Security Awareness Specialist
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Design and deliver security awareness training for employees and contractors
- Create clear security guidance for everyday tasks such as email use and file sharing
- Run phishing simulations and track improvement over time
- Write and update internal security communications such as newsletters and alerts
- Partner with Human Resources and Legal teams on policy awareness and compliance training
- Support onboarding and annual refresher training programs
- Collect feedback and improve training based on employee questions and incident trends
- Maintain training completion records and prepare audit ready reporting
- Promote secure behavior through campaigns, events, and champions programs
- Coordinate with security incident teams to reinforce lessons learned after incidents
Top Skills for Success
Clear Writing
Public Speaking
Training Design
Instructional Delivery
Stakeholder Management
Behavior Change Communication
Project Management
Data Analysis
Phishing Identification
Social Engineering Awareness
Security Policy Communication
Risk Awareness
Compliance Awareness
Learning Management Systems
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Security Awareness Lead
Security Training Manager
Governance Risk and Compliance Analyst
Cybersecurity Program Manager
Security Culture Manager
Transition Opportunities
Security Analyst
Security Operations Center Analyst
Identity and Access Management Analyst
Third Party Risk Analyst
Privacy Analyst
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Metrics ReportingPhishing Simulation ManagementLearning Content DevelopmentLearning Management System AdministrationExecutive CommunicationBasic Security Controls Knowledge
Development SuggestionsBuild a simple measurement plan that tracks training completion, phishing outcomes, and incident related themes. Practice converting results into clear updates for leaders. Create a small set of repeatable training assets such as short guides and micro lessons. Get hands on experience with a learning management system and a phishing simulation platform through trials, labs, or internal projects.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUS$60,000 to US$85,000
Mid LevelUS$85,000 to US$115,000
Senior LevelUS$115,000 to US$150,000
Growth Trend
Growing demand. Organizations are investing more in human risk reduction due to phishing, remote work, regulatory expectations, and cyber insurance requirements.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Large banks and credit unionsHealth systems and insurersGovernment agenciesUniversitiesGlobal retailersSoftware and cloud providersManaged security service providers
Industry Sectors
Financial ServicesHealthcareGovernmentEducationRetailTechnologyManufacturing
Recommended Next Steps
1
Review common phishing and social engineering patterns and create a short checklist employees can use2
Build a sample quarterly awareness plan with themes, messages, and metrics3
Create a small training module and collect feedback from a test group4
Practice writing security announcements in plain language and keep them under 200 words5
Learn how to report outcomes using a simple dashboard and consistent definitions6
Partner with an incident response or help desk team to understand frequent user mistakes7
Prepare interview examples that show impact such as reduced click rates and improved completion rates