# Security Management Specialists

> Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-management-specialists
- SOC code: 13-1199.07
- Career family: Business and finance
- Median annual pay: $83,050 (10th percentile $47,880, 90th percentile $150,010)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.9%
- Openings a year: 98,700
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Business operations specialists, all other".

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 48 |
| Investigative (I) | 68 |
| Artistic (A) | 11 |
| Social (S) | 16 |
| Enterprising (E) | 46 |
| Conventional (C) | 78 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 84/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 83/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 83/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 80/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Monitoring, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation

## Knowledge

Public Safety and Security, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Law and Government, Personnel and Human Resources, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Psychology

## Also called

Cloud Security Consultant, Cyber Risk Consultant, Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Associate, Cybersecurity Consultant, Cybersecurity Risk Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist, Governance, Risk, and Compliance Consultant (GRC Consultant), IAM Consultant (Identity and Access Management Consultant), IAM Developer (Identity and Access Management Developer)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)
- [Hospitality Administration/Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5209) (CIP 5209, 641 colleges)
- [International Business](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5211) (CIP 5211, 569 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | International Business | not reported | $159,452 | $13,500 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,806 | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $94,811 | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $108,743 | $136,806 | $19,250 |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $87,830 | $136,731 | $15,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $88,182 | $135,874 | $9,250 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | International Business | $76,290 | $125,162 | $18,258 |

## Related careers

- [Security Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/security-managers): $106,660 median pay
- [Digital Forensics Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/digital-forensics-analysts): $116,580 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Management Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/management-analysts): $101,860 median pay
- [Retail Loss Prevention Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/retail-loss-prevention-specialists): $42,540 median pay
- [Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-and-safety-engineers-except-mining-safety-engineers-and-inspectors): $115,160 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.