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The differences between senior security analysts and personnel security specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior security analyst and a personnel security specialist. Additionally, a senior security analyst has an average salary of $103,571, which is higher than the $78,967 average annual salary of a personnel security specialist.
The top three skills for a senior security analyst include NIST, incident response and cloud security. The most important skills for a personnel security specialist are SCI, JPAS, and E-QIP.
| Senior Security Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $103,571 | $78,967 |
| Hourly rate | $49.79 | $37.96 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 61,108 | 52,507 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior security analyst is a digital professional who creates and implements firewalls and software systems to protect data and prevent attacks on private data. Senior security analysts aim to identify weaknesses in a network's security system and prevent breaches from occurring. Within larger organizations, senior security analysts are required to work with professionals who specialize in networking, information technology (IT), and computer system. They must also design security protocols and systems to better protect their customers and user data.
A personnel security specialist is responsible for conducting background checks and collecting requirements for security clearance. Personnel security specialists write background check reports, coordinate with other institutions for further investigations, and determining the eligibility of candidates for clearance. They must have excellent communication and researching skills to identify and gather data suitable for employment purposes. A personnel security specialist verifies and processes information according to security procedures and protocols, providing accurate information and managing data disputes.
Senior security analysts and personnel security specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Security Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average salary | $103,571 | $78,967 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $135,000 | Between $49,000 And $124,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Coinbase | Palantir |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior security analyst and a personnel security specialist in terms of educational background:
| Senior Security Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between senior security analysts' and personnel security specialists' demographics:
| Senior Security Analyst | Personnel Security Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.5% Female, 23.5% | Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |