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Watch Desk Analyst Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sonoma Consulting Inc.

Service Desk Analyst

Glenview, IL

$20.25 - $27.50/hr

... Companies to Watch - Goldline Research - "Most Dependable Companies" - Ernst & Young ... Desk Analyst, who will be a member of our Global Service Desk team located in our Glenview, IL ...

The Solutions Group Llc

$150 - $200/hr

Watch Desk Lead Why You Want This Role Step into a leadership role at the center of 24x7 mission ... Support mission analytics operations and use RTRG mission analytics in day-to-day monitoring and ...

MSD

Watch Officer (Night Shift)

Rahway, NJ · On-site

Reporting to the Director of Watch Desk Operations, this role serves as the lead tactical interface ... Strong analytical capability, with the ability to rapidly synthesize multiple streams of ...

SGI Global

CBRN Watch Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

The Watch Officer shall be responsible for all duties related to the FEMA CBRN Watch desk. * The Watch Officers will receive information; perform analysis of the data and draft products. * The Watch ...

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How much do watch desk analyst jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for watch desk analyst in the United States is $24.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $26.92 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a watch desk analyst?

A Watch Desk Analyst is a professional responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on critical information and events in real-time, often within security operations centers or emergency management teams. They assess incoming data, identify potential threats or incidents, and coordinate responses or escalate issues as needed. Watch Desk Analysts play a crucial role in maintaining situational awareness for organizations, helping to ensure timely decision-making and effective incident management. Their work may involve using specialized software, communication tools, and established protocols to track and report on unfolding situations.

What are the typical daily duties and collaboration patterns for a watch desk analyst?

A Watch Desk Analyst typically monitors real-time data feeds, security alerts, and incident reports to identify and escalate potential threats or issues. The role involves maintaining situational awareness, documenting incidents, and following established protocols for response. Collaboration is frequent with security teams, operations centers, and sometimes law enforcement or external partners, ensuring timely information sharing and coordinated actions. The work environment is often fast-paced, requiring quick decision-making and clear communication. Analysts may also contribute to after-action reviews and process improvements based on incident outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a watch desk analyst, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Watch Desk Analyst, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a background in security, intelligence, or emergency management, often supported by a relevant degree or professional experience. Familiarity with incident management systems, security monitoring tools, and communication platforms is typically required. Outstanding situational awareness, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to remain calm under pressure are essential soft skills in this role. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring timely and accurate response to incidents, maintaining organizational safety, and facilitating effective communication during critical events.

What is the difference between Watch Desk Analyst vs Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst?

AspectWatch Desk AnalystSecurity Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
CredentialsCertifications like CompTIA Security+ or Network+Similar certifications, often including CISSP or CEH
Work EnvironmentMonitoring security alerts, incident response in a 24/7 environmentAnalyzing security data, threat detection, incident management in a SOC
Employer & IndustrySecurity service providers, corporate security teamsCybersecurity firms, large enterprises, government agencies

Both roles focus on security monitoring and incident response, with the Watch Desk Analyst primarily overseeing alerts and initial responses, while the SOC Analyst performs in-depth analysis and threat hunting within a Security Operations Center. They share similar credentials and work environments but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What states have the most Watch Desk Analyst jobs?

States with the most job openings for Watch Desk Analyst jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Watch Desk Analyst jobs?

For Watch Desk Analyst jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Watch Desk Analyst job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,106 per year, or $24.1 per hour.

Watch Officer/Systems Administrator

Annapolis, MD • On-site

Peterson Technologies
IT Services • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Peterson Technologiesexternal

$120K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Support the current infrastructure by checking for system vulnerabilities and managing Data flow / Watch desk projects.

  • Provide request management support, including account creation, removal, transfer, grouping, password management, storage allocation, recovery, backup, and restoration.

  • Install, troubleshoot, maintain, and configure Windows operating systems and network components, and document technical issues and procedures.

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:
System Administrator / Watch Desk position that provides support for a dynamic operational environment while maintaining the capability to interact with multiple levels of the Agencies organizations. The following roll will be responsible for supporting the current infrastructure by checking for system vulnerabilities and managing various Data flow / Watch desk projects. This position is also responsible for providing request management support, which can include but is not limited to, account creation, removal, transfer, grouping, password management, as well as storage allocation, locality, recovery, backup, and restoration, etc. Responsibilities also include support for Windows operating systems. Including installing and loading operating system software, troubleshoots, maintains integrity and configures network components along with implementing operating systems enhancements to improve reliability and performance. This position will also need to provide detailed documentation.
For the required and desired qualifications, include what position the candidate acquired the said experience and one (1) example of what they did to gain that experience.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
a) Bachelor's Degree in a technical field. Five (5) additional years' experience in a Systems Administrative or Watch Desk position can be substituted for a bachelor's degree
b) Minimum 3 years' experience as a Systems Administrator or Watch Desk Analyst
c) Minimum 2 years' experience with Microsoft Windows operating systems administration and industry best practices.
d) Minimum 1 years' experience providing Tier 1 (Help Desk) and Tier 2 (Escalation) problem identification, diagnosis and resolution of problems
e) Past proven ability and willingness to work under the technical direction of senior staff.
f) Experience performing under various levels of urgency and ability to meet deadlines.
g) Experience communicating and documenting technical issues, risks, and approaches to direct reports, peers, superiors, and clients
h) Experience providing support for the escalation and communication of status to agency management and internal customers
i) Experience gathering requirements based on feedback and feature requests of users.
Requirements:
Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Previous Watch Desk Support experience
Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Certification
Salary range = $120,000 - $150,000, depending on education, certification and experience.
Peterson Technologies provides for an excellent benefit package to include generous PTO, healthcare, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, 401k contribution and Tuition and Training reimbursement.
Salary range depending on experience
Peterson Technologies will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants who are unable to utilize our online application system due to a disability.
Please send your request to HR at [email protected] or call.
Peterson Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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