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Security Operations Center Operator Jobs in Illinois

Candidates MUST be able to operate within a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), monitoring ... As a GSOC Operator, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as ...

Candidates MUST be able to operate within a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), monitoring ... As a GSOC Operator, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as ...

Candidates MUST be able to operate within a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), monitoring ... As a GSOC Operator, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as ...

Candidates MUST be able to operate within a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), monitoring ... As a GSOC Operator, you will serve and safeguard clients in a range of industries such as ...

This role provides leadership for the Security Operations Center (SOC), Cyber Threat Intelligence ... Establish tiered operating models, shift coverage, and escalation paths that ensure consistent 24x7 ...

Showing results 21-40

Security Operations Center Operator information

See Illinois salary details

$7

$19

$27

How much do security operations center operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for security operations center operator in Illinois is $19.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.78 and $20.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Security Operations Center Operator do?

As a security operations center operator, or SOC operator, you monitor a variety of technologies including access control, video surveillance, and alarm systems to provide security service and threat elimination for industrial, business, or residential customers. You respond to medical crises, safety incidents, natural disasters and other emergencies, and dispatch security officers, police, fire, EMS personnel, and other services as required. Your duties and responsibilities also include investigating incidents, escalating situations to appropriate parties in the SOC, and filing incident reports. In some roles, you are responsible for monitoring social media and other news and information channels to support threat identification.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Security Operations Center Operator?

To thrive as a Security Operations Center (SOC) Operator, you need a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles, incident response, and network monitoring, often supported by a relevant degree or certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH. Familiarity with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, intrusion detection systems, and ticketing platforms is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for identifying threats and collaborating with teams. These skills are essential to quickly detect, assess, and respond to security incidents, ensuring the organization's information assets remain protected.

What are some common challenges faced by Security Operations Center Operators, and how can they be managed?

SOC Operators often encounter challenges such as managing high volumes of alerts, distinguishing false positives from genuine threats, and maintaining situational awareness during fast-paced incidents. Effective time management, continuous training on new threat vectors, and leveraging automation tools can help address these challenges. Collaborating closely with incident response teams and participating in regular drills also ensures readiness and improves overall team effectiveness.

What is the difference between Security Operations Center Operator vs Security Analyst?

AspectSecurity Operations Center OperatorSecurity Analyst
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CEH, CISSP (preferred)CompTIA Security+, CISSP, GIAC certifications
Work EnvironmentMonitoring security systems in a SOC, responding to alertsAnalyzing security data, investigating incidents, reporting
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in cybersecurity firms, large enterprises, government agenciesUsed across industries for threat detection and risk assessment

Security Operations Center (SOC) Operators focus on real-time monitoring and initial response to security alerts, while Security Analysts perform in-depth analysis, investigation, and reporting. Both roles require similar certifications and often work within the same environment, but their responsibilities differ in scope and depth of analysis.

What job categories do people searching Security Operations Center Operator jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Security Operations Center Operator jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Security Operations Center Operator jobs in IL?

For Security Operations Center Operator jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Security Operations Center Operator job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $39,967 per year, or $19.2 per hour.

Senior Manager, Global Security Operations

Allstate Insurance

Chicago, IL • On-site

Other

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

At Allstate, great things happen when our people work together to protect families and their belongings from life's uncertainties. And for more than 90 years, our innovative drive has kept us a step ahead of our customers' evolving needs. From advocating for seat belts, air bags and graduated driving laws, to being an industry leader in pricing sophistication, telematics, and, more recently, device and identity protection.

Job Description

"You're in good hands" is more than a promise to our customers. It's how we run cyber defense at Allstate. We are hiring a Senior Manager to join the leadership team of our Security Operations Center (SOC) and provide senior management support across our 24x7x365 detection and response operations. This is a senior leadership role, operating during US business hours in matrixed collaboration with our operations leaders across the Americas and international teams.
You will operate at both the tactical and strategic level, embedded directly with the analysts and incident handlers who run the floor, while owning the metrics, processes, and improvement projects that raise the performance of the entire operation. You will be empowered to drive initiatives that increase the effectiveness of our monitoring, triage, and response, and to develop the next generation of security operations talent. This role is ideal for a proven operational leader who is ready to grow their management career at a Fortune 100 company. What You'll Do
  • Lead from the floor.Partner directly with frontline security operations - analysts, shift leads, and incident handlersto measure, manage, and continuously improve the day-to-day performance of the US SOC across all shifts.

  • Own the metrics.Serve as the owner of the SOC's operational metrics programtodefine, track, and interpretKPIs and service outcomes (e.g., MTTD, MTTR, alert quality, false-positive rates, detection coverage, and SLA adherence) that reveal how the operation is truly performing.

  • Turn data into action.Use data across SOC operations to drive decisions on resource allocation, workflow, and threat mitigation, and to lead the improvement projects that close identified gaps and increase overall operational efficiency.

  • Uplevel talent.Coach, mentor, and develop existing analysts and incident handlers - building clear career paths (L1L2L3), raising technical and operational capability, and fostering a high-performance, low-burnout culture.

  • Drive operational excellence.Establish andmaintainthe operating rhythms - shift turnover, quality reviews, and performance reportingthat keep the team consistent, accountable, and aligned toestablishedprocesses, procedures, and standards.

  • Improve the machine.Identifyrecurring pain points and champion process improvement, tooling optimization, and automation opportunities (SIEM/SOAR) that reduce analystfatigueand accelerate response.

  • Support the global mission.Provide global senior management support to the broader Global Security Operations team, contributing to consistency, continuity, and effective handoffs across US, Ireland, and India operations.

  • Communicateoutcomes.Translate operational performance and improvement outcomes into clear, actionable reporting and dashboards for both technical teams and senior leadership.


Outcomes You'll Drive
  • A consistently fast and effective SOC, with strong Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) sustained across all shifts.

  • High-quality operations, with dependable detection coverage, precise alerting, and reliable SLA performance.

  • A skilled and engaged team, with clear career growth, strong retention, and a healthy pipeline of talent ready for advancement.

  • Ametrics-driven operation thatanticipatesopportunities early and delivers high-impact improvement projects.


Key Qualifications
  • Priorleadership experience within a Security Operations Center (SOC) - you have run the floor and understandsecurityoperations firsthand.

  • 6+ years of experience in security operations, incident response, ora relatedcybersecurity discipline.

  • 4+ years ofpeoplemanagement experience, including managing analysts and coordinating aglobalteam.

  • Demonstrated experience developing,maintaining, and interpreting operational metrics (KPIs/SLAs) to measure performance and drive improvement.

  • Proven ability to lead operational improvement projects from identification through delivery of measurable results.

  • Advancedtechnical knowledge of network and endpoint security, common attacker techniques, and SIEM/SOAR detection-and-response tooling.


Preferred Qualifications
  • A security operations background with a clear ambition to grow their management capability within a Fortune 100 enterprise.

  • Experience defining and operating metrics, dashboards, and reporting for a 24x7 operational service.

  • Experience supporting or coordinating operations across a global footprint, including scheduling, turnover, and team cohesion.

  • Familiarity with automation and process-improvement approaches that reduce analyst toil and improve response speed.

  • History of developing individual contributors into stronger operators and future leaders.

  • One or more industry certifications, such as CISSP, CISM, GCIH, GCIA, or equivalent.


#LI-JJ1

Skills

Automation Tools, Cybersecurity Operations, Data-Driven Decision Making, Executive Presence, Global Team Leadership, Mentorship, Operational Metrics, People Leadership, Process Improvement, Security Incident Response, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR), Technical Leadership, Threat Detection

Compensation

Compensation offered for this role is $151,700 - 210,000 annually and is based on experience and qualifications.

The candidate(s) offered this position will be required to submit to a background investigation.

Joining our team isn't just a job - it's an opportunity. One that takes your skills and pushes them to the next level. One that encourages you to challenge the status quo. One where you can shape the future of protection while supporting causes that mean the most to you. Joining our team means being part of something bigger - a winning team making a meaningful impact.

Allstate generally does not sponsor individuals for employment-based visas for this position.

Effective July 1, 2014, under Indiana House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1242, it is against public policy of the State of Indiana and a discriminatory practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by refusing to employ an applicant on the basis that they are a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component.

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It is the Company's policy to employ the best qualified individuals available for all jobs. Therefore, any discriminatory action taken on account of an employee's ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual and reproductive health decision, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, race (include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion (including religious dress), sex, or sexual orientation that adversely affects an employee's terms or conditions of employment is prohibited. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, salary administration, promotion, job assignment, benefits, discipline, and separation of employment.

Allstate provides a comprehensive technology setup, including a laptop, monitors, headset, keyboard, and mouse. Employees eligible to work from home also receive a monthly connectivity reimbursement to help offset internet costs.

When working from home, you must have a dedicated, private workspace free from distractions, along with appropriate desk and seating. Reliable internet is required, with minimum speeds of 50 MB download and 5 MB upload.