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

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for security operations center operator in Virginia is $19.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.16 and $21.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Security Operations Center (SOC) Operator do?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) Operator is responsible for monitoring an organization's IT infrastructure for security threats and incidents. They use specialized tools to detect, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity threats in real-time. SOC Operators also maintain security systems, document incidents, and collaborate with other IT and security staff to protect sensitive data. Their role is crucial in preventing, identifying, and mitigating cyberattacks to ensure the organization's information remains secure.

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 are some common challenges faced by Security Operations Center (SOC) 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 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, and why are they important?

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.
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Security Operations Center Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Security Operations Center Operator job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 92% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,891 per year, or $19.7 per hour.
Security Operations Center Manager

Security Operations Center Manager

Agile Defense

Reston, VA • On-site

Other

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

About Agile Defense
 
At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That's why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.
 
Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility-leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation's vital interests.

Requisition #: 1459
Job Title: SOC Manager
Job Title for Careers Page: SOC Manager
Location: Reston, VA
Clearance Level: TS (SCI Eligible)
Required Certification(s): CISSP
 
SUMMARY
 
Agile Defense is currently seeking a highly technical, hands-on Cybersecurity Operations Center (CSOC) with advanced skillsets in cyber security, to develop and operate cyber security capabilities for a variety of federal customers. Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills, be able to work independently and as part of a team, with demonstrated leadership capabilities. Skills and experience in Cyber Operations, Security Event Analysis, Incident Response, Cyber Hunt, Forensics, Malware Analysis, and Cyber Threat Intelligence (skills in more than one cyber discipline are preferred) are required for this position. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience supporting a 24x7x365 CSOC environment as an analyst or engineer, experience as a technical team lead within the SOC, and operations management experience. A solid understanding of cyber threats and information security in the domains of TTP's, Threat Actors, Campaigns, and Observables. Additionally, the ideal candidate would be familiar with intrusion detection systems, intrusion analysis, security information event management platforms, endpoint threat detection tools, and security operations ticket management. The SOC Manager is also tasked with developing and maturing SOC strategies, processes, and technologies, preparing executive-level reports on performance and threat trends, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align security initiatives with business objectives, with a paramount focus on maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of organizational assets.
Corporate duties such as solution/proposal development, corporate culture development, mentoring employees, supporting recruiting efforts, will also be required. Position is contingent on successfully completing a program-based background investigation.
 
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Key responsibilities include providing operational oversight for all SOC activities, managing the entire incident response lifecycle as a senior escalation point, and leading the team through mentorship and professional development, all while strictly adhering to government and agency-specific policies and procedures. The SOC Manager is also tasked with developing and maturing SOC strategies, processes, and technologies, preparing executive-level reports on performance and threat trends, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align security initiatives with business objectives, with a paramount focus on maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of organizational assets.
The SOC manager to provide cyber defense capabilities to federal entities provide comprehensive Computer Network Defense support through security event monitoring, advanced analytics, cyber hunt, response and digital forensics, vulnerability assessment, and cyber intelligence activities in support of the SOC operational mission.
Maintain a 24x7x365 schedule and minimum-manning requirements.
Construct and optimize operational workflows for 24x7 teams across multiple shifts.
Develop, collect, analyze security operational metrics to optimize CSOC performance and minimize organizational risk.
Serve as a technical Cyber SME, onsite task lead, and primary point of contact for customer.
Lead efforts Planning, organization, scheduling and progress reporting of various projects.
Develop technical cyber security solutions in response to customer requests or in support of proposal solution development.
Support new Agile Defense engagements as transitional program or operations lead.
Support documentation of all business and workflow processes in this area.
Provides technical consultation in cyber security capability development.
Acts as a subject-matter expert to multiple tasks and/or programs.
Provide technical writing support in support of corporate response to RFPs/RFQs from various customers
 
QUALIFICATIONS
 
Candidates will have a minimum of 5 years of direct operational and program management experience in delivery of Cybersecurity program or related projects. Candidates will have a minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience with a solid understanding of incident response, insider threat investigations, digital forensics, and cyber threats.
Candidates for this role possess minimum of 5-7 years of cybersecurity experience, with at least 5 years in a SOC leadership capacity. In-depth technical expertise in areas such as SIEM, EDR, and incident response methodologies is essential, coupled with a thorough understanding of network architectures and security controls.
 
Education, Background, and Years of Experience
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, STEM or cybersecurity
 
ADDITIONAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Required Skills
 
The ability to create insider threat focused dashboards, reports and workflow diagrams. Experience collecting data, chain of custody and reporting results; handling and escalating security issues or emergency situations appropriately; providing incident response capabilities to isolate and mitigate threats to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability for protected data. Experience with mentoring junior members in an open collaborative environment.
 
Preferred Skills or Certifications
One of the following GCFA, GREM, GCIH, OSCP, GPEN, GFCE or equivalent preferred.
 
WORKING CONDITIONS
Environmental Conditions
Hybrid role in Reston, VA
Strength Demands
Physical Requirements
$160,000 - $185,000 a year
Our Core Values
 
Employees of Agile Defense are our number one priority, and the importance we place on our culture here is fundamental. Our culture is alive and evolving, but it always stays true to its roots. Here, you are valued as a family member, and we believe that we can accomplish great things together. Agile Defense has been highly successful in the past few years due to our employees and the culture we create together. 
 
What makes us Agile? We call it the 6Hs, the values that define our culture and guide everything we do. Together, these values infuse vibrancy, integrity, and a tireless work ethic into advancing the most important national security and critical civilian missions. It's how we show up every day. It's who we are.
 
  • Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
  • Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
  • Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
  • Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
  • Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
  • Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.
 
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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