41.40
   16	Ball	$84,638	$40.69	2
   17	INDUS Technology	$83,659	$40.22	1
   18	Saalex Solutions	$82,934	$39.87	4
   19	Tyco Integrated Security	$82,536	$39.68
   20	MORI Associates	$81,290	$39.08

4. Writing a security systems specialist job description

   A job description for a security systems specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a security systems specialist job description:

   Security systems specialist job description example

   Responsibilities

   Peraton is seeking qualified individuals to join our team to provide engineering support for Cyber Situational Awareness (SA), Cyber Command and Control (C2), Mission Assurance, and Homeland Defense. This includes conducting Agile software engineering in a Development, Security, and Operations (DevSecOps) environment, performing Cloud architectural design, operation, and administration functions, and cyber security and Risk Management Framework (RMF) support. Also included are rapid design, development, test, deployment, maintenance and operation of specific software and hardware capabilities to meet current Cyber Defensive needs.

   Provides technical and programmatic Information Assurance Services to internal and external customers in support of network and information security systems. Designs, develops and implements security requirements within an organization's business processes. Prepares documentation from information obtained from customer using accepted guidelines such as RMF (Risk Management Framework). Prepares test plans. Provides assessment and authorization (A&A) support in the development of security and contingency plans and conducts complex risk and vulnerability assessments. Analyzes policies and procedures against Federal laws and regulations and provides recommendations for closing gaps. Develops and completes system security plans and contingency plans. Recommends system enhancements to improve security deficiencies. Develops, tests and integrates computer and network security tools. Secures system configurations and installs security tools, scans systems in order to determine compliancy and report results and evaluates products and various aspects of system administration. Conducts security program audits and develops solutions to lessen identified risks. Develops strategies to comply with privacy, risk management, and e-authentication requirements. Provides information assurance support for the development and implementation of security architectures to meet new and evolving security requirements. Evaluates, develops and enhances security requirements, policy and tools. Provides assistance in computer incident investigations. Performs vulnerability assessments including development of risk mitigation strategies.

   This position is contingent upon contract award.

   Qualifications

   • Requires 8 to 10 years with BS/BA or 6 to 8 years with MS/MA or 3 to 5 years with PhD.
   • Minimum certification as 461 (or similar as required by the Technical Instruction) at the Intermediate level per DoDD 8140.01, or successor.
   • IAT Level III Certification
   • Secret clearance
   • 5 years experience in performing Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities
   • Experience with performing STIG assessments to include using SCAP benchmarks
   • Experience performing vulnerability assessments with the Assured Compliance Assessment Solution tool
   • Experince using EMASS
   • Experience in developing Plans of Actions and Milestones (POA&M) entries
   • Experience in completing Risk Management Framework Step 5 authorizations in the Inormation System Security Engineer (ISSE) capacity
   • Experience in communicating risk reduction recommendations to stakeholders

   Peraton Overview

   Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our employees do the can't be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers.

   An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Veteran.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right security systems specialist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your security systems specialist job on Zippia to find and attract quality security systems specialist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit security systems specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with security systems specialist applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new security systems specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect security systems specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new security systems specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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