Mid-Level

IT Security Analyst (Information Technology Security Analyst)

As an IT Security Analyst, you protect an organization's information systems and data — monitoring for threats, investigating incidents, managing security tools, and supporting security policies and controls across the IT environment.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
C
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Investigativeanalytical, curious
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for IT Security Analyst (Information Technology Security Analyst)s
Employment concentration · ~362 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a IT Security Analyst (Information Technology Security Analyst)

A typical day tends to involve monitoring security alerts, investigating potential incidents, reviewing logs, managing security tools (SIEM, endpoint protection, vulnerability scanners), and supporting compliance requirements. The work has a defensive rhythm with periodic intensity — quiet stretches punctuated by incidents or scans that demand fast attention.

Coordination tends to happen with IT operations, application teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and sometimes law enforcement or regulators when serious incidents occur. Security is fundamentally about navigating tension — between security and usability, between caution and business velocity, between policy and practical reality. Holding the line professionally takes practice.

People who tend to thrive here are curious, methodical, and energized by the cat-and-mouse nature of security work. If you want pure development or struggle with the always-on aspect, the field can wear. If you find satisfaction in being the person whose careful work prevents the breach that could be career-defining for the organization, the role offers durable, growing demand and strong compensation.

Working ConditionsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all IT Security Analyst (Information Technology Security Analyst)s (SOC 15-1211.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$63K–$166K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
498K
U.S. Employment
+8.7%
10yr Growth
34K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$80K$77K$74K$71K$68K201920202021202220232024$68K$80K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingReading ComprehensionSystems AnalysisActive ListeningSystems EvaluationCritical ThinkingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringWriting
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
15-1211.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.