What is a security administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Joé Lloyd

A security administrator is an individual responsible for managing and maintaining the security of an organization's computer systems and networks. They are in charge of developing security policies and procedures, implementing security measures, monitoring system activity for signs of unauthorized access or use, and responding to security incidents. They work closely with other IT professionals to ensure that all aspects of an organization's information technology infrastructure are secure and protected from potential threats.

What general advice would you give to a Security Administrator?

Joé Lloyd

Senior Director, AVIXA

In the AVIXA 2019 Q2 Macro-Economic Trends Analysis, we studied how tight or slack labor markets affect hiring. We found that the current economy is tough for those seeking to enter a skill-intensive industry like audiovisual (AV). Our data shows that when unemployment goes up, AV companies respond by raising hiring standards. Candidates will need a strong résumé to get hired, whether it’s in years of experience or a targeted technical degree or certification.

ScoreSecurity AdministratorUS Average

Salary

6.2

Avg. Salary $79,564

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.7

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.70%

Black or African American 9.18%

Hispanic or Latino 12.86%

Unknown 5.11%

White 63.85%

Gender

female 41.86%

male 58.14%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Security Administrator?

Pros

Challenging and constantly evolving work
Good salary and benefits
Potential for career advancement and professional growth
Ability to work remotely or in a flexible schedule
Sense of satisfaction from protecting sensitive information and systems

Cons

High stress and pressure to maintain security at all times
Long hours and on-call duties may be required
Constant need for continuing education and staying up-to-date on industry changes
Risk of exposure to sensitive information and potential liability for security breaches
Need for strong communication skills to effectively communicate security risks to non-technical staff

Key steps to become a security administrator

Explore security administrator education requirements

Most common security administrator degrees

Bachelor's

53.6 %

Associate

23.8 %

High School Diploma

7.9 %

Start to develop specific security administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	9.51%
Troubleshoot	6.14%
Security Procedures	5.92%
Data Entry	5.38%
Security Policies	5.31%

Complete relevant security administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New security administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a security administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real security administrator resumes.

Gain additional security administrator certifications

Security administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific security administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for security administrators include Security 5 Certification and Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP).

More About Certifications

Research security administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage updates and creation of intranet file.
Create, manage, and maintain corporate LAN.
Manage and monitor various tools and reporting tools relating to security and encryption.
Manage all network objects: computers, users, TCP/IP resources, printers, copier.

Prepare your security administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your security administrator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a security administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Security Administrator Resume templates

Build a professional Security Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Security Administrator resume.